The Goethe Diploma is an internationally recognized language certificate for the German language, awarded by the Goethe-Institut. It certifies German language skills for personal, professional or academic use and is widely recognized by employers and educational institutions.

The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 exam requires very basic language skills.

The exam corresponds to the first level (A1) of the six-level scale of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• understand in everyday situations short, very simple questions, instructions and information, as well as voicemail messages, announcements in public places, as well as short conversations,
• identify information that is important to you in short text messages, signs in public places and classified ads,
• understand and say numbers, quantities, time and prices,
• fill in simple personal information on various forms,
• write short personal messages,
• introduce yourself during a conversation and answer simple questions about yourself,
• formulate common everyday questions and requests and respond accordingly.

The Goethe-Institut's language certificates are internationally renowned and are considered important qualifications in the job market and in educational institutions in many countries. The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 enables spouses of immigrants who want to come to live in Germany to certify the required language skills.

The exam corresponds to the second (A2) of the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

By passing the Goethe-Zertifikat A2: Fit in Deutsch 2 exam, you prove that you can communicate in German in a simple way.

• understand simple questions, news, telephone messages, information from the radio and short conversations in everyday situations,
• to extract the most important information from short written messages, advertisements, descriptions, letters and simple journalistic texts,
• to write short personal notes
• to introduce yourself in a conversation and answer questions that concern you,
• to formulate simple questions in discussions about topics that concern you and to answer accordingly,
• ask common questions about everyday topics, make requests or suggestions and respond accordingly.

The Goethe-Institut language certificates are internationally renowned. We know from experience that the Fit exams are a strong incentive for young students to continue learning a language.

The Goethe-Zertifikat B1 is a German exam for teenagers and adults.

It characterizes the user of the German language as independent and corresponds to the third level (B1) of the six-level scale of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• understand the main points of clear, formal speech on familiar topics regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
• to deal with most communication situations that arise during trips to German-speaking countries.
• to express themselves simply and fluently about familiar topics and personal areas of interest.
• to narrate experiences and events, to describe dreams, hopes and goals and to give brief justifications and explanations.

The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 requires an advanced level of language proficiency. The exam corresponds to the fourth level (B2) of the six-level scale of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• understand the basic meanings of concrete and abstract topics and derive from them the information you consider important (e.g. from radio broadcasts)
• understand a wide range of texts, both short (such as advertisements) and longer, complex texts of encyclopedic content, commentaries and reports
• to structure and clearly express your opinions on complex topics in writing, as well as to correct third-party texts that contain errors
• present orally general topics and topics of particular interest to you, using clear and well-structured speech
• actively participate in discussions on topics that are familiar to you, take a position and present your opinions.

The Goethe-Institut language certificates are internationally recognized and are considered important qualifications in the job market and in educational institutions in many countries.

The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 certificate is recognized in many countries as a language proficiency certificate that allows enrollment in the Department of German Language and Literature.

The Goethe-Zertifikat C1 exam requires very advanced language skills. It corresponds to the fifth level (C1) of the six-level scale of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• understand extensive radio texts, radio broadcasts and lectures without any particular problem,
• understand a wide range of texts, including long, complex texts of encyclopedic content, commentaries and reports,
• write reports on complex topics, developing your opinions clearly in a well-structured text and using appropriate expressions, taking into account the potential reader,
• express yourself orally with spontaneity and fluency, formulate your positions, thoughts and opinions accurately and present your own findings extensively.

The Goethe-Institut language certificates are internationally recognized and are considered important qualifications in the job market and in educational institutions in many countries.

The Goethe-Zertifikat C1 exempts foreign prospective students from language entrance exams at various German universities and colleges, as well as preparatory courses (Studienkollegs).

As of 01.01.2012, the Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom replaces the three previous Goethe-Zertifikat exams: Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP), Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS) and Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS).

The Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom assumes a very advanced language level and corresponds to the sixth and highest level – C2 – of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages' proficiency scale.

• understand without difficulty everything you read and hear in German
• summarize information from various written and oral sources and provide coherent justifications and explanations
• express yourself spontaneously with fluency and precision and articulate subtle nuances of meaning even on complex topics.

Goethe-Institut certificates are well-known worldwide and are recognized in many countries by employers and higher education institutions as proof of language proficiency.

The Goethe Zertifikat C2: GDS – like the three previous exams at level C2 – enables prospective foreign students to gain access to German higher education institutions.

The German federal states recognize the exam as a language certificate for the purpose of granting a teaching license in German public education. Information on this is provided by the respective state recognition and certification bodies, such as the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, the Teacher Training Service, the Prefectural Government, and the Senate of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg.