DTZ Exam: Process, Registration, Costs & Dates

Most test-takers take the DTZ at the end of an Integrationskurs — the exam is the official final test of this course. If you don't attend an Integrationskurs, you can still take the DTZ: As an external participant, you register directly with an approved test center.

Both paths lead to the same certificate. The main difference is in registration and costs, which are often fully or partially covered for course participants.

If you are participating in an Integrationskurs, your course provider will handle the registration. You usually don't have to worry about anything yourself — except, of course, your preparation. Ask your course early about the planned exam date.

Without an Integrationskurs, you register directly with a test center. Test centers offer regular dates; you can see which dates are available on their website or by calling them.

The costs for the DTZ vary depending on the test center and your personal situation. For participants in an Integrationskurs, they are often fully or partially covered — your course provider can clarify the details.

For external participants, exam fees usually apply. We deliberately do not provide specific prices here — they change and differ between test centers. It's best to ask directly at the test center where you plan to register.

On exam day, you start with the written part. Listening, reading, and writing are tested in one go, in that order. After the written part, there is usually a short break.

This is followed by the speaking part, which is a paired exam. You will be paired with another test-taker and then go into the exam room together. The three speaking parts are completed one after another. The examiners ask questions and give instructions — you don't need to know yourself when each part is due.

For a good result, you definitely need: a good night's sleep beforehand, a light snack in your backpack, water, and your mind free from last-minute stressful vocabulary.

In the week before the exam, you won't learn anything fundamentally new — now it's about routine and calm. This checklist will help you clear your mind.

An exam day is a long day. If you only think about the process on the morning of the exam, you'll start with unnecessary stress. A few simple preparations the evening before help enormously.

Get your things ready the evening before: ID document, confirmation of registration if available, one or two pens, a water bottle, a small snack (dextrose or a granola bar for the break). Write down the address and directions — many rely on their phone, until the battery dies on that very day.

Plan at least a 30-minute buffer for your journey. Someone who arrives calmly at the exam location and can sit for five minutes will approach the first task more relaxed than someone who rushes in, sweating and out of breath. This 30-minute buffer is the easiest exam preparation trick there is.

A small detail many forget: Ask in advance if you are allowed to bring earplugs for concentration into the exam. Some test centers allow this, others don't. If you are easily distracted in noisy environments, a quick inquiry beforehand is worth the effort.