FSP (Fachsprachprüfung) Writing Guide
Task types, scoring criteria, and strategies to excel in the writing section.
Writing Overview
The Fachsprachprüfung (FSP) is the German medical language proficiency test required for internationally trained physicians to receive their Approbation (medical license) in Germany. It tests medical communication in German, not general language. Each German state (Bundesland) administers its own FSP through its medical association (Landesärztekammer).
Writing Tasks
Arztbrief (Medical letter)
Structured case documentation letter from patient interview.
Tips for this task
- ✓Section 1 — Diagnose: V.a. [condition] / Gesicherte Diagnose: [condition]
- ✓Section 2 — Anamnese: Ich-Form or passive. 'Der/Die Patient/in berichtet...'
- ✓Section 3 — Untersuchungsbefund: AZ gut/reduziert, BD normal, Abdomen weich...
- ✓Section 4 — Weiteres Prozedere: Empfehle stationäre Aufnahme / Überweisung zu...
High-Score Strategies
- 1.Learn the Anamnese structure cold: Hauptbeschwerde → HPI → Vorerkrankungen → Medikamente → Allergien → Familienanamnese → Sozialanamnese.
- 2.Practice history-taking with a study partner 3× per week — fluency in the Anamnese is the biggest differentiator.
- 3.Write one Arztbrief every day for 3 weeks from sample cases. Focus on structure and formal register.
- 4.Medical abbreviations are heavily tested in documentation: V.a., Z.n., ggf., i.v., p.o., s.c., o.B. (ohne Befund), AZ, EZ.
- 5.Watch German medical education videos (Amboss, Lecturio auf Deutsch) to internalize how doctors speak.
- 6.Know the ISBAR framework for the Arzt-Arzt-Gespräch section — most states test this explicitly.