What is the German "Sprachdiplom"?

The Deutsche Sprachdiplom (DSD) is a programme from Germany for German as a foreign language abroad. The DSD can be acquired with an examination at the end of several years of school-based German lessons. St. Kilian’s is the only school in Ireland to offer students the opportunity to take these exams.

The DSD examination can be taken at two levels and contains four equally weighted examination sections:

• Reading comprehension
• Listening comprehension
• Written communication
• Oral communications

Passing the examination for the Deutsche Sprachdiplom – First Level (DSD I) will give you German language skills at level B1. A DSD I is regarded as proof of the necessary German language skills for admission to a Studienkolleg in Germany.

In the Oral Communication Examination, students must first talk for 5 minutes about various everyday topics and then give a 5-minute presentation on a topic of their choice. This is followed by a discussion on that topic. Every year, St. Kilian’s students give really impressive presentations.

The examination for the Deutsche Sprachdiplom – Second Level (DSD II) tests German language skills at levels B2/C1. A DSD II is regarded as proof of the German language skills required to study at a German university.

The Deutsche Sprachdiplom is currently taken by more than 80,000 candidates per year in over 70 countries. On average, around 80 students take the DSD I and II examinations at St. Kilian’s every year.