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German citizenship For Members

TEST: Could you pass the German citizenship exam?

Imogen Goodman
Imogen Goodman - [email protected]
TEST: Could you pass the German citizenship exam?
A woman fills in the German Citizenship Test in Munich, Bavaria. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Lino Mirgeler

Obtaining German citizenship involves clearing numerous hurdles - including a multiple-choice citizenship test that will quiz you on your knowledge of German history, culture, geography and politics. Could you pass it?

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The German passport is one of the most powerful in the world - but getting your hands on one is no mean feat. 

Alongside strict residency and language requirements, people who want to become a naturalised German citizenship will have to sit an exam known as the Einbürgerungstest (Citizenship Test).

The exam is designed to ensure that migrants understand important aspects of Germany's political system, like the rights enshrined in the constitution, and can deal with aspects of day to day life and culture in the Bundesrepublik.

READ ALSO: TEST: Is your German good enough for citizenship or permanent residency?

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Additionally, there are usually questions on important milestones in German history such as the Second World War and the GDR, and you may encounter some geography questions and questions on the European Union as well. 

The test is in German and consists of 33 questions: 30 questions on Germany in general, and three related to the specific federal state you live in. 

It's all in German, so people sitting the exam need to be fairly confident with their reading skills - but since it's multiple choice, writing skills thankfully aren't required. 

Though this may sound daunting, people are given a full hour to complete the test - and, anecdotally, most tend to finish much more quickly than that. You also only need to score 17 out of 33 (so just over 50 percent) to pass.

In addition, there are only a set number of questions that the Citizenship Test alternates between. You can find a list of all of them (in German) here, and also take a German-language practice test here.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How I got German citizenship – and how you can too

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If you'd like to test your knowledge in English, however, we've put together a representative list of 16 questions to get you started. Viel Glück! (Good luck!) 

 

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Andrew Stevenson 2024/01/30 15:59
The question regarding the GDR uprising - I knew the date but its not a public holiday...I certainly have to work. https://www.berlin.de/en/tourism/travel-information/1887651-2862820-public-holidays-school-holidays.en.html doesn't list it for example. It turns out it was a public holiday in the FRG - but that was quite some time ago. Apparently its still a "national day of remembrance" for what that is worth. See https://www.protokoll-inland.de/Webs/PI/EN/national-days/17June/17-june-node.html.

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