Do I need to learn “Austrian” now? 

Are you thinking about taking an ÖSD exam but still hesitating? Maybe because you’ve heard it’s harder than other German exams? Or because you’re wondering whether your certificate will even be valid outside of Austria? Do these doubts sound familiar? 

Then you’re not alone. In this article, we’d like to clear things up. And at the end, we’ll also share a valuable tip for preparing for an ÖSD exam – one that really works. 

A university place, a new job, a longer stay abroad: behind every German exam is a goal you’re working towards. And the better you know what to expect, the easier that final step becomes. Here are the six questions we hear most often. 

1. Is the ÖSD certificate really recognised worldwide? 

Yes. ÖSD certificates are recognised internationally – by employers, universities and other educational institutions, and in official procedures such as citizenship or family reunification applications. You can take the exams at licensed centres all over the world: e.g. from Austria, Germany and Switzerland to Morocco, Greece and Vietnam. Wherever you take it, your certificate is valid. 

Behind this is proven quality. The ÖSD is a full member of ALTE, the Association of Language Testers in Europe, and our exams carry the ALTE Q-Mark. This seal of quality is only awarded to those who meet ALTE’s strict quality standards. 

2. Are ÖSD exams more difficult? 

No. Like other recognised German exams, ÖSD exams are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).  Level B1 remains level B1. 

So where’s the difference? In ÖSD exams, you’ll encounter German from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, especially in the reading and listening sections. The texts and speakers can come from any of the three countries, and the mix is different every time. But one thing stays the same: all texts are in Standard German. 

3.  So do I have to learn three kinds of German? 

No – it’s a common assumption, but it’s not true. 

All instructions are written in Standard German. The variety only really shows up in reading and listening: texts may come from Germany, Austria or Switzerland and so may the speakers in the recordings. But they all speak Standard German. 

You need to understand these varieties, not use them. When you write and speak, you simply use the Standard German you’ve learned. 

4. Do I have to understand different German dialects? 

No. Nobody speaks dialect in ÖSD exams. All speakers and examiners use the standard language – the kind of German you know from a textbook, for example. 

Dialect is the “language” many people speak at home or among friends. It’s often only understood within a particular region. Standard German, on the other hand, is understood everywhere in the German-speaking world. The listening texts may feature speakers from Germany, Austria or Switzerland. You can often hear where they’re from, and sometimes they use different words. All that matters is that you understand what’s being said. 

5. I learned my German in Germany. Could that be a disadvantage? 

Not at all. When you write and speak, you can use whichever standard variety you learned. 

That’s not a special allowance – it’s built into every ÖSD exam. We follow what’s called a pluricentric approach: the standard German of Germany, Austria and Switzerland are all equally correct. Learned German in Hamburg and write “Fahrrad” for “bike”? Correct. Live in Zurich and say “Velo”? Also correct. Say “Jänner” for “January”, like the Viennese do, rather than the German “Januar”? Correct as well. Our examiners know the different varieties and assess them accordingly. 

6. Which pronunciation is correct in the ÖSD exam? 

Any standard pronunciation. If people can hear that you learned German in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, that’s not a mistake. You won’t be marked down for using words specific to one of these countries. 

Think of English: you can often tell from pronunciation and word choice whether someone is from the US or the UK. Yet they’re all speaking English. German works exactly the same way. 

Our tip: the best way to prepare for an ÖSD exam 

Listen to or watch the news – from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Ten minutes a day is enough, and you can easily do it online. 

It sounds simple, but it helps more than any vocabulary list. On the radio and on TV, you’ll hear exactly the kind of Standard German you may come across in the exam – complete with the typical regional features and accents of each country. Once your ear is used to these varieties, you won’t have any difficulties in the exam either. 

On top of that, free sample tests are available for every ÖSD exam. They let you get familiar with the task formats in advance and get a feel for how the exam is timed. 

Your certificate says more than just “exam passed” 

German doesn’t stop at borders. It’s spoken in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but also in Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, East Belgium and South Tyrol – and it sounds a little different everywhere. An ÖSD exam reflects that reality. It’s not just about grammar; it shows that you can find your way in the language wherever you go. That’s what the ÖSD prepares you for: German as you’ll actually hear it out there.