Einbürgerungstest Pro

Question catalogue in force since 2024-07-01

Practice test 17 — Bavaria

33 questions as in the real exam: 30 federal and 3 on Bavaria. With an explanation for every option. Free, 2026.

Questions in the test
33
Split
30 + 3
Pass mark — naturalisation
17 / 33
Pass mark — "Leben in Deutschland"
15 / 33
Time
60 min
Two pass marks — read this
It is the same paper, but there are two pass marks. Naturalisation requires 17 of 33 correct. The "Leben in Deutschland" test at the end of an orientation course requires 15. So a score of 15 or 16 passes the orientation course and does not meet the naturalisation requirement. If you are sitting this for naturalisation, 17 is your number.
0 of 33 answered

Without JavaScript you see every question, answer and explanation as a list. The test works, just without the timer.

  1. Question 1 of 33Catalogue question 55

    What does this picture show?

    1. A — Correct: the picture shows the Reichstag building in Berlin, seat of the German Bundestag since 1999, easily recognisable by its glass dome.
    2. B — The Federal Constitutional Court sits in Karlsruhe in a different, much more modern building complex, not the Reichstag building.
    3. C — The Bundesrat meets in its own building on Leipziger Platz in Berlin, not the Reichstag building.
    4. D — The Federal Chancellery is a separate modern building near the Reichstag, architecturally clearly distinguishable.

    Source: www.bundestag.de

  2. Question 2 of 33Catalogue question 199

    In East Germany, the abbreviation "Stasi" referred to …

    1. A — East Germany's parliament was called the Volkskammer, not "Stasi".
    2. B — Correct: "Stasi" was the short form for the Ministry for State Security, East Germany's feared secret service and domestic surveillance authority.
    3. C — East Germany's governing party was the SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany), not the Stasi.
    4. D — The Ministry for People's Education was responsible for the school system, not the same as the Stasi.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  3. Question 3 of 33Catalogue question 203

    What was East Germany's economic system called?

    1. A — A market economy is based on free competition — the opposite model to the East German economy.
    2. B — Correct: East Germany operated a centrally directed socialist planned economy, in which the state determined production and prices.
    3. C — "Supply and demand" describes market mechanisms, which precisely did not determine prices in East Germany's planned economy.
    4. D — Capitalism describes a market economic order with private ownership of the means of production — the opposite of East Germany's system.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  4. Question 4 of 33Catalogue question 182

    What is the Jewish house of prayer called?

    1. A — A basilica is a type of building, often used in Christianity, not a Jewish house of prayer.
    2. B — A mosque is the Islamic house of prayer, not the Jewish one.
    3. C — Correct: the synagogue is the house of prayer and religious centre of the Jewish community.
    4. D — A church is the Christian house of prayer, not the Jewish one.

    Source: www.zentralratderjuden.de

  5. Question 5 of 33Catalogue question 32

    Which of these is not a branch of state power in Germany?

    1. A — Legislation is one of the three branches of state power under Art. 20(2) of the Basic Law.
    2. B — Government belongs to the executive branch, one of the three branches of state power.
    3. C — Correct: the press is often called the "fourth estate" but is not a branch of state power under Art. 20(2) of the Basic Law — it is precisely independent of the state.
    4. D — The judiciary is one of the three branches of state power under Art. 20(2) of the Basic Law.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  6. Question 6 of 33Catalogue question 181

    What did Willy Brandt want to express with his kneeling gesture at the former Jewish ghetto in Warsaw in 1970?

    1. A — The kneeling gesture was not a political-military gesture of submission to the Allies but a moral-historical one.
    2. B — Correct: on 7 December 1970, Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt spontaneously knelt at the memorial to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising — an internationally noted gesture asking forgiveness for the Nazi crimes against Polish Jews.
    3. C — The "Warsaw Pact" was the Eastern military alliance, not the addressee of a gesture of humility in this context.
    4. D — The kneeling took place at the ghetto memorial, not at a grave of the Unknown Soldier.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  7. Question 7 of 33Catalogue question 296

    In Germany, the last four weeks before Christmas are called …

    1. A — Repentance and Prayer Day is a single Protestant holiday in November, not the entire four-week pre-Christmas period.
    2. B — The harvest festival is celebrated in autumn (usually early October) to give thanks for the harvest, and is not the same as Advent.
    3. C — Correct: Advent comprises the four Sundays before Christmas and traditionally serves as preparation for Christmas.
    4. D — All Saints' Day is a Catholic holiday on 1 November commemorating the deceased and saints, not a four-week period before Christmas.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  8. Question 8 of 33Catalogue question 8

    What is not in Germany's Basic Law?

