German Courses
Table of Contents
German Language Overview
German as like any other European language falls under the “CEFR” – Common European Framework of Reference for languages, which is an international standard, which describes a person’s grasp over a language. It describes a six-point scale reference starting with A1 up to C2 with increment in difficulty.
- A1 | A2 – Beginner
- B1 | B2 – Intermediate
- C1 | C2 – Advanced
Dwi-Kaushalya offers these courses in 2 options:
Complete Self-Paced Bundle
A1
You'll learn
A2
Complete Instructor-led Courses
B1
B2.1
B2.2
About German Certification Exams
The 2 most popular exams which certify your German language proficiency & are recognised globally are:
- Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD)
- TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache)
The Zertifikat Deutsch exams are conducted by Goethe Institute (known as Max Mueller Bhavan in India) & TestDaF exam is conducted by TestDaF Institute.
Both ZD & TestDaF exams are official German language certification exams recognised & conducted globally.
Both ZD & TestDaF exams can be retaken any number of times and the certificates once earned do not expire.
Students are expected to register (fees payable separately, directly to the institution) & enrol for an exam on the scheduled day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Goethe Zertifikat (ZD)
Goethe Institute or more commonly known in India as Max Mueller Bhavan offers the “Zertifikat Deutsch” certification exams. These exams are popular as they are offered at all proficiency levels. All exams test 4 aspects of German – reading, writing, listening & speaking.
Prospective Candidates – Beginner & intermediate learners, Students seeking admission in German universities, Dependent Spouses etc.
As ZD exams are offered at all proficiency levels, the evaluation criteria is different as per the exam.
For more information click here.
Ideally, yes. You should test your learning after every level. However students may choose to learn upto a desired proficiency level & directly appear for certification of that level depending on student’s confidence, preparation level & need.
As a beginner, you may appear for Goethe Zertifikat Deutsch A1 or Start Deutsch A1.
TestDaF
TestDaF Institute offers the “TestDaF” certification exam. This is a single exam and are offered at intermediate to advanced proficiency levels. All exams test 4 aspects of German – reading, writing, listening & speaking.
Prospective Candidates – Intermediate & advanced learners, students seeking admission in German speaking countries.
The calendar for the year 2021 is listed here.
The cost of the exam is equivalent to € 195 depending on country you choose to register.
To know more about the exam registration process & test dates, click here.
Your result is marked in 3 levels TDN-3, TDN-4, TDN-5. This is your proficiency which correspond to levels B2.1–C1.2 of CEFR. TDN-3 being the lowest and TDN-5 being the highest.
Unlike Goethe Zertifikat exams, TestDaF is a single exam which you can appear for after you have reached at least intermediate German language proficiency. Thus you could choose to study through levels A1-B1 or B2 & then appear for TestDaF exam.
No. Beginner students are expected to appear for Goethe certification exams and not TestDaF. The TestDaF exam is intended for students with at least intermediate language proficiency.
