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Citizenship test questions on work, the economy and social security

Q: What is the difference between a trade union and a works council?

A trade union (Gewerkschaft) is an association that represents employees' interests, for example in collective pay negotiations. A works council (Betriebsrat) is elected by the staff of one company and helps directly in the workplace with problems with the employer.

Updated 29 September 20265 min readDiesen Ratgeber auf Deutsch lesen

There are 22 questions on work, the economy and the welfare state. The biggest block is social insurance: which insurances belong to it, who pays for it and what is deducted from your salary automatically? Add the social market economy, trade unions and works councils, dismissal and claims for unfair dismissal, the protection of pregnant employees, and a few everyday situations – from a faulty TV to a restaurant licence and taking the driving theory test in your own language. Study tip: watch out for similar-sounding terms, because that is exactly what the wrong answers exploit: statutory social insurance vs private life insurance, wage tax (Lohnsteuer, deducted from your pay) vs VAT (Umsatzsteuer, included in the price of what you buy), trade union (an association of employees) vs works council (elected inside your company), notice period vs a claim for unfair dismissal.

What you should know

Germany's economic system is the social market economy: supply and demand drive the economy, and the state ensures social balance (question 171).
Health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance are part of statutory social insurance (Sozialversicherung), life insurance is not – our citizenship test glossary explains the terms.
Social insurance is financed through social security contributions paid jointly by employers and employees; if you are permanently employed, you pay in automatically.
Wage tax (Lohnsteuer) and social insurance contributions are deducted from your salary – VAT (Umsatzsteuer) is not (question 285).
Trade unions represent the interests of employees; within a company, the works council (Betriebsrat) helps employees with problems with their employer.
If you want to resign you must observe the notice period (Kündigungsfrist); if you are wrongfully dismissed you can bring a claim for protection against dismissal (Kündigungsschutzklage) at the labour court.
A pregnancy the employer knows about must not be a reason for dismissal.
Most working people are employed by a company or public authority, and the best chance of a well-paid job goes to people who are well trained and keep learning after their training.
The BIZ (career information centre) of the Federal Employment Agency helps you find an apprenticeship.
You can make a complaint about (reklamieren) a new purchase that doesn't work; a restaurant needs a licence from the responsible authority (Gaststättenerlaubnis); and the driving theory test is available in more than ten languages.

The questions with the correct answer (22 questions)

