German Citizenship Test (2008)
Abstract
The federal states [Länder] offer preparatory courses for those who need to take the test. The fee to take the test is 25 Euro. Migrants who have a German high school diploma or who “are incapable of taking the test due to a physical or mental illness, disability or due to advanced age” as defined on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees are exempted from the test.
Source
Excerpt from the Catalog of Approved Questions for the German Citizenship Test
1. In Germany people are allowed to openly criticize the government because…
- there is freedom of religion here.
- people pay taxes.
- people have the right to vote.
- there is freedom of opinion here.
[…]
3. Germany is a constitutional state. What does that mean?
- all its inhabitants and the state must obey the law.
- the state does not have to obey the law.
- only German citizens have to obey the law.
- the courts make the laws.
[…]
14. Freedom of expression in Germany means that I …
- am allowed to make false claims on flyers.
- can express my opinion in letters to the editor.
- can wear Nazi symbols.
- am allowed to express my opinion as long as I don’t contradict the government.
[…]
33. Which statement is correct? In Germany …
- there is a separation of state and religious communities.
- the religious communities constitute the state.
- the state depends on the religious communities.
- the state and the religious communities constitute a union.
[…]
164. What happened in Germany on November 9, 1938?
- the attack on Poland started the Second World War.
- the National Socialists lost an election and dissolved parliament.
- Jewish shops and synagogues were destroyed by National Socialists and their supporters.
- Hitler became President and banned all political parties.
[…]
231. What does the term “European integration” mean?
- it refers to American immigrants in Europe.
- the term refers to the ban on immigration to Europe.
- it refers to European emigrants to the USA.
- the term refers to the union of European states to form the EU.
[…]
277. A woman who has a two-year-old child applies for a job in Germany. What is an example for discrimination? She does not get the job only because she …
- does not speak English.
- demands a salary that is too high.
- does not have any experience in this profession.
- is a mother.
[…]
295. Which religion has shaped European and German culture?
- Hinduism
- Christianity
- Buddhism
- Islam
[…]
299. Foreign employees recruited by the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1950s and 60s were referred to as …
- “Schwarzarbeiter / Schwarzarbeiterinnen” [undeclared workers]
- Gastarbeiter / Gastarbeiterinnen [guest workers]
- Zeitarbeiter / Zeitarbeiterinnen [temps]
- Schichtarbeiter / Schichtarbeiterinnen [shift workers]
Source of the German original: Published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany [Bundesministerium des Innern] on their website, version from July 7, 2008. The current questionnaire designed for the preparation of the naturalization test is accessible online on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees: https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/Einbuergerung/einbuergerung-node.html (last accessed on December 7, 2020).