The study-preparatory DSH course is a crash course that prepares you for the German University Entrance Examination (DSH). As it is a crash course, we expect a C1 certificate as a prerequisite for you to be allowed to participate in the course. In the course, the individual parts of the exam are discussed in detail and tips are given on how best to master the respective task parts.
Our methods are there:
- Systematic practicing
- Step by step preparation for the exam
- Authentic material
- Video-based learning
- Playful learning
- Discussions on current topics
- Presentations
- What is DSH?
DSH is the abbreviation for "Deutsche Sprachprüfungfür den Hochschulzugang".
The DSH is intended for non-native speaker applicants who wish to study in Germany. Applicants with German citizenship, but who do not have a German educational qualification, can also take the DSH. The examination is required for university studies in Germany for many degree programmes.
- Who is allowed to take the DSH exam?
In order to take the DSH examination, admission to a degree programme is required. In addition, however, there are "open" DSH examinations for applicants who do not yet have admission to a degree programme. Many universities also require a C1 certificate from a language school.
The DSH costs between 40 and 150 euros and should be prepared thoroughly beforehand. At some universities, the exam may only be repeated twice, with at least three months between the first exam and the second. At some locations, however, the exam can be repeated without any restrictions.
- What levels are there in the DSH?
The DSH levels differ from the CEFR levels (A1-C1). Instead, the results of the DSH examination are divided into DSH 1 to DSH 3. These levels are comparable to the subdivision of the TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache) level from TDN-3 to TDN-5 and determines language competence in the range B2 to C2.
Depending on the degree programme, there may be different requirements for the examination result. DSH 1, for example, is usually sufficient for bilingual degree programmes, where teaching takes place in two languages. For human medicine and dentistry, on the other hand, DSH 3 may be required to be admitted to these degree programmes.
For most subjects, a DSH 2 result is sufficient for enrolment. At some universities, however, admission can also be granted with the DSH 1 level, but this is then linked to further language courses or another examination.
The DSH is prepared independently by the colleges and universities and can therefore vary at the different locations. However, there is a standardised framework that all examination centres must follow
- How is the DSH structured?
The DSH has both written and oral elements. In total, from all four task areas
- Understanding and processing an audio text
- Understanding and editing a reading text
- Guideline-oriented text production
- Understanding and processing scientific language structures
The areas may also be tested in combination. A monolingual dictionary may be used in the written part. The examination takes a total of three to four hours.
The written part of the examination is followed by the oral examination. Both parts must be passed separately from each other. However, the overall result is not added together, but the worse result counts as the overall result.
If, for example, DSH 3 is achieved in one examination section and DSH 1 in another, the overall result is also only DSH 1 level. In order to achieve DSH 1, a sub-examination must be completed with at least 57 per cent, from a percentage of 67 -81 per cent the DSH 2 level is awarded and with 82 per cent of the points to be achieved, the participant receives DSH 3.
- What does the listening text look like for the DSH?
The listening text or the task area "Understanding and processing a listening text" in the DSH is a text that is 50-100 lines long and is recited twice. Learners are allowed to take notes and are then asked either to answer questions or to reproduce and summarise the text.
The aim is to test whether the participants are able to understand scientific texts and lectures and take meaningful notes on them. Later, they should be able to follow lectures at the university without any problems. Content aspects are more important in the assessment than linguistic accuracy.
- Which examinations can I take for university admission?
The DSH is not the only examination that leads to enrolment at a German university. The German Rectors' Conference has also decided to put other examination formats on an equal footing with the DSH. These include:
- TestDaF: The Test of German as a Foreign Language
- The German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Level II)
- The telc Certificate C1 University
- The certificate of successful completion of the upper secondary school examination of the Goethe-Institut
- The small and large German Language Diploma of the Goethe-Institut
- Where can I find more information about the DSH?
Here you will find a detailed FAQ section on the DSH examinations:
http://dsh.de/externe-dsh-pruefungen
Here you can find examples of DSH exams that can be used for preparation:
