German language diploma

DSD logo

The German Language Diploma of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (short: Deutsches Sprachdiplom or DSD ) is a language test for German as a foreign language or German as a second language , which can be taken after several years of German lessons at school. It is (as of 2013) taken by around 50,000 examinees each year, mainly by students between the ages of 14 and 19. The German language diploma stage I ( GeR stage A2 / B1) is the linguistic condition for the visit of a foreigners Studienkollegs in Germany, the German language diploma stage II ( GeR stage B2 / C1) the linguistic prerequisite for attending a German university. The term Deutsches Sprachdiplom of the Kultusministerkonferenz is used for the program as well as for the diploma obtained by successfully passing the exam.

Differences to other exams in the field of German as a foreign language

The main difference between the German Language Diploma from the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs and other language certificates in the field of German as a foreign language or German as a second language is its integration into schools. The approach of the Deutsches Sprachdiplom is not the certification in the sense of a "teaching for the test", but a systematic competence building through several years of school instruction. In contrast to many other language certificates, participation in the language test is not associated with examination fees and is only possible after several years of school German lessons. As a rule, full-time and mostly civil servant teachers from the federal states' school service are involved in the teaching of the DSD program as well as in the preparation and evaluation of tests . Since the German Language Diploma is issued by the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs responsible for education and culture in Germany , the DSD program and certification are of particular importance compared to other providers in the non-school sector, which is reflected, among other things, in its recognition.

History and responsibilities

On March 16, 1972, the Conference of Ministers of Education decided to create a "German Language Diploma", which has been offered since 1974. In the mid-1970s, the number of participants worldwide amounted to around 500 to 1000 candidates per year, for 1995 7500 graduates are documented, in 2000 14000 students took part. In 2007, the German Language Diploma was adapted to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages , and the partial competencies acquired are now shown accordingly on the certificates.

The central committee for the German language diploma is responsible for the operational implementation of the German language diploma awarded by the Standing Conference. This includes representatives of the federal states and the federal government, since the foreign schools system is a mixed responsibility of the federal government ( foreign cultural and educational policy ) and the federal states ( cultural sovereignty ). In accordance with these responsibilities, the Central Committee is made up of three country representatives and three federal representatives. The country representatives are currently from Hesse, Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate. The federal representatives belong to the Federal Foreign Office and the Central Office for Schools Abroad in the Federal Office of Administration . The Bavarian ministerial official Thomas Mayer has been the chairman of the Central Committee since 2013. The task of the Central Committee is the overall management and control of the German Language Diploma, including the admission of schools and candidates to the German Language Diploma. The Central Committee also monitors compliance with the examination regulations and implementation provisions. He is also responsible for quality assurance across the entire DSD program worldwide.

In the early years, the test sets used around the world were developed by representatives of individual federal states; the entire administration was carried out by the secretariat of the Conference of Ministers of Education. With the increasing expansion of the participating students a partial takeover took place responsibilities to the Federal Office of Administration is moved Central Agency for Schools Abroad . The secretariat of the Conference of Ministers of Education continues to provide the examination office and the management of the Central Committee for the German Language Diploma and forms the interface between the committees of the KMK on the state side and the institutions on the federal side.

distribution

The DSD is (as of 2019) offered at over 800 schools in around 60 countries. In addition to many German schools abroad , these include above all foreign educational institutions from the state or private sector. Among the 50,000 examinees each year there are almost 30,000 students from French schools who take part in DSD I.

Starting with Hamburg (2010), the DSD I has also been offered for a few years as part of the initial school integration for immigrant pupils in Germany. In the first few years after immigration, the DSD I is taken in so-called “preparatory classes”, which prepare for regular lessons. In addition to Hamburg, the participating federal states are Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia.

German language diploma, level I

The Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs estimates that until the German Language Diploma Level I (DSD I) is obtained, as a rule, around 600 to 800 hours of 45-minute German lessons. In the examination for DSD I, similar to DSD II, competencies in the areas of oral communication, written communication, listening comprehension and reading comprehension must be proven; there are pass limits. According to the framework regulations on German language exams for studying at German universities (RO-DT), the DSD I is a linguistic entry requirement for preparatory colleges .

German language diploma, level II

In individual cases, taking the German Language Diploma Level II (DSD II) is independent of whether a DSD I has already been acquired. The sub-competencies of oral communication, written communication, listening comprehension and reading comprehension are tested here at B2 / C1 level after several years of school lessons. Until the DSD II is obtained, the Standing Conference estimates around 800 to 1,200 hours of German lessons, also 45 minutes each. The DSD II is recognized as a linguistic entry requirement for universities according to the framework regulations for German language exams for studying at German universities (RO-DT). Universities recognize the DSD II as a linguistic admission requirement for foreign prospective students if the competences shown on the DSD diploma correspond to the study requirements at the university or the specific course of study. If the exam is passed (with language level B2 or higher), the certificate is issued and given to the examinee.