DSH explained: DSH-1, DSH-2 and DSH-3 at 57, 67 and 82%, the 2:2:1:2 weighting, and why a strong oral cannot rescue the written paper
The DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) is the German exam that universities in Germany set themselves for international applicants. There is no single DSH: each university writes its own ordinance, following a model ordinance from the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) and the framework rules (the RO-DT) agreed with the education ministers. The certificate says that the local ordinance meets those rules and is registered with the HRK.
So we read one real ordinance in full: the University of Mannheim's DSH ordinance of 26 May 2021, in its consolidated version published in March 2026, and its DSH fee statute, both read on 3 November 2026. Mannheim's ordinance is based on the HRK model of 2019. Other universities' details can differ, especially fees and dates, so check your own university's ordinance before you rely on a number.
The three results: DSH-1, DSH-2, DSH-3
The DSH has a written exam and an oral exam, and the certificate gives one overall result:
DSH-1: at least 57% in both the written and the oral exam. DSH-2: at least 67% in both. DSH-3: at least 82% in both.
DSH-2 is the one most applicants need. Mannheim's ordinance says that DSH-2 or higher counts as proof of German for unrestricted admission to all degree programmes. DSH-3 shows especially high German, above the level admission requires. A university can accept DSH-1 for some specific purposes, by its own decision.
Our reading: the word that matters is both. A candidate with 80% in the oral and 63% in the written gets DSH-1, not DSH-2. The two halves are never averaged into one score.
What one prep school sees. Sprachschule Axioma, which prepares students for the DSH: "Wenn Teilnehmende die DSH-2 knapp verfehlen, so liegt das meistens an der schriftlichen Prüfung. Für das Erreichen von DSH-2 sind nicht nur Wortschatz- und Grammatikkenntnisse auf Niveau C1 des Europäischen Referenzrahmens erforderlich, sondern man muss auch Texte verfassen und dabei argumentieren können und dafür die notwendigen Prüfungsstrategien kennenlernen." In short: when candidates narrowly miss DSH-2, it is usually in the written exam, which takes C1 vocabulary and grammar plus arguing in a text and knowing the exam strategies. That is one school's experience, not a statistic.
The written exam and its weighting
The written exam lasts at most four hours in total and has three parts. Monolingual dictionaries are allowed; electronic aids are not.
Listening (HV): a lecture-style text of 5,500 to 7,000 characters, played twice, with notes allowed. You get 10 minutes after the first hearing and 40 minutes after the second. The tasks test whether you followed the content and the structure: questions, an outline, a summary.
Reading and academic language structures (LV and WS): one academic text of 4,500 to 6,000 characters, sometimes with a graph, in 90 minutes including reading time. The reading tasks ask about the content and the argument. The WS tasks are the grammar part: transforming and paraphrasing structures from the text.
Text production (TP): an argumentative text of about 250 words in 70 minutes, based on a chart, a table, quotations or short texts. It must not be a free essay, and the tasks are set so that memorised phrases do not work.
The parts are weighted HV : LV : WS : TP = 2 : 2 : 1 : 2. The written exam is passed with 57% overall.
What the marking actually rewards
The ordinance says how each part is marked, and the rules are not the same:
Listening and reading are marked on content: on whether the task was done completely and appropriately, not on linguistic correctness or form. The grammar part (WS) is marked on correctness. Text production is marked on both content and language, with language counting more.
Our reading: grammar on its own is only 1 of the 7 weighting units of the written exam. Students who spend most of their preparation on grammar drills are training for the smallest part. Listening, reading and writing together carry six sevenths, and two of them do not mark your grammar at all.
The oral exam cannot be skipped
The oral exam is compulsory, and nobody can be exempted from it. It lasts at most 20 minutes, after 20 minutes of preparation with a monolingual dictionary: a short talk of at most 5 minutes on a short text or a chart, then a conversation of at most 15 minutes. Group exams are not allowed.
It is marked on content, clarity and independence, how you handle the conversation, correctness and range of vocabulary, and pronunciation and intonation. It is passed at 57%.
If you fail the written exam, there is no oral exam. Both parts must be taken at the same place, within one exam period, and earlier results cannot be carried over for the written part.
Retakes, fees and the certificate
You can retake the DSH, including to improve your result. Mannheim's ordinance sets no limit on attempts.
Fees are set by each university under its state's law. At Mannheim the fee is €100 per sitting. If you withdraw at least four weeks before the exam you get €75 back; later, €20.
The certificate shows the overall result and the result of each part. If you fail, you can ask for a certificate of participation with the result "not passed".
If your university also accepts other proof, compare the DSH with the [TestDaF](/learn/german/testdaf-levels-explained), which is the same test everywhere, with [telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule](/learn/german/telc-deutsch-c1-hochschule-explained), where a failed oral or written part can be retaken on its own, and with the [Goethe-Zertifikat](/learn/german/goethe-zertifikat-levels-explained) levels.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Counting on a strong oral to lift a weak written exam to DSH-2.
Reaching 67% in the written AND the oral separately.
Each DSH level needs its percentage in both parts; they are not averaged.
Preparing mostly with grammar exercises.
Spending most of the time on lecture listening, academic reading and argumentative writing.
The grammar part (WS) is 1 of 7 weighting units, and listening and reading are marked on content, not correctness.
Assuming every university's DSH costs the same.
Reading the fee statute of the university you apply to.
Each university sets its own DSH fee; Mannheim's is €100.
Questions
What percentage do you need for DSH-2?
At least 67% in the written exam and at least 67% in the oral exam.
What are DSH-1 and DSH-3?
DSH-1 is at least 57% in both parts, accepted only for some purposes. DSH-3 is at least 82% in both, above the level admission requires.
How is the DSH written exam weighted?
Listening, reading, academic language structures and text production are weighted 2 : 2 : 1 : 2. The written exam is passed at 57% overall.
Can I skip the DSH oral exam?
No. It is compulsory and nobody is exempted. But if you fail the written exam, the oral is not held.
Can I retake the DSH?
Yes, including to improve your result. Mannheim's ordinance sets no limit on attempts; check your own university's.
How much does the DSH cost?
Each university sets its own fee. At the University of Mannheim it is €100 per sitting.
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