    1. A — This sentence appears word for word in Art. 1(1) of the Basic Law — so it IS in the Basic Law.
    2. B — Correct: the Basic Law guarantees equality before the law (Art. 3), not equality of wealth. Germany is a social market economy, not a system of equal distribution.
    3. C — This right follows from freedom of expression in Art. 5(1) of the Basic Law — so it IS in the Basic Law.
    4. D — This principle appears word for word in Art. 3(1) of the Basic Law — so it IS in the Basic Law.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  9. Question 9 of 33Catalogue question 228

    What is East Germany's accession to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990 generally called?

    1. A — NATO's eastward enlargement refers to the later accession of Eastern European states to NATO from the 1990s/2000s onward, not East Germany's accession to the Federal Republic.
    2. B — The EU's eastward enlargement (mainly 2004) refers to the accession of Central and Eastern European states to the EU, a different historical event.
    3. C — Correct: East Germany's accession to the Federal Republic on 3 October 1990 is called "German Reunification".
    4. D — "European Community" was the predecessor organisation of the EU, not a term for German reunification.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  10. Question 10 of 33Catalogue question 168

    Which country was not an "Allied occupying power" in Germany?

    1. A — The USA was one of the four occupying powers with its own zone in Germany.
    2. B — The Soviet Union was one of the four occupying powers with its own zone in Germany.
    3. C — France was one of the four occupying powers with its own zone in Germany.
    4. D — Correct: Japan was Germany's ally in the war (an Axis power) and was itself defeated and occupied — not an occupying power in Germany.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  11. Question 11 of 33Catalogue question 292

    People in Germany live by the principle of religious tolerance. What does that mean?

    1. A — Building mosques is legally permitted in Germany and protected by freedom of religion — the opposite of the statement.
    2. B — Religious tolerance precisely does not mean that everyone believes in God — being without a religious affiliation and atheism are also protected.
    3. C — Correct: religious tolerance and the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Basic Law (Art. 4) mean that everyone can freely decide what faith to hold, or to have none at all.
    4. D — The state in Germany precisely does not decide on its citizens' faith; that would be incompatible with the state's ideological neutrality.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  12. Question 12 of 33Catalogue question 244

    What school-leaving qualification is normally needed to begin studying at a university in Germany?

    1. A — Correct: the Abitur (general higher education entrance qualification) is the classic school-leaving qualification that entitles someone to study at a university.
    2. B — A Diplom is an academic degree obtained only after completing a course of study — not a prerequisite for starting one.
    3. C — Prokura is a commercial power of attorney, not a school qualification.
    4. D — A journeyman's examination completes vocational training in a trade but does not generally directly entitle someone to university study.

    Source: www.kmk.org

  13. Question 13 of 33Catalogue question 291

    Why do you have to state on your tax return in Germany whether you belong to a church or not?

    1. A — Correct: members of certain religious communities (mainly the large churches) pay church tax, which is levied as a surcharge on income/wage tax — church membership must therefore be stated.
    2. B — Statistical purposes are not the legal reason for the disclosure requirement; the actual reason is the levying of church tax.
    3. C — The opposite is true: those who do not belong to a tax-levying religious community pay no church tax, so overall less, not more.
    4. D — The church itself is not responsible for the general tax return; the tax office administers tax collection, with church tax being collected on behalf of the churches as part of that.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  14. Question 14 of 33Catalogue question 172

    In which occupation zone was East Germany founded? In the …

    1. A — The American zone, together with the British and French zones, later formed West Germany, not East Germany.
    2. B — The French zone was one of the Western zones from which West Germany emerged.
    3. C — The British zone was likewise one of the Western zones from which West Germany emerged.
    4. D — Correct: East Germany was founded on 7 October 1949 on the territory of the Soviet occupation zone.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  15. Question 15 of 33Catalogue question 35

    What does the German state use to finance social insurance?

    1. A — Church tax finances religious communities, not state social insurance.
    2. B — Correct: social security contributions (to pension, health, long-term care, unemployment and accident insurance), paid jointly by employees and employers, finance social insurance.
    3. C — Donations are voluntary and are not a load-bearing source of funding for social insurance.
    4. D — Club membership fees finance clubs, not the state social insurance system.

    Source: www.bundesregierung.de

  16. Question 16 of 33Catalogue question 22

    What form of government does Germany have?

