The citizenship test
German citizenship test: all picture questions with answers
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At a glance
- The catalogue has 43 picture questions: 11 general ones and 2 for each federal state (coat of arms and map).
- Only 13 apply to you: the 11 general questions and the 2 for your state.
- Federal coat of arms: a black eagle on a golden-yellow background. EU flag: a circle of twelve gold stars on blue.
- Valid ballot paper: exactly one cross per column – one for the first vote, one for the second vote.
The German citizenship test catalogue contains 43 questions with pictures: 11 general questions plus 2 for each federal state – one on the state's coat of arms and one on its location on a map. Only 13 apply to you: the 11 general ones and the 2 for your state. All of them are listed below this text with the correct answer marked. They come from the official question catalogue that the BAMF publishes in its online test centre.
Types of picture questions
| Type | Questions | What you need to recognise |
|---|---|---|
| Coats of arms | 21, 209 and 1 per state | federal eagle, GDR emblem, your state's arms |
| Flags | 187, 226 | the GDR flag and the EU flag |
| Maps | 176 and 1 per state | occupation zones and where your state is |
| Photos | 55, 70, 181, 216, 235 | Bundestag, plenary chamber, historic moments |
| Ballot paper | 130 | which ballot paper is valid |
How to learn the pictures
- Learn the picture, not the number. The questions on the coat of arms of the Federal Republic (21) and of the GDR (209) show the same four images. In one the answer is the black eagle on a golden-yellow background (the Bundesadler), in the other the emblem with hammer, compass and a wreath of grain.
- Pick one feature to remember. The EU flag is a circle of twelve gold stars on blue. Careful: one of the wrong options is also blue and yellow, but has no stars. The GDR flag is black, red and gold with the hammer, compass and wreath of grain in the middle.
- Occupation zones by compass point: Great Britain in the north-west (1), the Soviet Union in the east (2), the USA in the south (3), France in the south-west (4).
- Ballot paper: only ballot 1 is valid – exactly one cross for the first vote (Erststimme, left) and exactly one for the second vote (Zweitstimme, right). The two crosses may go to different parties; several crosses in one column make that vote invalid.
- For three photos, the text does the work. The questions on Heinemann and Schmidt in 1974 (70), Willy Brandt kneeling in Warsaw in 1970 (181) and Mitterrand and Kohl at Verdun (235) already describe the picture. What counts is knowledge: the Federal President proposes the chancellor for election, Brandt asked Poland and the Polish Jews for forgiveness, and the Verdun meeting stands for peace and security in the EU countries.
- Two photos you need to recognise: the Reichstag building with its glass dome, seat of the Bundestag in Berlin (55), and the Bundesadler (federal eagle) on the wall of the plenary chamber (216).
- State coat of arms: the wrong options are mostly the coats of arms of other states, so learn the colours and main motif of yours precisely. Watch out for similar motifs: Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia both have a white horse on red, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt both have the green crown of rue on black and gold.
- State map: four states are highlighted and numbered, often your state's neighbours. Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg and Saarland even share the same map, so make sure you can tell the small areas apart.
All picture questions with answers
Below you'll find the 11 general picture questions and the coat-of-arms and map questions for all 16 states, each with the correct answer marked and the German original shown. In the app you can practise them along with all the other questions that apply to you. For the location and capital of every state, see Germany's 16 federal states and their capitals. The eagle, flag and anthem are covered in Germany's national symbols, and how the first and second votes work is explained in elections in Germany.
General questions with pictures (11 questions)
Question 21
Which is the coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Germany?
Welches ist das Wappen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland?
Image 1 – Correct answer
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Question 55
What does this image show?
Was zeigt dieses Bild?
Image: © Deutscher Bundestag/Achim Melde - the seat of the Bundestag (federal parliament) in Berlin – Correct answer
- the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe
- the Bundesrat (federal council) building in Berlin
- the Federal Chancellery in Berlin
In the test (German): den Bundestagssitz in Berlin
View this questionQuestion 70
German Federal President Gustav Heinemann hands Helmut Schmidt his certificate of appointment as German Federal Chancellor in 1974. What is one of the duties of the German Federal President?
Der deutsche Bundespräsident Gustav Heinemann gibt Helmut Schmidt 1974 die Ernennungsurkunde zum deutschen Bundeskanzler. Was gehört zu den Aufgaben der deutschen Bundespräsidentin/des deutschen Bundespräsidenten?
Image: © Bundesregierung/Engelbert Reineke - They conduct the business of government.
- They monitor the governing party.
- They select the ministers.
- They propose the Chancellor for election. – Correct answer
In the test (German): Sie/Er schlägt die Kanzlerin/den Kanzler zur Wahl vor.
View this questionQuestion 130
Which ballot paper would be valid in an election to the Bundestag (federal parliament)?
Welcher Stimmzettel wäre bei einer Bundestagswahl gültig?
