A common question from internationals applying for German citizenship: can I take the Einbürgerungstest in English? The exam itself is only offered in German — but you can absolutely prepare in English, and doing so makes the German questions far easier to memorize because you actually understand what they mean.
The test asks 33 multiple-choice questions from a public catalog of 310, covering German politics, history, law and society. You need 17 correct answers to pass — and with translated preparation, pass rates are extremely high.
What the test covers
- Democracy & constitution: basic rights, elections, separation of powers, the Grundgesetz.
- History: National Socialism, the Holocaust, divided Germany, reunification.
- Law & society: legal system, religious freedom, equality, everyday rules.
- Your federal state: 10 questions about your Bundesland's parliament, coat of arms and minister-president — 3 appear in your exam.
How to prepare in English (while passing in German)
- 1Read each question in German first, then check the English translation to understand the meaning — never memorize German strings blindly.
- 2Learn the recurring key terms (Grundgesetz, Bundestag, Wahlrecht, Meinungsfreiheit) — around 50 words unlock most of the catalog.
- 3Switch translations off in your final week and practice German-only, exactly like the real exam.
- 4Finish with timed simulations: 33 questions, 60 minutes, no help.
Language requirements beyond the test
Note that the citizenship application also requires German language proficiency (usually B1) as a separate certificate — the Einbürgerungstest itself is a civics test, not a language test. The vocabulary in the questions is simpler than B1 reading texts, so most B1 learners find the test language very manageable.
How to prepare in English with the app
- 1
Set English translations
Enable English in the app — every question and explanation is available in English alongside the official German.
- 2
Practice bilingually
Answer in German, verify your understanding in English. The app's explanations give the context behind each answer.
- 3
Drill your mistakes
Wrong answers are tracked automatically so you can repeat them until the German versions feel natural.
- 4
Simulate German-only
In your final week, run full 33-question simulations without translations — the exact conditions of the real test.
Free to download on iPhone & iPad
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the German citizenship test in English?
No — the official exam is only in German. But the questions use simple, repetitive vocabulary, and preparing with English translations makes them easy to master.
How hard is the German citizenship test?
With preparation, not hard: you need 17 of 33 correct from a public catalog of 310 questions. Prepared candidates pass at rates above 90%.
What languages does the app translate into?
English, Russian, Turkish, Farsi, Polish, Romanian, Hindi, Arabic and Ukrainian — plus the official German originals.