Hi folks,
I am planning to take the SDS German exam for my fast track C permit process (C permit after 5 years). I am considering this mostly because I hear its easier and its more of a placement test than a level test like Goethe. I was able to score almost perfect scores in the Goethe A2 model exams and wanted to give this a shot.
While registering for the exam, I saw that they had an option to book a 1 / 2 hr preparation session for 99 / 189 CHF respectively.
Has anyone tried their prep session?
Would you recommend people taking the SDS exam sign up for it as well?
Also, do you folks think someone who's able to do well at the A2 level and able to handle most day to day conversations in German well place at a B1 level for speaking?
Thanks!
I took FIDE and SDS tests and I took prep sessions for both exams as well.
In my opinion, SDS is easier/practical, particularly speaking part.
You will have a conversation about yourself, your work, typical day, how do you learn German and about your future plans.
FIDE, on the other hand, will have 12-15 topics that you might get, some of them are easy than others and you will also have a role play phone conversation and description of the situation in the picture.
As per the prep session, I would recommend to take it just to understand the structure of the exam. The teacher will go through the sample test and explain it to you. Maybe 1 hour would be enough in your case. You will not learn anything new in terms of language but you will feel more comfortable when you know exactly what to expect from the exam.
If you are doing well on Goethe A2, then you most likely will pass the exam without any issues.
Judging from your response, it seem like the prep session for sds wasn't worth it
How did you prepare for the exam?
Also, how do they grade the speaking section?
I took the SDS recently. Why do it over FIDE? Well you get results back in 3 days and its accepted by the swiss authorities as proof of language skills. If you need FIDE, you can convert your SDS mark to FIDE for like 30 francs.
To prepare for the exam, look online for A2/B1 (whatever your level is) videos on YouTube of Goethe exam speaking examples. See if you can understand them and basically be able to repeat them. Just look online for test examples. There is no need to take any practice exam.
Examples: What's your name, where do you live, describe your family, where do you come from, hobbies etc. Really basic stuff.
If you can obviously do that easily, they'll ask you to talk freely about one of two random topics. If you can do that, you'll be graded as B1 or B2 depending on your ability.
Note that the SDS is very business/work related. Nearly all my writing/reading sections were about work in some way; so know how to write letters, salutations, valedictions, WhatsApp messages , explanations on why you can't make a meeting etc.
There is no reason to do the practice test.
As mentioned, it’s only several days’ wait to get the SDS results back. Plus, it’s not a pass/fail test for a particular language level - you’ll get graded and get a certificate for whatever level you are at up to B2 ( so there’s less risk of wasting time/money as with signing up for a specific test level)
It’s obviously more difficult towards the end but overall pretty easy to achieve the B1 mark for facilitated naturalization.
Personally i didnt prepare for the test, just went and took it.
I have no idea how they grade the spoken part...
Careful when taking it, though. I accidentally hit the submit button before one of my written essays was finished, and there is no way to go back and edit a response.
On the telc and Goethe homepages you can find some mock exams including the listening part.
https://www.telc.net/en/candidates/l…-a2b1.html#t=2
https://www.telc.net/en/candidates/l…skurs.html#t=2
https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/prf/gb1/ueb.html
While not the same as the fide, it should still be helpful to asses your level and what level of question might be expected.
Important note about the SDS: As it is a graded test you might encounter questions which are above your level.
I recently took a perp session and it was very useful to go through a mock version of the SDS test, get advice on how to take it and also highlight any areas to improve before the test.
It was quite/very expensive compared to other lessons I do on the other tools suggest by EF (italki and preply) but gave me alot of confidence.
To note though I have to yet taken the actual SDS test, that is later this month.
Hellos!
Anyone cleared/appeared for SDS exam recently, any hint on Sprechen topics?
Best!
Yep! I've taken both the Fide and SDS test recently, and agree with the above posters that the SDS is the way to go.
I got the same results for both tests, taken two weeks apart. As for talking points, what kngavl said: "Examples: What's your name, where do you live, describe your family, where do you come from, hobbies etc. Really basic stuff."
I didn't do the prep for either one, and instead just went to YouTube to find some information on what might be asked to reach the level I needed. From there, I tried to memorize some of the questions and wrote out answers.
The SDS test was definitely more relaxed, and confidence-building. The Fide seemed to start with challenging questions and work down to a comfortable level, whereas the SDS started easy, and got more challenging.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Definitely take SDS. It's the best test according to multiple friends of mine. I didn't take the preparation session, but the test itself is not as stressful as other formal tests like IELTS.
I needed a language test for C permit, and didn't know about anything else except Goethe. So I found some test center in Bern, booked the test, it was in 2-3 months, early at 8:00, and I was already in a process of booking a hotel to go there, have no sleep and then take the test while sleep deprived because of the anxiety. My friend asked me - are you dumb? Just take SDS.
And then I just booked an SDS test in 2 weeks, at 18:00 in Zurich, no sleep deprivation, no need to book a hotel, no need to take a day off work, and no need to wait for months for results.
Wait!?!?! So...SDS is now accepted as an official certificate towards the C permit?
Always has been. The SDS serves no other purpose than for immigration and citcenship.
SDS exam - new Swiss language certificate?
Did any one reach b2 question in SDS? Specifically Mündlich? Can any one tell me how hard the listening part in B2 part? How much question? And u have time to read the question or not? Thank u guys