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German citizenship · civic test

The Einbürgerungstest, explained — and the B1 German you'll also need.

To become a German citizen you pass two separate things: the Einbürgerungstest (a civic 'Leben in Deutschland' test) and the B1 German language requirement. The civic test is free and multiple-choice; the German is where most people need real preparation. Here's how each works.

What is the Einbürgerungstest?

It's Germany's citizenship civic test — 33 multiple-choice questions drawn from a public catalogue of 300+, covering rights, history, society and the rules of your federal state. You pass with 17 correct out of 33. The same questions are used for the 'Leben in Deutschland' test from the orientation course. The official question catalogue is free to practise (via BAMF), and the test fee is modest.

The part that actually takes prep: B1 German

Citizenship also requires German at level B1 — and that's the part you can't cram the night before. You prove it with the DTZ, a Goethe/telc B1 certificate, or an equivalent. That's where Deutsch30 comes in: a structured path to B1 and format-faithful exam prep with AI-scored writing and speaking. The civic test you can practise free; the German is the real work.

FAQ

What's the Einbürgerungstest pass mark?
17 out of 33. You get 33 multiple-choice questions from a public pool, and at least 17 correct is a pass. A 'Leben in Deutschland' result of 17 or more also counts as the Einbürgerungstest.
Is the Einbürgerungstest the same as the German exam?
No. The Einbürgerungstest is a civic-knowledge test in (simple) German. The language requirement is separate — usually B1, proven with the DTZ or a Goethe/telc B1 certificate.
What German level do I need for citizenship?
Generally B1 today. (A short-lived faster C1 route was repealed in late 2025.) Always check the current official rules for your own situation — they vary and change.

Get to B1 — that's the part that takes work.

Start free with Foundation 30, climb to B1, and prep the DTZ or Goethe/telc B1 with AI scoring.