There are several recommended FIDE exam preparation methods. Still, many expats living in Switzerland are most concerned with practicing their spoken and conversational German to pass the verbal element of the exam.
Our advice for anyone worried about the German Swiss FIDE test is to ensure they choose a course or program that provides them access to a professional, experienced tutor. Your tutor will work with you in person and one-on-one to ensure you improve as quickly as possible and gain confidence in speaking German in every scenario!
Combined with innovative AI-enabled lessons, practice questions, and digital study that you can dip into whenever suits your schedule, you’ll find this a great way to feel exam-ready. You can choose how long to study for FIDE test success based on your own availability.
What German Language Skills Do I Need for the FIDE Exam in Switzerland?
FIDE tests are mandatory across German-speaking Switzerland for foreign nationals who want to apply for a formal and long-term right to stay, such as a residency permit extension or citizenship. The test focuses on the sorts of everyday scenarios you’ll come across as a Swiss resident, covering conversations, written instructions, and question-and-answer situations that relate to–for instance:
- The workplace or applying for a job
- Accessing healthcare and booking appointments
- Registering as a local resident
- Shopping, socializing, and using public transport
In terms of difficulty level, the FIDE test evaluates language skills equivalent to the tuition provided through A1 to B1 courses. It is split into an oral test where you’ll be asked to show your spoken German and comprehension abilities, and a written part that includes reading and writing.
What are the Best Ways to Practice for the Swiss German FIDE Test?
As we’ve touched on, the ideal preparation ensures you’re ready for all the aspects of the exam and confident that you can speak, write, read, and understand German up to the B1 standard.
It’s hugely important to practice speaking and conversing. From our years of experience, we know that some expats who might have felt they were more than ready found this aspect of the exam tough or weren’t able to apply their language skills to questions they weren’t expecting.
Examiners, for example, usually start the verbal FIDE test by asking some ‘warm-up’ questions, such as how you are and whether you feel nervous. If you’ve only rehearsed set answers to some of the questions that pop up most often, even these simple dialogues can throw you off!
The German Academy Zurich has put together comprehensive courses for beginner, intermediate, and advanced German learners that cover all types of conversation and engagement incorporated into the FIDE test.
How Long Should I Expect to Spend Practicing for and Taking the FIDE Exam?
Anyone who needs to pass the FIDE test can register, provided they are over sixteen years old. However, you’ll need to apply through one of the approved exam institutes and pick a testing day, usually at least two weeks in the future. This means it’s normally better to factor in as much time as you need to practice and prepare rather than booking your exam and putting yourself under unnecessary stress if you need to get ready in just a few days.
Everyone is different, and you might need a few months to work through German courses from the beginner A1 level upward, or jump right into an intermediate B1 course if your German comprehension is already good. The test itself takes an hour for the written section and forty minutes for the verbal exam. You’ll normally get your results by post around four weeks afterward, and, provided you’ve prepared and practiced, that will include your official Language Passport.
