Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang
A university entrance exam set by each university under a common framework (RO-DT). It has a written and a compulsory oral part.
DSH-1, DSH-2 or DSH-3
Who it is for
- Applicants who want to take the language exam at (or near) their future university
- Learners preparing in a university-based DSH preparation course
Format
| Part | German name | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension | Hörverstehen (HV) | 10 min after the first and 40 min after the second presentation | A lecture-style text is presented twice; note-taking is allowed. |
| Reading comprehension and academic structures | Leseverstehen und wissenschaftssprachliche Strukturen (LV/WS) | 90 min including reading time | Text comprehension plus tasks on academic language structures. |
| Text production | Vorgabenorientierte Textproduktion (TP) | 70 min | A structured written text based on given input. |
| Oral exam | Mündliche Prüfung | max. 20 min, 20 min preparation | A short talk (max. 5 min) and a conversation (max. 15 min), always one candidate at a time. Compulsory; it can be dropped only if the written exam was not passed. |
The written exam may last at most four hours including the presentation of the listening text. Monolingual dictionaries are allowed in the written exam.
Scoring
- Written subtests are weighted HV : LV : WS : TP = 2 : 2 : 1 : 2.
- The written and the oral exam are each passed with at least 57 %.
- Overall result: DSH-1 if both parts reach 57 %, DSH-2 if both reach 67 %, DSH-3 if both reach 82 %.
Calculate your result
DSH score calculator
Official rulesEvery threshold comes from the official document listed below. Results are estimates for planning — only the exam provider issues results.
Enter your percentage (0–100) in each written subtest and in the oral exam.
Weight 2
Weight 2
Weight 1
Weight 2
Fill in all five fields to see the result.
What this calculator does not do
- Each university publishes its own local DSH regulations based on the model regulations. Details such as rounding or how each subtest is marked can differ — check the regulations of your exam centre.
- You enter percentages per subtest; how many points a task is worth is decided by the exam centre.
Recognition
- RO-DT 2020 § 3 (5): DSH-2 or better counts as proof of German proficiency for all degree programmes.
- RO-DT 2020 § 3 (6): DSH-3 shows particularly high proficiency.
- Each university publishes its own DSH regulations based on the model regulations; dates and registration are set locally.
Preparation tips
- Practise taking structured notes from lectures — the listening part tests understanding, not spelling.
- Work on nominal style and passive alternatives for the „wissenschaftssprachliche Strukturen“ part.
- Check the exam dates of your target university early; DSH places can be limited.
Practise for this exam
German Prep material at the levels this exam targets — not official exam tasks.
Timed B2 practice
Twenty mixed questions with exam-style pacing.
Timed C1 practice
Twenty mixed questions with exam-style pacing.
Listening library
Recordings with questions from A1 to C1.
Writing tasks
Exam-style writing with the rule-based assistant.
Official sources
- Rahmenordnung über Deutsche Sprachprüfungen für das Studium an deutschen Hochschulen (RO-DT), including the DSH model exam regulations (Anlage 1) (opens in a new tab)Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK) / Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) · HRK 23.07.2020 / KMK 28.11.2019 · checked 9 October 2026