We are the first ÖSD exam centre in the canton of Zurich!

The Sprachen Akademie has some great news: since the beginning of the year, the Sprachen Akademie is officially the first ÖSD exam centre in the canton of Zurich. Read on to find out what this means and why it’s important for you to know!

What are ÖSD exams?

ÖSD stands not only for Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch, but also for Österreich (Austria), Schweiz(Switzerland) and Deutschland (Germany). The ÖSD exams are therefore not only aimed at people in Austria, but are also internationally recognised. The exams are based on the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) from A1 to C2.

Internationally recognised German exams and certificates

Why do you need an internationally recognised German certificate? There are many reasons. For example, a German certificate improves your chances on the job market. Your current employer may also require you to have a language certificate. You may also need the certificate to study at a Swiss university. Finally, you may need a language certificate to obtain a residence permit.

What German exams can I take?

You’ve probably heard of the Goethe-Institut or telc. Like the ÖSD, the Goethe-Institut and telc offer internationally recognised German exams and certificates. What do they have in common?

  • Levels A1-C2
  • Internationally recognised certificates
  • Exam parts: Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking

On the websites of ÖSD, Goethe and telc you can download a free Model Set/Mock Examination for each level. In this way you can find out which exam suits you best. The cost of taking an exam varies according to the exam centre and level.

The advantages of an ÖSD exam

Although the three exams are very similar, we would like to tell you why we think it is worth choosing an ÖSD exam:

The ÖSD A1, A2, B2 and C1 exams are offered in two modules (written exam, oral exam) instead of four. This means that the reading, listening and writing parts (written exam) are assessed as a single unit. This means that you don’t have to pass each part (reading, listening, writing, speaking) with 60%, but only the written exam (reading, listening, writing) as a whole and the oral exam (speaking) as a whole.

However, the ÖSD B1 and C2 exams are offered in four modules. You need to score 60% in each of the four modules (reading, listening, writing and speaking) to receive the certificate. This is also the case with Goethe exams.

Another advantage of the ÖSD exams is that a dictionary can be used for the ÖSD B2, C1 and C2 exams.

There are also differences in the preparation time for the oral exam. For example, there is no preparation time for telc Deutsch A2 and 10 minutes for ÖSD A2.

ÖSD exams at the Sprachen Akademie

Have we convinced you? Here you can find out more about our preparation courses, exam registration, the exam process and much more. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. See you soon!

Nelly Müller – Sprachen Akademie