Practise ÖSD Zertifikat C1.
238 minutes, four modules, pass mark 60 per cent. The first practice exam is free.
Structure and length
For studying at a German university, for the medical licence (Approbation) and for qualified jobs with a lot of customer contact.
The ÖSD certificate comes from Austria and is recognised across the German-speaking world. Its tasks draw more often on everyday situations in Austria.
- Lesen (Reading)90 minAnswer key, instant
- Hören (Listening)40 minIn preparation here
- Schreiben (Writing)90 minMarked against the board's criteria, with a margin
- Sprechen (Speaking)18 minIn preparation here
- Total238 minPass mark 60 %
Structure by part
How the modules of ÖSD Zertifikat C1 are divided, following the board's published format. Knowing the parts means losing no exam time to the instructions.
* For these parts the board's public material states no item count; the figure follows the model test and is an approximation.
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Statements on a text | A long text, five three-option tasks. (Multiple choice) | 5 tasks |
| Teil 2Matching headlines | Match five texts to the right one of ten headlines. (Matching) | 5 tasks |
| Teil 3Inserting sections | Put five removed sections back; two do not fit. (Inserting text parts) | 5 tasks |
| Teil 4Gap text | A text with fifteen gaps, fill in the right words. (Gap text, free entry) | 15 tasks |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1 *Task 1 | A longer recording, detailed understanding. (Multiple choice) | 10 tasksplayed once |
| Teil 2 *Task 2 | A recording, complete information. (Completing notes) | 10 tasksplayed once |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Formal e-mail | A formally appropriate reply covering noted points. (Free writing) | 1 task |
| Teil 2Paper, position or commentary | One of three tasks: written paper, position or commentary, at least 250 words. (Free writing) | 1 task |
| Part | What to do | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Teil 1Phone call | Hold a phone call. (Oral) | – |
| Teil 2Discussion | Hold a discussion. (Oral) | – |
| Teil 3Short paper | Give a short paper. (Oral) | – |
Figures follow the board's published format. Your test centre's exam regulations are always what counts.
What happens if you do not pass
The exam is marked as a whole. Whoever fails repeats every part. Your test centre sets the fee, and it differs from place to place.
What level C1 demands
The written part takes 220 minutes in total; the longest single module is Lesen (Reading) at 90 minutes. ÖSD tests the same four skills but draws more often on everyday situations in Austria.
- Lesen (Reading)
- Understand long, demanding texts and grasp implicit meaning: irony, allusion, unspoken judgement.
- Hören (Listening)
- Follow longer contributions even when they are loosely structured and connections are only implied.
- Schreiben (Writing)
- Express yourself clearly and in a well-structured way, present complex matters in detail and match the style to the occasion.
- Sprechen (Speaking)
- Speak fluently and spontaneously without obvious searching for words, and use the language effectively at work.
Where C1 is usually lost
At C1 the giveaway is avoiding Konjunktiv II and phrasing suggestions in the indicative with „vielleicht“. Linguistic precision is expected, not just comprehensibility.
As a guideline, about 800 to 1000 lessons from zero are quoted for C1. The range is wide because prior knowledge of a related language changes the effort a lot. It serves rough planning, not as a promise.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does ÖSD Zertifikat C1 take?
- About 238 minutes in total: Lesen (Reading) 90 minutes, Hören (Listening) 40 minutes, Schreiben (Writing) 90 minutes, Sprechen (Speaking) 18 minutes. The oral part often takes place on a different date.
- How many points do you need for ÖSD Zertifikat C1?
- Normally 60 per cent. The exam is marked as a whole. Whoever fails repeats every part.
- How long does preparing for C1 take?
- As a guideline, about 800 to 1000 lessons from zero are quoted for C1 in total. Anyone who speaks a related language needs far fewer; the range is deliberately wide.