The German citizenship test covers the legal system, history and society, plus questions specific to your federal state. You need at least 17 of 33 questions right, and the certificate never expires.
The citizenship test has 33 multiple-choice questions and you have 60 minutes. 30 questions are about Germany as a whole (the legal system, history and society) and three are about the federal state you live in. You pass with at least 17 correct answers.
Every question comes from a public catalogue published by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, with 300 general questions and 10 for each state. Working through the catalogue means you have seen every possible question.
You register directly with an approved test centre, such as an adult education centre or a language school. The fee is 25 euros and is charged again for every retake; you may retake as often as you need. Bring valid photo ID to the test.
After the test you receive a certificate of your result. It does not expire and is submitted with your citizenship application.
In principle everyone applying for citizenship needs it. You are exempt if you hold a German school-leaving qualification, or if illness, disability or age prevents you from taking it.
If you passed the Life in Germany test in the integration course with at least 17 correct answers, you do not need to take the citizenship test as well.
At least 17 out of 33, within 60 minutes.
25 euros per attempt. Each retake costs another 25 euros.
With the official BAMF question catalogue, available free of charge as an online test centre. Many language schools also run preparation courses.
Both tests use the same question catalogue and format. Life in Germany concludes the orientation course; with 17 correct answers it also counts as the citizenship test.