Archive

Realistic preparation timelines for the FIDE German exam by starting level — from 2–3 weeks for confident speakers to 2–3 months from zero. What "30 minutes a day" actually buys you, and what to skip.

Three months and a B-permit deadline: a focused week-by-week plan to go from zero German to a FIDE A1 pass — what to study first, what to skip, and what to do if time runs out.

Short answer: FIDE for Swiss permits and citizenship, Goethe if you need an internationally recognised certificate. The detailed comparison — what each tests, what they cost, how they differ at A2, and the scenarios where one beats the other.

Switzerland's official German exam, built by the State Secretariat for Migration for permits and citizenship. What FIDE tests, what it costs, how to prepare, and how it compares to Goethe and telc — in one guide.