    1. A — Germany has no head of state by hereditary succession; it is not a monarchy.
    2. B — Germany is a democracy with free elections, not a dictatorship.
    3. C — Correct: Germany is a republic — the head of state (Federal President) is elected, not inherited (Art. 20(1) Basic Law).
    4. D — A principality is ruled by a prince; that does not apply to Germany.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  17. Question 17 of 33Catalogue question 121

    A party wants to enter the German Bundestag. But it must have a minimum share of votes. This is called …

    1. A — Correct: this minimum threshold is called the "5% threshold" (electoral threshold clause) and is regulated in the Federal Elections Act.
    2. B — "Admission limit" is not an official term for this electoral rule.
    3. C — "Base value" is not a technical term of electoral law.
    4. D — "Guideline" is not the technical term for this specific electoral threshold.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  18. Question 18 of 33Catalogue question 300

    From which country did the first guest workers come to the Federal Republic of Germany?

    1. A — Correct: the Federal Republic's first recruitment agreement was concluded in 1955 with Italy; Italian guest workers were thus the first of their kind.
    2. B — The recruitment agreement with Spain only followed in 1960, after the one with Italy.
    3. C — The recruitment agreement with Portugal followed in 1964, well after Italy.
    4. D — The recruitment agreement with Turkey was only concluded in 1961 — later than the one with Italy, even though people of Turkish origin became the largest group in the long run (see question 297).

    Source: www.bpb.de

  19. Question 19 of 33Catalogue question 195

    Which of today's German federal states was formerly part of East Germany?

    1. A — Hesse lay in the American zone and belonged to old West Germany, not East Germany.
    2. B — Correct: Saxony-Anhalt was one of the five "new states" that joined the Federal Republic in 1990.
    3. C — North Rhine-Westphalia lay in the British zone and belonged to old West Germany, not East Germany.
    4. D — The Saarland joined the Federal Republic in 1957 — never part of East Germany.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  20. Question 20 of 33Catalogue question 72

    What is the name of the current Federal Chancellor of Germany?

    1. A — Gerhard Schröder (SPD) was Federal Chancellor from 1998 to 2005 — no longer in office.
    2. B — Angela Merkel (CDU) was Federal Chancellor from 2005 to 2021 — no longer in office.
    3. C — Ursula von der Leyen is President of the European Commission, not the German Federal Chancellor.
    4. D — Correct: Friedrich Merz (CDU) was elected Federal Chancellor by the Bundestag on 6 May 2025 and has since led a coalition government of CDU/CSU and SPD.

    Source: www.bundeskanzler.de

  21. Question 21 of 33Catalogue question 91

    In Germany, a change of government in a federal state can affect federal politics. Governing becomes …

    1. A — A state election result does not directly change the majority in the Bundestag, which is elected independently.
    2. B — New majority relations in the Bundesrat typically make governing more difficult if the federal government lacks a majority there — not the opposite.
    3. C — Correct: since the state governments make up the Bundesrat, a change of government in one state can alter the majority relations in the Bundesrat — if the federal government loses its majority there, getting laws approved becomes harder.
    4. D — The financial wealth of a federal state has no direct influence on cooperation between the federal government and the states in the legislative process.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  22. Question 22 of 33Catalogue question 1

    In Germany, people may openly say something against the government because …

    1. A — Freedom of religion (Art. 4 Basic Law) protects belief and worship, not political criticism of the government.
    2. B — The duty to pay tax comes from tax law and creates no right to free speech.
    3. C — The right to vote (Art. 38 Basic Law) governs casting a ballot, not speaking freely day to day.
    4. D — Correct: Art. 5(1) Basic Law guarantees everyone the right to express their opinion freely — including sharp criticism of the government.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  23. Question 23 of 33Catalogue question 101

    Trade unions are interest organisations of …

    1. A — Youth organisations specifically represent young people's interests, not the core function of trade unions.
    2. B — Correct: trade unions represent the interests of employees, for example regarding wages and working conditions, and negotiate collective agreements.
    3. C — Pensioners have their own associations, but they are not the core constituency of trade unions.
    4. D — Employers have their own associations (employers' associations), which are the trade unions' counterpart in collective bargaining.

    Source: www.dgb.de

  24. Question 24 of 33Catalogue question 190

    What does the abbreviation GDR (DDR) stand for?

