The Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD) is an internationally recognized exam of German language ability. It tests for a level of ability equivalent to level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. Candidates will typically need between 300 and 450 hours of instruction in the German language in order to obtain the necessary fluency to pass the Zertifikat Deutsch exam.
The Zertifikat Deutsch exam is tailored to the needs of adult students of German, regardless of whether they are inside or outside a German-speaking country. Another exam, the Zertifikat Deutsch für Jugendliche (ZD j), is tailored to adolescent students of German.
The Zertifikat Deutsch is the result of a joint collaboration between Goethe Institute, the Österreichischem Sprachdiplom (ÖSD), the Schweizer Erziehungsdirektorenkonferenz (EDK) and WBT Weiterbildungs-Testsysteme gGmbH.