Review the following terms and conditions to ensure that you are compliant and well prepared for your ÖSD examination.

1. Physical presence and punctuality. You must be physically present at the examination site and confirm your ability and legality to travel to the location. You are required to arrive at the examination center at least 30 minutes before the scheduled examination time. Candidates who fail to appear, or who arrive after the scheduled examination start time, will not be permitted to take the examination and forfeit their right to sit it. Full examination fees will be charged in such cases, and no refund or rescheduling will be granted.
2. Reminders. The ÖSD examination center will not issue any further reminders regarding the examination date and time, unless there are changes made by the center for a valid reason.
3. Force majeure. In the event of a postponement due to force majeure (such as a pandemic or storm), the examination will be rescheduled once conditions permit. You will be notified of the new examination date in a timely manner. The amount you paid is retained as a balance on your ÖSD account in our portal, which you can use to schedule a new examination. No cash refunds are issued.
4. Accuracy of registration and identity. You certify that the information provided on the registration form is complete, true, and accurate. Any attempt to have another person take the examination under your identity will result in prosecution. It is your responsibility to monitor your email, including the spam folder, for any communications from the examination center.
5. Identification on examination day. You must present a valid, original passport or national ID on the examination day to verify your identity. Softcopies are not accepted, and a police abstract is not accepted as a substitute for a lost ID or passport. Without valid identification you will not be admitted to the examination, and you are not entitled to any refund. The same valid identification is required when collecting your test results or certificate.
6. Results and examination materials. Test results will be available approximately six (6) weeks following the examination day and will be disclosed only to the examinee. Examination content and materials remain the property of ÖSD and will not be released under any circumstances.
7. Review of evaluation papers. Should you wish to review the evaluation papers, a written request must be submitted within eight (8) weeks from the date the certificate or results notice was issued. Reviews will be conducted in the presence of the examination coordinator at the examination center. The speed and scope of any review (Einsichtnahme) are determined solely by ÖSD. You are entitled to inspect the evaluation sheet (Bewertungsbogen) only; there is no entitlement to inspect the full examination.
8. Storage of examination records. All oral examinations are recorded and kept securely for up to five years before being professionally disposed of. Written examination documents are also securely stored and eventually disposed of following the agreed timeline. Examination results are recorded electronically and archived as necessary.
9. Data processing and authenticity. The examination center and the ÖSD head office are authorized to store, process electronically, and transmit the personal data and examination results of candidates to relevant bodies, such as public authorities. Additionally, upon request, the ÖSD head office may confirm or deny the authenticity of an ÖSD certificate if there is a justified suspicion of forgery.
10. Cheating and suspicion of cheating. Where ÖSD has a justified suspicion that an examination result was achieved by cheating, ÖSD may invite the candidate to the ÖSD center in Nairobi to demonstrate the corresponding language ability. No results or certificates will be disclosed to the candidate while the suspicion remains unresolved. If the candidate is unable to dispel the suspicion, the candidate will be blocked from examinations for a period of three (3) months. Any proven attempt at deception or cheating results in immediate disqualification with no refund and no entitlement to further qualification. Such cases may additionally be reported and may lead to the candidate being blocked from examinations at other examination providers.
11. Express service. Express processing speed is determined solely by the examination body (ÖSD). The express fee is non-refundable.
12. Certificate retention for outstanding debts. Where a candidate has outstanding financial obligations to AG German Institute, the ÖSD certificate remains the property of the school and will be released only once all debts are settled.
13. Rescheduling and credit. Free rescheduling is available only up to 14 days before the examination date. Within 14 days of the examination, no free rescheduling applies. Where a change is granted at all, any amount paid may only be retained as a credit on the candidate’s own account; such credit is strictly non-transferable between candidates. Examination fees are never refunded on the candidate’s initiative — at most, a free rescheduling or an account credit may be offered. This does not affect the candidate’s right to a refund where the examination is cancelled by the examination center under clause 17.
14. Non-transferability of booking. An examination booking is personal and may not be transferred to another person under any circumstances.
15. Single-day completion. All examination modules must be completed on the same day. Splitting an examination across multiple days within one examination round is not permitted. Splitting modules across different examination rounds is permitted.
16. Payment deadline. Examination fees must be paid by the stated deadline. Failure to pay on time results in cancellation of the examination booking with no entitlement to a slot.
17. Cancellation by the examination center. Should the examination center cancel an examination for reasons attributable to it, the candidate is entitled to a full refund of fees paid, as the cancellation falls within the center’s responsibility. No further compensation of any kind beyond the refunded fees will be due.
    
    The official ÖSD examination regulations are published and kept up to date by the ÖSD. You can always access the current version here: ÖSD Examination Regulations