If you are preparing for the German citizenship test (the Einbürgerungstest) and English is your stronger language, this guide walks you through the exam exactly as the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) describes it: what the 33 questions look like, how the scoring works, how much it costs, and where the questions come from. Every fact here comes from BAMF's official English pages on naturalisation, so you can prepare with the same rules the exam is actually built on.
What the Einbürgerungstest is
The Einbürgerungstest is a written civic knowledge exam that most adults must pass on the path to German citizenship. It exists so that applicants can prove they understand the legal and social order of the Federal Republic of Germany and the living conditions in the country. It is one requirement among several, alongside a B1 German language certificate, at least five years of lawful residence (three in cases of exceptional integration), a clean criminal record, financial self-sufficiency, and a commitment to the free democratic basic order laid down in the Basic Law.
How the 33 questions are put together
Every exam paper contains exactly 33 multiple-choice questions. Each question offers four possible answers, and only one is correct. Thirty questions cover general themes: "Living in a democracy," "History and responsibility," and "People and society." The final three questions are drawn from the federal state (Bundesland) where you registered for the exam — Berlin candidates see three Berlin-specific questions, Bayern candidates see three from Bayern, and so on. You have 60 minutes to complete all 33 questions.
The 310-question catalogue
BAMF publishes the entire pool that examiners can draw from. It contains 310 questions in total: 300 general questions plus 10 state-specific ones per Bundesland. Because the pool is fixed and public, thorough preparation really can cover every possible item you might see on exam day. The free online practice test on einburgerungtest.com mirrors the same catalogue, so you can drill exactly the questions the Federal Office may ask.
Passing score and cost
You pass with 17 correct answers out of 33. Anything below that means you can retake the test — there is no lifetime limit on attempts, though each sitting costs €25. The test fee is separate from the naturalisation application fee itself, which is €255 for adults, €51 for a minor naturalising together with a parent, and €255 for a minor applying independently. Reduced fees or instalment plans are available for low-income applicants or families with several children.
Who is exempt
You do not need to sit the Einbürgerungstest if you already hold a German school-leaving certificate, or if you cannot take the exam because of a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, or because of your age. Completing an official integration course and scoring at least 17 out of 33 on the "Life in Germany" (Leben in Deutschland) test also satisfies the civic knowledge requirement — the certificate you receive can be presented in place of the Einbürgerungstest result.
How to study effectively in English
Because the exam itself is in German, most learners spend part of their preparation building vocabulary around civic and political terms (Grundgesetz, Bundestag, Bundesrat, Rechtsstaat, Föderalismus). A useful method is to read each question first in English to grasp the concept, then re-read the German version until the wording feels natural. Our English study guides on the homepage pair every question with plain-English explanations of the underlying rule, and the practice test tool tracks which topics you keep missing so you can revisit them.
Sample exam-style questions
Try these five questions in the exam format. Correct answers are given below.
1. How many questions does the Einbürgerungstest contain? a) 30 b) 33 c) 40 d) 50
2. How many correct answers do you need to pass the Einbürgerungstest? a) 15 b) 17 c) 20 d) 25
3. How much does it cost to sit the Einbürgerungstest? a) €10 b) €25 c) €55 d) €100
4. How many of the 33 questions are specific to the federal state where you take the exam? a) 1 b) 3 c) 5 d) 10
5. How many minutes do you have to complete the Einbürgerungstest? a) 30 b) 45 c) 60 d) 90
Answers: 1-b, 2-b, 3-b, 4-b, 5-c.
Where to go next
Once you feel comfortable with the format, work through the full 310-question catalogue in short daily sessions rather than long occasional ones — spaced repetition works far better than cramming for civic knowledge. When you are consistently scoring above 25 out of 33 on practice runs, you are ready to book the real exam through your local authority.
Source: BAMF – Naturalisation (English)
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