My experience with the SDS language test (German)

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Thanks to everyone who responded to my post a few weeks ago trying to find a language test date after mine was cancelled and I was up against a deadline to get the certificate. I managed to get the certificate just in time!

I thought it might be helpful to others to share my experience with the SDS test. I chose that one as it got the certificate fastest and it was indeed fast - I had it by e-mail less than 48 hours after finishing the test and in the post a day later.

The test itself seemed like it was probably easier than other language tests. I expected to pass at B1 and got B2. Some advantages to the test:

- The format of the test starts you off very easy (A1, click on the picture of a tree, etc.) but moves up quickly if you get things right.

- In the writing section there is a basic spellcheck - it won't give you the correct spelling, but highlights it you have spelled a word incorrectly. Useful to help you avoid typos.

- The examiners gave very thorough instructions at the start and seemed friendly and to genuinely want everyone to do well.

- The test assesses you as you go so if you are only A2 level, for example, the test will stop after you've got a few B1 questions wrong. This means you would have a shorter test and not have to waste ages answering questions you don't understand.

And some downsides:

- It's done on a tablet so for the writing section you have to type everything on a touch screen (no keyboard). Fine for A1/A2, but a bit laborious for the longer B1 and, especially, B2 writing sections.

- The headphones are not very good and so you can hear a lot of sound leaking from other people's headphones. It's also quite a noisy test environment as people get up and leave at different times as they reach their level and finish the test or get taken for their speaking test. The venue I did it in was a small room with everyone on one long horseshoe shaped table so very close together. Might be better in a larger venue.

- If you get to B2 in the listening sections you can only hear the audio once, which made the above a problem. I missed a few bits just due to not being able to hear clearly over the background noise.

- There was a lot of waiting around for the speaking test. Not sure if this was just the set up on this particular day/venue, but there ended up being a queue of about 15-20 mins to do the speaking section, which then felt a bit rushed - presumably to get through everyone in time. I think in some tests like Goethe there are two people in the speaking part. In this one it was just one examiner and one test taker at a time.

Hope this is helpful for others!

2
Hi there,

My wife is going to take the SDS language test next Tuesday and is a little worried, especially about the speaking part.

Mind to share your experience and what the test looked like?

Thanks so much in advance!

BR Marco

3
Hi Marco,

I don't think I have any more information about the format than I shared above! For the speaking part - in the test I took it was one examiner with one test-taker at a time and it was really just max five minutes for the speaking part.

Listening and speaking are graded together. The certificate will show what level you reached on listening and speaking separately, but then the level for "mündlich" will be those two combined.

Hope that helps!

4
@likeablecordial & @MarcoG , what level was passed actually, like how many points in each of read/write/listen/speak

5
Is the SDS Test acceptable yl authorities for german proficiency? Example can i use it to convert from BTo C application?

6
I did FIDE Probe lauf and it was good but would rather do SDS as the results are much quicker. During FIDE - I had to do short introduction, then describe the picture - talk about picture, then another picture and if they will decide that you can do B1 then there is a subject which you talk about. Is this similar during SDS exam? And what subjects did you prepare for. I know it says real life situations but f.ex. Bank, shop, Geminde... what else? Thank you.

7
I have taken both the SDS and the FIDE test. If you ask me the SDS is much easier than the FIDE. For the speaking (Interview) on the SDS they just ask you to speak about yourself, family, job. With the FIDE B1, they give you 2 topics, and then you are asked questions about that specific topic by the examiner. So overall, the SDS is easier in terms of the speaking part of the exam. The SDS speaking test does not last more than 7 or 8 minutes.

8
Well from the current feedback of more people who have given the test of late:

1. The speaking part of SDS test has gotten quite tougher. The interview easily lasts 10-15 minutes for a B1-B2.

2. They ask counter questions (of course on lines of the topic) if you can really hear and reply it correctly on the spot. In hindsight it seems the telc with known format might be easier to tackle than extempore questions. They also expect you to speak much longer on each topic with correct pronunciation.

Can anyone else comment on this?

9
I can attest to this.

I took the exam twice. The first time, I needed an A1 certificate as part of the requirements for family reunification. At that time, I had only just started my B1 lessons, so it was a pleasant surprise when I got a B1 for the written part. The oral part, I got an A2 which was more in line with my expectations. It was a simple, informal conversation.. kinda like having a chit-chat with the interviewer where you talk a bit about yourself and what your dream job is.

About a year later, I decided to retake the oral exam to try to get the speaking part on my certificate up to B1 as well. So I made sure to practice talking about what my dream job is. But come exam day, nope, the format very much changed. First, you're asked to introduce yourself. Then on the table were a couple of topics wherein you're asked to pick one and explain your position on it. I think I was given like one or two minutes to think about what I wanted to say. The topic I chose was about social media. The other one, I didn't even understand what it was about! At then end of the day, I did get the B1 I was aiming for, so all's well that ends well.

10
I took the SDS test yesterday. Thanks to previous posters feedback about the test, I found some things similar like it's really hard to use the keyboard on the tablet to type the long written tasks. I made it through to B2 writing section and had to write a 200 word response about training in the workplace. I noticed a lot of the texts and activities did have a work theme to them. There was a noticeable change in difficulty between B1 and B2. The listening for B2 you can only hear once!