Image: In Anlehnung an Bundeswahlordnung (BWO), Anlage 26 - 1 – Correct answer
- 2
- 3
- 4
In the test (German): 1
View this questionQuestion 176
How were Germany's occupation zones distributed after 1945?
Wie waren die Besatzungszonen Deutschlands nach 1945 verteilt?
- 1=Great Britain, 2=Soviet Union, 3=France, 4=USA
- 1=Soviet Union, 2=Great Britain, 3=USA, 4=France
- 1=Great Britain, 2=Soviet Union, 3=USA, 4=France – Correct answer
- 1=Great Britain, 2=USA, 3=Soviet Union, 4=France
In the test (German): 1=Großbritannien, 2=Sowjetunion, 3=USA, 4=Frankreich
View this questionQuestion 181
What did Willy Brandt want to express by kneeling (Kniefall) in 1970 in the former Jewish ghetto in Warsaw?
Was wollte Willy Brandt mit seinem Kniefall 1970 im ehemaligen jüdischen Ghetto in Warschau ausdrücken?
Image: © Bundesregierung/Engelbert Reineke - He submitted to the former Allies.
- He asked Poland and the Polish Jews for forgiveness. – Correct answer
- He showed his humility before the Warsaw Pact.
- He said a prayer at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
In the test (German): Er bat Polen und die polnischen Juden um Vergebung.
View this questionQuestion 187
Which German state had a black-red-gold flag with a hammer, compass and wreath of grain?
Welcher deutsche Staat hatte eine schwarz-rot-goldene Flagge mit Hammer, Zirkel und Ährenkranz?
- Preußen
- Federal Republic of Germany
- "Third Reich"
- GDR – Correct answer
In the test (German): DDR
View this questionQuestion 209
Which was the coat of arms of the German Democratic Republic?
Welches war das Wappen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4 – Correct answer
Question 216
Which symbol can be seen in the plenary chamber of the German Bundestag (federal parliament)?
Welches Symbol ist im Plenarsaal des Deutschen Bundestages zu sehen?
Image: © Deutscher Bundestag/Janine Schmitz - the Federal Eagle (Bundesadler) – Correct answer
- the flag of the city of Berlin
- the Imperial Eagle (Reichsadler)
- the Imperial Crown (Reichskrone)
In the test (German): der Bundesadler
View this questionQuestion 226
Which is the flag of the European Union?
Welche ist die Flagge der Europäischen Union?
Image 1
Image 2 – Correct answer
Image 3
Image 4
Question 235
The then French President François Mitterrand and the then German Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl together commemorate the dead of both World Wars in Verdun. Which goal of the European Union does this meeting make clear?
Der damalige französische Staatspräsident François Mitterrand und der damalige deutsche Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl gedenken in Verdun gemeinsam der Toten beider Weltkriege. Welches Ziel der Europäischen Union wird bei diesem Treffen deutlich?
Image: © Bundesregierung/Richard Schulze-Vorberg - friendship between England and Germany
- freedom to travel to all EU countries
- peace and security in the EU countries – Correct answer
- uniform public holidays in the EU countries
In the test (German): Frieden und Sicherheit in den Ländern der EU
View this question
The coats of arms of the federal states (16 questions)
Question BW 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Baden-Württemberg?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Baden-Württemberg?
Image 1 – Correct answer
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Question BY 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the Free State of Bayern?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Freistaat Bayern?
Image 1
Image 2 – Correct answer
Image 3
Image 4
Question BE 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Berlin?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Berlin?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4 – Correct answer
Question BB 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Brandenburg?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Brandenburg?
Image 1 – Correct answer
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Question HB 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen?
Welches Wappen gehört zur Freien Hansestadt Bremen?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3 – Correct answer
Image 4
Question HH 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg?
Welches Wappen gehört zur Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg?
Image 1
Image 2 – Correct answer
Image 3
Image 4
Question HE 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Hessen?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Hessen?
Image 1 – Correct answer
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Question MV 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3 – Correct answer
Image 4
Question NI 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Niedersachsen?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Niedersachsen?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3 – Correct answer
Image 4
Question NW 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Nordrhein-Westfalen?
Image 1
Image 2 – Correct answer
Image 3
Image 4
Question RP 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Rheinland-Pfalz?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Rheinland-Pfalz?
Image 1 – Correct answer
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Question SL 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Saarland?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Saarland?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4 – Correct answer
Question SN 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the Free State of Sachsen?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Freistaat Sachsen?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4 – Correct answer
Question ST 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Sachsen-Anhalt?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Sachsen-Anhalt?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4 – Correct answer
Question SH 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Bundesland Schleswig-Holstein?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3 – Correct answer
Image 4
Question TH 1
Which coat of arms belongs to the Free State of Thüringen?
