German naturalization test: format, pass mark and study plan

Germany asks most applicants for citizenship to show that they know the country's legal and social order. The usual way to show it is a test, the Einbürgerungstest. The questions come from a public catalogue, so you can study the exact material in advance. This guide explains how the test works, what the numbers mean and how to prepare in three weeks.

What the test is for

BAMF, the federal office for migration and refugees, explains on its naturalization page that one requirement for naturalization is knowledge of the legal and social order and of living conditions in Germany. The proof is normally the successful Einbürgerungstest. The same page lists the other requirements, including German at level B1, and recommends a consultation at the authority before you apply. Rules change, so this guide covers only the test. Check the rest with your Einbürgerungsbehörde.

How the test works

The test is set out in the Einbürgerungstestverordnung, section 1. It says the following:

The test is done on a questionnaire. For each question you choose the right answer from four possible answers.
The questionnaires are made from the official catalogue. There are 100 of them, each with 33 questions. Of the 33, three come from the questions about the federal state where you live.
The questionnaires are not published. You cannot study a leaked paper, and you should not trust anyone who sells one.
You pass if at least 17 of the 33 questions are answered correctly within 60 minutes, under supervision.
After a pass you receive a certificate on a standard form. It stays valid if you move to another federal state.

Section 2 adds that the test centre gives each participant a questionnaire that is not identical to those of the other participants taking the test on the same day.

The pass mark of 17 out of 33 is a little over half, 51.5 per cent. That is lower than many people expect. It is a pass mark, not a study target: someone who aims for exactly 17 has no room for a bad day.

The question catalogue

BAMF's page for the online test centre says that both the Leben in Deutschland test and the Einbürgerungstest have 310 questions: 300 general questions and 10 questions about the federal state where you live. There are 16 federal states, so there are 16 sets of 10 state questions, 160 in all, and the BAMF page for the full catalogue gives the total as 300 nationwide and 160 state-specific questions. You need only the set for your own state.

The catalogue is in German. BAMF's online test centre lets you work through the whole catalogue interactively. After each question it shows the right answer, and it also offers a sample questionnaire. It is free, so use it. The BAMF site also publishes the full catalogue as a document, with its edition date. Check that date, because the catalogue can be revised.

What the questions cover

The general questions are about how Germany is governed and how people live there. Some questions use pictures, and you must work out what the picture shows. The state questions are about the federal state where you live.

The questions are multiple choice, so you can often remove two answers at once. Even so, learn the reason for the right answer. That helps when a question is worded slightly differently from the catalogue.

A three-week plan, worked out

The arithmetic is simple. You have 310 questions to learn: 300 general and 10 for your state.

Week 1: 15 new general questions a day for six days is 90. Start each session by answering yesterday's questions again.
Week 2: another 90 general questions, so 180 in all, plus review of week 1 on days 3 and 7 after you first saw them.
Week 3: the last 120 general questions would need 20 a day for six days. Learn the 10 state questions on the seventh day.
Then: take practice questionnaires of 33 questions in 60 minutes, and go back to every question you missed.

An example shows why the state questions are worth the small effort. Suppose you know 80 per cent of the general questions, which would give about 24 of the 30 general questions on your paper. If you know 2 of the 3 state questions, you reach 26 of 33, well over the 17 you need. If you had skipped the state questions, you would have given up up to three easy points. These numbers are an illustration, not a forecast.

Roediger and Karpicke (2006) compared re-reading with taking tests and found that testing led to better memory a week later. Their study was about reading passages, not about this exam, but the lesson carries over: answer first, check after. Do not just read the answer key.

Studying in English for a test in German

If German is not your first language, work in two steps. First, understand what the question is asking, using whatever language you understand best. Second, learn the German wording of the question and of the answers, because that is what you will see on the day. Learn the key words in German, such as Gewaltenteilung (separation of powers), Grundgesetz (Basic Law) and Bundesrat. A translation helps you understand, but it does not take the place of reading the German.

Common mistakes

Studying a made-up "exam paper". The real questionnaires are not published, so only the official catalogue matters.
Studying the wrong state. Learn the 10 questions of the state where you live, not another state's.
Using an old edition. Check the date of the catalogue you use against the one on the BAMF site.
Believing the test is all that is needed. The test is one requirement among several. Passing it does not mean you will be naturalized.

Where a study pack fits

Everything in the catalogue is official and free, and BAMF's online test centre is a good way to practise. A pack only saves you time in arranging the material, for example as a printable booklet, flash cards that you can use offline, and a table in which to tick off questions.

The day of the test

Ask your Einbürgerungsbehörde or the test centre what to bring, because the rules for identity papers and for the booking are set locally. Section 2 of the regulation says the centre checks your identity with an official identity document. Arrive early, read each question to the end, and watch the clock: 60 minutes for 33 questions is a little under two minutes a question. Answer the ones you know first and come back to the others.

Tool that fits

The Einbürgerungstest Lernpaket (EUR 7, paid once) is written in German, like the test. It has the 300 general questions and the questions of all 16 federal states with the right answer marked, the picture questions, five practice tests in the real format of 33 questions with 17 needed to pass, with an answer key, Anki flash cards and a table for ticking off questions. It is based on the BAMF catalogue as of 7 May 2025, so check the current edition on bamf.de before your test. It is independent study material and is not issued or checked by BAMF.

What to do next

The Einbürgerungstest Lernpaket is in German, like the test itself: the 300 general questions and the questions of all 16 federal states with the correct answer marked, the picture questions, five practice tests in the 33-question format, Anki cards and a tracking table. €7 once. Independent material, not issued by BAMF.

See the Study Pack

Questions people ask

How many questions must I answer correctly?

The German regulation says the test is passed when at least 17 of the 33 questions on your questionnaire are answered correctly, within 60 minutes and under supervision. Each question has four possible answers and one of them is right.

Are there questions about my own federal state?

Yes. Of the 33 questions on your questionnaire, three come from the questions about the federal state where you live. BAMF's catalogue has 300 general questions and 10 questions for each state, which is 310 questions for you to study.

Is the test the same as the Leben in Deutschland test?

BAMF publishes one catalogue for both. Its page for the online test centre says that the Leben in Deutschland test and the Einbürgerungstest each consist of 310 questions, 300 general and 10 about your federal state. They are two separate tests that draw on the same catalogue.

Sources

We checked each source on 17 October 2026. If a fact here is out of date, tell us at hello@hiddenway.info.