About the speaking part, I was taken out about half way through. The interviewer was really friendly and nice. He asked me to talk about myself like where I'm from, hobbies, work etc. There was also a hypothetical question about if I won the lottery what would I do. Perhaps they only ask this if they think you're around B1 or B2 level but it surprised me and I don't think I did too well in my responses mostly because I really didn't know what I'd do if I won the lottery!! He also asked follow up questions about some of the things I said. I think overall I was in there something like 10-15 minutes and I think the speaking part was quite challenging.

11

Oh yeah, I was forgot I was asked that question as well!

I was also wondering if they try to gauge your level once you start speaking, and that they probably only ask the tougher questions if they think you're at B1 at least.

12
I got my results in the post today, they arrived very quickly considering the holiday period. I did as expected mostly but managed to get a B2 in listening which I was surprised at as it was really difficult given you only heard the audio once. Scored B1 in all other areas which is probably where I'm at. Would recommend the test overall, especially if you're needing the levels for permit renewal or upgrade. Think with hindsight I would have prepared more for the speaking part. It is challenging as no theme is really given in advance and you have to improvise and speak on the spot.

13
I took my SDS Test in Zurich on Dec 19th 2023. It is relatively easy vs TELC and specially Goethe. Got there 30 mins before the test started. Test was administered on a tablet. Started with easy A1 level. The corner of the page tells you whether you are attempting an A1/A2/B1/B2. Headphones and piece of paper with pencil was provided for notes. Had a fill in a form on the Tablet. The form was simple , Vorname, Nachname, Geburstag, Address, Nationality etc. Answers from the form were used during the speaking test. Hearing part of the test for level A1, A2 is played twice. In the middle it was time for interview.

Speaking part was the following. Introduction, where do you work, Work experience, Address, Married or not, hobbies ( questions are asked of your hobbies). Was asked to spell out my Workday. I was asked to share my last 3 travel and why did I travel their. Was asked to share what was my plan after the test and C permit. ( 3 bullet points). That was it. Got my results in 3 days. You can email them next day and get results by mail immediately. Would highly recommend SDS.

14
Guys i gonna tack the SDS in 2 weeks and i want to get B2 in listening and speaking. Did any one have any Idea or experience the questions coming for B2? Specifically the listening? How many questions for the listening part for B2? And how hard it is? Thanks u 😊

15
stupid question - is this test done in hochdeutsch or swiss german?

16

for the speaking part, what was the level you are talking about ? B1 or B2 ?

17

See also this news that SDS is not accepted any more by the immigration office: Schweizerischer Digitaler Sprachtest (SDS) tips - #5 by Excad

18

I did the SDS Prüfung (exam) in the last few days.
Rules:

  • phone must be turned off
  • No jackets not purses/backpacks around
  • Smartwatches are taken away too

Tools:

  • tablet
  • Pencil
  • Sheet of paper
  • Keyboard (optional, if you don’t like to type on the tablet)

Time:

  • 2,5h + 15 min interview

Exam rules:

  • You have written and reading exercises on the tablet, the exercises are mixed but they always start with A1 and go all the way up until B2
  • Out of the blue you get a notification in the tablet that you must go to the interview (even if you are in the middle of an exercise) and then you go to a separate room where the interviewer already is waiting for you
  • in listening exercises, you can repeat the recording twice max, up until and including B1
  • In B2, it is only one recording possible
  • In both latter situations, the recording cannot be paused, so one needs to listen to everything
  • Once you confirm an answer in the tablet you cannot go back (you get a pop up window asking if you are sure you want to proceed)

Exercises I had:

  • A1 write down name, surname, nationality, birthday, address, post code and city
  • A1: pick words in boxes and match them against the pictures (one word does not match with anything)
  • A1: listen to words and match them to pictures
  • A2: write a formal email to your boss saying you cannot make it to a meeting on a specific week day (explain why and apologize) - ca. 40 words
  • A2: Read a text with an ad for a flat rental. You have 5 sentences about the text that you must choose if true or false
  • B1: Read a text about a workshop and their timetables, where the employees must park the car, etc. then you have 5 sentences about the text and you must choose if they are true or false
  • B1: listen to a conversation of a man calling the Gemeinde to register himself. Again you have 5 sentences and you need to choose each ones are true or false against the text.
  • B1: write a formal email to the online company where you saw a TV to be sold. It is asked to request when is delivery, at what time and if it has warranty. - ca. 80 words
  • B2: I don’t know as I did not do it. I stopped and said I was done with the exam.

Interview:
The interviewer asked me to tell a bit about myself (name, age, where I am from, profession). Then he asked me to describe a work day, as well as a weekend, in my life. Why do I live in my town, what exactly do I do in my job, what are my hobbies, what do I do at home when I’m not working, what are the feelings I have living at my place, why do I want to the the exam.

I hope this helps other people in the future.

Viel Glück! :slight_smile:

2 Likes
19

I’m confused by this. I thought SDS was set up by Swiss Authorities specifically for permit/citizenship application use.

20

I think that’s the FIDE.