Deutsches Sprachdiplom Stufe I and II

The German language diploma of the Standing Conference (short: German Language Diploma or DSD) is a language test for German as a foreign language or German as a second language, which can be stored for several years private German lessons. It is currently published every year worldwide from around 50,000 specimens, the focus of students 14-19 years of age. The German Language Diploma Level I ( CEFR - level A2/B1 ) is the language requirement to attend a preparatory course in Germany, the German Language Certificate Level II ( CEFR - level B2/C1 ) for foreigners linguistic prerequisite for attending a German university. The term German language diploma of the Standing Conference is used both for the program as well as for the acquired through the successfully tested diploma.

Differences to other tests in German as a foreign language

The main difference of the German language diploma of the Standing Conference to other language certificates in the field of German as a foreign language or German as a second language is its school integration. Approach of the German language certificate is not the certification in the sense of " Teaching for the test", but a more systematic competence building through several years of schooling. Unlike many other language certificates to participate in the language test is not associated with audit fees and only after going through several years of school German lessons. Both in the classroom of the DSD program as well as in test creation and test evaluation full-time and mostly civil servant teachers from schools of the states are usually involved. Since the German Language Diploma is issued by the authority responsible for education and culture in Germany KMK, the DSD program and the certification plays an over other providers in the non- school sector of particular importance, as reflected inter alia in its recognition.

History and responsibilities

On March 16, 1972, the Standing Conference had decided to create a "German Language Diploma ", which has been offered since 1974. The mid-1970s, the global number of participants amounted annually to about 500 to 1000 examinees for 1995 are 7500 graduates documented in 2000 took part 14000 students. In 2007, the German language diploma was adapted to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​, the acquired sub-competencies are reported in the meantime according to the certificates.

The operational implementation of the right conferred by the Standing Conference German Language Diploma is the Central Committee of the German Language Diploma. It shall comprise representatives of the federal states and the federal government because the foreign education is in a mixed jurisdiction of the federal government ( foreign cultural and education policy ) and the Länder ( cultural sovereignty ). According to these responsibilities of the Central Committee is staffed with three state representatives and three federal representatives. The country representatives present come from Hesse, Bavaria and Hamburg. The federal representatives belong to the Foreign Office and the Central Agency for Schools Abroad in the Federal Office of Administration. Chairman of the Central Committee since 2013, the Bavarian ministry Thomas Mayer. Task of the Central Committee is the overall management and control of the German Language Diploma, including the approval of schools and examinees with the German language diploma. The Central Committee shall in addition on the compliance of the Examination Regulations and Rules. He is also responsible for quality assurance of the entire DSD program worldwide.

In the early years the world brought to use test kits were developed by representatives of individual states, the entire administration was carried out by the Secretariat of the Standing Conference. With the increasing expansion of the participating students was a partial transfer of responsibilities to be moved in the Federal Office of Administration Central Agency for Schools Abroad. The secretariat to the Standing Conference continues to be the audit office and the management of the Central Committee of the German Language Certificate and forms the interface between the bodies of the KMK at the country side and the institutions on the federal side.

Current distribution

Currently DSD is offered at over 800 schools in over 60 countries. Below are among many German schools abroad especially foreign educational institutions in the public or private sector. Among the 50,000 specimens a year are there alone nearly 30,000 students of French schools participating in the DSD I.

In addition, in Hamburg, there is a pilot project, in which, after passing through the DSD program and tests a rating based on the CEFR - levels certificate of the German language certificate is awarded as part of school initial integration of pupils with an immigrant background.

German Language Diploma, Level I

The Standing Conference up to the process of obtaining the German Language Diploma Level I ( DSD I) usually about 600 to 800 hours of German lessons à 45 minutes. In the test for DSD I analogous to DSD II competencies in the areas of Oral Communication, Written Communication, listening and reading comprehension must be demonstrated, there are limits existence. Under the framework of Procedure on German language tests to study at German universities (RO -DT), the DSD I, the language requirement for admission to study college.

German Language Diploma, level II

The depositing of the German Language Diploma Level II ( DSD II ) is independent of whether already acquired DSD was I in the individual case. The sub-skills Verbal communication, Written communication, listening and reading comprehension are tested here on B2/C1-Niveau after several years of school education. Until obtaining the DSD II, the Standing Conference estimated about 800 to 1200 hours German lessons, also at 45 minutes. The DSD II is recognized under the Framework Regulations on German language tests to study at German universities (RO -DT) as a language requirement for admission to universities. Universities recognize the DSD II as linguistic entry requirement for prospective foreign students when the time indicated by the DSD graduate skills meet the academic requirements of the university or the specific degree program.