Welches Wappen gehört zum Freistaat Thüringen?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4 – Correct answer
Where is the federal state? (16 questions)
Question BW 8
Which federal state is Baden-Württemberg?
Welches Bundesland ist Baden-Württemberg?
- 1
- 2 – Correct answer
- 3
- 4
In the test (German): 2
View this questionQuestion BY 8
Which federal state is Bayern?
Welches Bundesland ist Bayern?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4 – Correct answer
In the test (German): 4
View this questionQuestion BE 8
Which federal state is Berlin?
Welches Bundesland ist Berlin?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4 – Correct answer
In the test (German): 4
View this questionQuestion BB 8
Which federal state is Brandenburg?
Welches Bundesland ist Brandenburg?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4 – Correct answer
In the test (German): 4
View this questionQuestion HB 8
Which federal state is Bremen?
Welches Bundesland ist Bremen?
- 1 – Correct answer
- 2
- 3
- 4
In the test (German): 1
View this questionQuestion HH 8
Which federal state is Hamburg?
Welches Bundesland ist Hamburg?
- 1
- 2
- 3 – Correct answer
- 4
In the test (German): 3
View this questionQuestion HE 8
Which federal state is Hessen?
Welches Bundesland ist Hessen?
- 1
- 2
- 3 – Correct answer
- 4
In the test (German): 3
View this questionQuestion MV 8
Which federal state is Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?
Welches Bundesland ist Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?
- 1
- 2
- 3 – Correct answer
- 4
In the test (German): 3
View this questionQuestion NI 8
Which federal state is Niedersachsen?
Welches Bundesland ist Niedersachsen?
- 1 – Correct answer
- 2
- 3
- 4
In the test (German): 1
View this questionQuestion NW 8
Which federal state is Nordrhein-Westfalen?
Welches Bundesland ist Nordrhein-Westfalen?
- 1
- 2
- 3 – Correct answer
- 4
In the test (German): 3
View this questionQuestion RP 8
Which federal state is Rheinland-Pfalz?
Welches Bundesland ist Rheinland-Pfalz?
- 1 – Correct answer
- 2
- 3
- 4
In the test (German): 1
View this questionQuestion SL 8
Which federal state is Saarland?
Welches Bundesland ist das Saarland?
- 1
- 2 – Correct answer
- 3
- 4
In the test (German): 2
View this questionQuestion SN 8
Which federal state is Sachsen?
Welches Bundesland ist Sachsen?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4 – Correct answer
In the test (German): 4
View this questionQuestion ST 8
Which federal state is Sachsen-Anhalt?
Welches Bundesland ist Sachsen-Anhalt?
- 1
- 2
- 3 – Correct answer
- 4
In the test (German): 3
View this questionQuestion SH 8
Which federal state is Schleswig-Holstein?
Welches Bundesland ist Schleswig-Holstein?
- 1 – Correct answer
- 2
- 3
- 4
In the test (German): 1
View this questionQuestion TH 8
Which federal state is Thüringen?
Welches Bundesland ist Thüringen?
- 1
- 2 – Correct answer
- 3
- 4
In the test (German): 2
View this question
Frequently asked questions
How many picture questions are there in the German citizenship test?
The catalogue has 43: 11 general questions and 2 state questions for each federal state. 13 of them apply to you; how many appear in your test depends on the question paper you get.
What does the coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Germany look like?
It shows the Bundesadler (federal eagle): a black eagle with a red beak and red claws on a golden-yellow background. There's also a question on Germany's heraldic animal – it's the eagle (question 29).
Which ballot paper is valid in a Bundestag election?
In the catalogue it's ballot paper 1: it has exactly one cross for the first vote and exactly one for the second vote. The other three have several crosses in the same column.
How were Germany's occupation zones divided after 1945?
On the catalogue map: 1 = Great Britain, 2 = Soviet Union, 3 = USA, 4 = France. The GDR was founded in the Soviet zone in 1949.
Sources
- BAMF: Gesamtfragenkatalog zum Test „Leben in Deutschland“ und zum Einbürgerungstest (PDF)
- BAMF: Online-Testcenter
- EinbTestV § 1 (gesetze-im-internet.de)
We rely on official sources. The current law and the advice of your naturalisation authority always take precedence.
Keep reading
- Knowledge for the testFlag, coat of arms, anthem: Germany's national symbolsBlack-red-gold, the federal eagle and the national anthem: where Germany's state symbols come from and what you need to know about them for the test.
- Knowledge for the testGermany's 16 federal states and their capitalsAll 16 German states with their capitals, parliaments and heads of government in one table, plus memory aids and classic traps in the citizenship test.
- The citizenship testHow to pass the German citizenship test: 10 tips that workWith the right approach the German citizenship test is very manageable. Ten practical tips for studying, for test day and for avoiding the classic mistakes.
This guide is not legal advice. Laws and administrative practice can change; your naturalisation authority's information is binding.