Practise this topic

Question 23
In Germany, most working people are …
In Deutschland sind die meisten Erwerbstätigen …
- employed in small family businesses.
- doing volunteer work for a federal state.
- self-employed with their own company.
- employed by a company or a public authority. – Correct answer
In the test (German): bei einer Firma oder Behörde beschäftigt.
View this question
Question 35
What does the German state use to finance social insurance?
Womit finanziert der deutsche Staat die Sozialversicherung?
- Church tax
- Social security contributions – Correct answer
- Donations
- Club membership fees
In the test (German): Sozialabgaben
View this question
Question 36
Which measure provides social security in Germany?
Welche Maßnahme schafft in Deutschland soziale Sicherheit?
- health insurance – Correct answer
- car insurance
- buildings insurance
- liability insurance
In the test (German): die Krankenversicherung
View this question
Question 45
Which type of insurance does long-term care insurance belong to?
Zu welcher Versicherung gehört die Pflegeversicherung?
- Social insurance – Correct answer
- Accident insurance
- Household contents insurance
- Liability and fire insurance
In the test (German): Sozialversicherung
View this question
Question 50
The economic system in Germany is called …
Die Wirtschaftsform in Deutschland nennt man …
- a free central economy.
- a social market economy. – Correct answer
- a directed central economy.
- a planned economy.
In the test (German): soziale Marktwirtschaft.
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Question 97
What do you automatically pay in Germany if you are permanently employed?
Was bezahlt man in Deutschland automatisch, wenn man fest angestellt ist?
- Social insurance – Correct answer
- Social assistance
- Child benefit
- Housing benefit
In the test (German): Sozialversicherung
View this question
Question 99
Who pays for the social insurance schemes in Germany?
Wer bezahlt in Deutschland die Sozialversicherungen?
- employers and employees – Correct answer
- only employees
- all citizens
- only employers
In the test (German): Arbeitgeberinnen/Arbeitgeber und Arbeitnehmerinnen/Arbeitnehmer
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Question 100
What is not part of statutory social insurance?
Was gehört nicht zur gesetzlichen Sozialversicherung?
- life insurance – Correct answer
- statutory pension insurance
- unemployment insurance
- long-term care insurance
In the test (German): die Lebensversicherung
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Question 101
Trade unions are interest groups of …
Gewerkschaften sind Interessenverbände der …
- young people.
- employees. – Correct answer
- pensioners.
- employers.
In the test (German): Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer.
View this question
Question 104
A woman in Germany loses her job. What must not be the reason for this dismissal?
Eine Frau in Deutschland verliert ihre Arbeit. Was darf nicht der Grund für diese Entlassung sein?
- The woman has been ill for a long time and is unable to work.
- The woman often came to work late.
- The woman does private things during working hours.
- The woman is expecting a child and her boss knows this. – Correct answer
In the test (German): Die Frau bekommt ein Kind und ihr Chef weiß das.
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Question 135
Whom do trade unions represent in Germany?
Wen vertreten die Gewerkschaften in Deutschland?
- large companies
- small companies
- self-employed people
- employees – Correct answer
In the test (German): Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer
View this question
Question 138
What can I do in Germany if my employer has wrongfully dismissed me?
Was kann ich in Deutschland machen, wenn mir meine Arbeitgeberin/mein Arbeitgeber zu Unrecht gekündigt hat?
- keep working and be friendly to the boss
- start a formal payment reminder procedure against the employer
- file a lawsuit for protection against dismissal – Correct answer
- report the employer to the police
In the test (German): Kündigungsschutzklage erheben
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Question 171
Social market economy means that the economy …
Soziale Marktwirtschaft bedeutet, die Wirtschaft …
- regulates itself solely according to supply and demand.
- is planned and controlled by the state; supply and demand are not taken into account.
- is guided by demand abroad.
- is guided by supply and demand, but the state ensures social balance. – Correct answer
In the test (German): richtet sich nach Angebot und Nachfrage, aber der Staat sorgt für einen sozialen Ausgleich.
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Question 250
In Germany, you have the best chance of getting a well-paid job if you …
In Deutschland hat man die besten Chancen auf einen gut bezahlten Arbeitsplatz, wenn man …
- are Catholic.
- are well trained. – Correct answer
- are a woman.
- are a member of a party.
In the test (German): gut ausgebildet ist.
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Question 256
A married couple wants to open a restaurant in Germany. What do they definitely need for this?
Ein Ehepaar möchte in Deutschland ein Restaurant eröffnen. Was braucht es dazu unbedingt?
- a permit from the police
- approval from a party
- approval from the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt)
- a restaurant permit from the responsible authority – Correct answer
In the test (German): eine Gaststättenerlaubnis von der zuständigen Behörde
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Question 259
The career information centre BIZ at the Federal Employment Agency in Germany helps with …
Das Berufsinformationszentrum BIZ bei der Bundesagentur für Arbeit in Deutschland hilft bei der …
- calculating pensions.
- finding an apprenticeship. – Correct answer
- tax returns.
- health insurance.
In the test (German): Lehrstellensuche.
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Question 268
A young woman wants to get her driving licence. She is afraid of the test because her native language is not German. What is correct?
Eine junge Frau will den Führerschein machen. Sie hat Angst vor der Prüfung, weil ihre Muttersprache nicht Deutsch ist. Was ist richtig?
- She must live in Germany for at least ten years before she can get a driving licence.
- If she doesn't speak German, she is not allowed to have a driving licence.
- She must get her driving licence in the country where her language is spoken.
- She may be able to take the theory test in her native language. There are more than ten languages to choose from. – Correct answer
In the test (German): Sie kann die Theorie-Prüfung vielleicht in ihrer Muttersprache machen. Es gibt mehr als zehn Sprachen zur Auswahl.
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Question 284
What people need to be able to do for their work will change very quickly in the future. What can you do?
Was man für die Arbeit können muss, ändert sich in Zukunft sehr schnell. Was kann man tun?
- It doesn't matter what you learn.
- Adults must keep on learning even after their vocational training. – Correct answer
- Children learn everything at school that is important for their job. After school you don't have to keep learning.
- Everyone has to stop working earlier because everything is changing.
In the test (German): Erwachsene müssen auch nach der Ausbildung immer weiter lernen.
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Question 285
Ms Frost is a permanent employee in an office. What does she not have to pay from her salary?
Frau Frost arbeitet als fest angestellte Mitarbeiterin in einem Büro. Was muss sie nicht von ihrem Gehalt bezahlen?
- Wage tax (Lohnsteuer)
- Contributions to unemployment insurance
- Contributions to pension and health insurance
- Value added tax (Umsatzsteuer) – Correct answer
In the test (German): Umsatzsteuer
View this question
Question 286
Which body within a company helps employees with problems with their employer?
Welche Organisation in einer Firma hilft den Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmern bei Problemen mit der Arbeitgeberin/dem Arbeitgeber?
- the works council – Correct answer
- the company auditor
- the company group
- the company management
In the test (German): der Betriebsrat
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Question 287
You want to end your employment with a company in Germany. What do you have to take into account?
Sie möchten bei einer Firma in Deutschland ihr Arbeitsverhältnis beenden. Was müssen Sie beachten?
- the salary payments
- the working hours
- the notice period – Correct answer
- compulsory insurance
In the test (German): die Kündigungsfrist
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Question 290
You have bought a television in Germany. At home you unpack the television, but it doesn't work. The television is broken. What can you do?
Sie haben in Deutschland einen Fernseher gekauft. Zu Hause packen Sie den Fernseher aus, doch er funktioniert nicht. Der Fernseher ist kaputt. Was können Sie machen?
- file a report
- make a complaint about the television – Correct answer
- exchange the device without asking
- extend the warranty
In the test (German): den Fernseher reklamieren
View this question

