Goethe-Zertifikat C2: GDS

The objective is to…

• Attend a university course or conduct research at a German-speaking university, for example in Switzerland or Germany;
• Demonstrate that you have achieved the language objectives at C2 level;
• Work in the healthcare sector;
• Obtain an official certification recognized worldwide.

The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) is a German language certification for adults that validates the most advanced language skills and corresponds to C2, the highest of the six levels on the CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

By passing the exam, the candidate demonstrate that they are able to …

• Understand virtually everything they read or hear without difficulty;
• Summarize information from various sources, both spoken and written, presenting it coherently to explain and justify it;
• Express themselves spontaneously, very fluently, and accurately in complex situations, conveying the subtlest nuances of meaning.

The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom allows foreign students to gain admission to German-speaking and Germanic academies and universities in Switzerland, and in certain cases, it is recognized as a language certificate qualifying them to teach German.

PREPARATION

Here you can find sample exams to practise independently online.

PARTS OF THE EXAM: MODULES

The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom consists of four modules: reading comprehension, listening comprehension (individual oral exam), writing, and speaking. The exam is conducted and evaluated worldwide under the same conditions.

The four modules can be taken individually or in combination. Four certificates from the individual modules are equivalent to a single full certificate. For the writing module (Schreiben), the candidate can choose between two options: a topic on current affairs or a topic of literary nature. If the candidate chooses the literary topic, they are asked to inform the Goethe exam center by email when registering for the session.

Reading comprehension

The candidate will read specialized texts, commentaries, reports, advertisements, and accounts, completing the corresponding exercises for each. They will be able to understand a wide range of texts, even if they are abstract or complex in terms of language and content, while also grasping their implicit meanings.

Duration of the test: 80 minutes.

Writing

The candidate will partially reformulate a short report and write a text on a general or literary topic in the form of a well-structured letter or book review, appropriate in style. Two general topics and one topic related to the two selected literary works will be presented. The candidate will work on one of the four possible topics.

Duration of the test: 80 minutes.

Listening comprehension

The candidate will listen to reports and features from various media, informal dialogues, as well as interviews with experts at natural speed, and complete the corresponding exercises.

Duration of the test: approximately 35 minutes.

Speaking

The candidate will give a presentation on a complex topic, for example globalization, presenting their arguments in a nuanced way and responding to questions. They will discuss an additional topic in a conversation about the pros and cons, defending their own point of view, reacting to opposing positions, and attempting to convince the interlocutor of their stance.

Duration of the test: approximately 15 minutes.

REQUIREMENTS

The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom is a German exam aimed at adults.

Goethe-Institut exams are open to all interested candidates and can be taken regardless of minimum age or German citizenship.

• For the Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom, a minimum age of 18 is recommended.
• The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom requires language skills corresponding to the sixth and highest level (C2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• To reach this level, depending on prior knowledge and initial learning conditions, at least 1,000 teaching units of 45 minutes each are necessary.

RECOGNITION BY UNIVERSITIES

• Recognition of the Goethe-Zertificat C2 by universities (PDF, 532 kB)