    1. A — "Third German Broadcasting" is not the correct expansion of the abbreviation DDR.
    2. B — "The German Republic" is not the official name of the East German state.
    3. C — "Third German Republic" is not a correct expansion; there was no such numbering.
    4. D — Correct: DDR stands for Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic), the official name of the East German state from 1949 to 1990.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  25. Question 25 of 33Catalogue question 158

    The "Third Reich" was a …

    1. A — Correct: the Nazi propaganda term "Third Reich" referred to the totalitarian one-party state under Hitler.
    2. B — Elections and parties were abolished; the opposite of a democracy.
    3. C — There was no hereditary monarch; rule was based on the "Führer principle", not dynastic succession.
    4. D — A council republic is a councils-based democratic system, such as briefly existed in Munich in 1918/19 — the exact opposite of the Nazi dictatorship.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  26. Question 26 of 33Catalogue question 153

    What happened on 8 May 1945?

    1. A — Hitler had already died by suicide on 30 April 1945, eight days before the surrender.
    2. B — The building of the wall only began in 1961, sixteen years later.
    3. C — Adenauer was only elected the first Federal Chancellor in 1949, four years later.
    4. D — Correct: on 8 May 1945, the unconditional surrender of the German Wehrmacht took effect, ending the Second World War in Europe.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  27. Question 27 of 33Catalogue question 241

    Ms Seger is having a baby. What does she have to do to receive parental allowance?

    1. A — Parental allowance is not a benefit from the health insurance fund but a separate family benefit under the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act.
    2. B — Correct: parental allowance must be applied for in writing at the responsible parental allowance office — it is not paid out automatically.
    3. C — Parental allowance is not granted automatically; an application is mandatory.
    4. D — The employment office (today the Federal Employment Agency) is not responsible for parental allowance; permission from there is not required.

    Source: www.bmfsfj.de

  28. Question 28 of 33Catalogue question 29

    Which animal is the heraldic animal of the Federal Republic of Germany?

    1. A — The lion is the heraldic animal of other countries or of individual German Länder (e.g. Hesse), not of the federal state.
    2. B — Correct: the federal eagle has been Germany's heraldic animal since the Weimar Republic, going back to imperial symbolism.
    3. C — The bear is Berlin's heraldic animal, not the federal one.
    4. D — The horse is Lower Saxony's heraldic animal, not the federal one.

    Source: www.bundespraesident.de

  29. Question 29 of 33Catalogue question 100

    Which of these is not part of statutory social insurance?

    1. A — Correct: life insurance is private and voluntary — not one of the five pillars of statutory social insurance.
    2. B — Statutory pension insurance is one of the five pillars of social insurance.
    3. C — Unemployment insurance is one of the five pillars of social insurance.
    4. D — Long-term care insurance is one of the five pillars of social insurance.

    Source: www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de

  30. Question 30 of 33Catalogue question 107

    For how many years is the Bundestag elected in Germany?

    1. A — 2 years is too short; the Bundestag's legislative term is longer.
    2. B — Correct: under Art. 39 of the Basic Law, the Bundestag is elected for four years.
    3. C — 6 years is too long for the Bundestag's legislative term.
    4. D — 8 years is too long for the Bundestag's legislative term.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  31. Questions on Bavaria

    Question 31 of 33Bavaria · Catalogue question 9

    What is the head of government of Bavaria called?

    1. A — "First Minister" is not a title used in Germany.
    2. B — "Prime Minister" is the title used in other countries, not in German federal states.
    3. C — "Mayor" is the title for local heads, not for the state as a whole.
    4. D — Correct: as in most area states, the head of government in Bavaria is called Ministerpräsident/in (Minister-President).

    Source: www.bayern.de

  32. Question 32 of 33Bavaria · Catalogue question 6

    Where can you get information about political topics in Bavaria?

    1. A — The public order office deals with public safety and order, not political education.
    2. B — Correct: the Bavarian State Centre for Political Education is the responsible institution for cross-party political information.
    3. C — The consumer advice centre advises on consumer issues, not political education.
    4. D — Churches are religious institutions and not an official point of contact for political education.

    Source: www.blz.bayern.de

  33. Question 33 of 33Bavaria · Catalogue question 2

    Which is a rural district in Bavaria?

    1. A — Prignitz lies in Brandenburg, not in Bavaria.
    2. B — The Rhein-Sieg district lies in North Rhine-Westphalia, not in Bavaria.
    3. C — North Frisia lies in Schleswig-Holstein, not in Bavaria.
    4. D — Correct: Altötting lies in Upper Bavaria and is known as a place of pilgrimage.

    Source: www.bayern.de

Questions on Bavaria · Practice tests

Last checked: · Question catalogue in force since 2024-07-01 · Every figure on this page is checked against its primary source.