German citizenship test: how many questions must be correct?

The test at a glance

How many questions must be correct?

17 out of 33. That is just over half. Put differently: you may answer 16 questions wrongly or leave them blank and still pass. There is no grade or score beyond passing; the certificate states that you passed.

Where do the questions come from?

All questions come from a public catalogue of the BAMF. 310 questions apply to you: the 300 general questions on „living in a democracy“, „history and responsibility“ and „people and society“, plus the 10 questions for your federal state. The test draws 30 general questions and 3 state questions. The same catalogue is used for the „Leben in Deutschland“ test at the end of the integration course.

Are 60 minutes enough?

On average you have just under 1 minute and 49 seconds per question. Most questions are short. If you have practised the catalogue, you will recognise many questions at once. At the end, go back to every blank question: a guess may be right, a blank never is.

Who does not have to take the test?

According to the BAMF, you do not need the test if you have a German school-leaving qualification, or if you cannot meet the requirement because of a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, or because of age. Your naturalisation authority decides whether an exemption applies to you.

What if I fail?

You can retake the test. The BAMF sets no maximum number of attempts. The fee is due again for each attempt. Use the time before your next date to practise the topics you were unsure about.

The test is not your language certificate

German nationality law asks for two different things: knowledge of the legal and social order, usually shown with the citizenship test, and German at level B1, shown with a language certificate such as the German Test for Immigrants (DTZ) or telc Deutsch B1. Which certificates count is explained in German B1 test for citizenship.

How to practise

1. Work through the catalogue in the BAMF online test centre. After each question you see the correct answer.
2. Learn the 10 questions for your federal state by heart.
3. Then sit a full test with 33 questions and a clock, so you know the pace: for example our practice test with the official catalogue, where you choose your federal state at the start, as in the real test.
4. Repeat only the questions you got wrong until you are sure of them.