Quo vadis, DSH?
Focus on the DSH: Taking stock and looking ahead
Does the established format of the DSH exam (German language exam for university admission) still meet today's requirements? This question was explored on November 28, 2025, at the “Focus on the DSH” symposium in Göttingen. Organized by the Professional Association for German as a Foreign and Second Language (FaDaF), the event provided a forum for discussing the current challenges and prospects of the exam. Michél Müller attended the conference on behalf of Zessko.
The morning was devoted to an analytical examination of the DSH. In his plenary lecture, Prof. Dr. Olaf Bärenfänger highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the current exam format. The central discussion focused not only on how linguistic competence can be made visible for university studies, but also on how this concept of competence should be defined in today's academic context.
Another focus was on the possible applications of artificial intelligence. The use of AI was discussed in the keynote speeches and the subsequent workshop “DSH text production: Using AI programs for assessment and feedback.” The extent to which AI-supported methods can assist in the evaluation of “task-oriented text production” was tested in practice and critically examined. The results showed potential for more efficient feedback, but made it clear that the final decision-making authority remains with the human examiner.
The program was rounded off with a review of 20 years of DSH quality assurance. In the concluding panel discussion, the future of the DSH was outlined—an outlook that is fraught with unknown variables. The exchange among colleagues showed that further steps are necessary to develop the DSH in a way that is fit for the future.
Contact: Michél Müller
Published on December 17, 2025