Frequently asked questions

How many questions on work and social security are in the citizenship test?

The catalogue has 22 of 300 general questions on this topic. The number per test isn't fixed; on average about 2 of your 30 general questions come from it.

Which insurances are part of German social insurance?

Statutory social insurance includes health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance, among others. Private policies such as life, liability or home contents insurance are not part of it.

What is the difference between a trade union and a works council?

A trade union (Gewerkschaft) is an association that represents employees' interests, for example in collective pay negotiations. A works council (Betriebsrat) is elected by the staff of one company and helps directly in the workplace with problems with the employer.

Keep reading

All guides

This guide is not legal advice. Laws and administrative practice can change; your naturalisation authority's information is binding.

The questions with the correct answer (22 questions)

In Germany, most working people are …

What does the German state use to finance social insurance?

Which measure provides social security in Germany?

Which type of insurance does long-term care insurance belong to?

The economic system in Germany is called …

What do you automatically pay in Germany if you are permanently employed?

Who pays for the social insurance schemes in Germany?

What is not part of statutory social insurance?

Trade unions are interest groups of …

A woman in Germany loses her job. What must not be the reason for this dismissal?

Whom do trade unions represent in Germany?

What can I do in Germany if my employer has wrongfully dismissed me?

Social market economy means that the economy …

In Germany, you have the best chance of getting a well-paid job if you …

A married couple wants to open a restaurant in Germany. What do they definitely need for this?

The career information centre BIZ at the Federal Employment Agency in Germany helps with …

A young woman wants to get her driving licence. She is afraid of the test because her native language is not German. What is correct?

What people need to be able to do for their work will change very quickly in the future. What can you do?

Ms Frost is a permanent employee in an office. What does she not have to pay from her salary?

Which body within a company helps employees with problems with their employer?

You want to end your employment with a company in Germany. What do you have to take into account?

You have bought a television in Germany. At home you unpack the television, but it doesn't work. The television is broken. What can you do?

More topics

Frequently asked questions

How many questions on work and social security are in the citizenship test?

Which insurances are part of German social insurance?

What is the difference between a trade union and a works council?

Keep reading