Failed the German citizenship test? What to do next

If you failed the German citizenship test, you can simply take it again – as many times as you need. Each new attempt costs €25, and you register with a test centre just as you did the first time. More important than a quick new date is a plan: find out where your gaps are and close them. Done that way, the second attempt becomes much easier.

What "not passed" means

You answered fewer than 17 of the 33 questions correctly. The BAMF then posts you a certificate showing your score and the note "teilgenommen" (took part), in the same way it sends out passing results. For how that process works, see citizenship test results and certificate.

The key points:

• Unlimited retakes. There is no maximum number of attempts.
• €25 per attempt.
• No waiting period in the regulation: The Einbürgerungstestverordnung doesn't set any gap between attempts. When you can go again mainly depends on when test centres have free dates.
• Only the pass counts for naturalisation. What you eventually submit is the certificate for the test you passed.
• Already applied? Let your naturalisation authority (Einbürgerungsbehörde) know that you are retaking the test and ask when they need the certificate.

And remember: according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, well over 90% of candidates have passed the test in recent years. With focused preparation, you are very likely to be one of them next time.

Step 1: find your gaps

Straight after the test is when you best remember which questions were hard. Write them down – even just keywords like "question about the Bundesrat" or "picture with a coat of arms".

Then take a practice exam with 33 questions in 60 minutes. Afterwards you can see every mistake and practise it. Do this two or three times and a pattern emerges: are your mistakes spread across all topics, or concentrated in a few?

Our app sorts the 300 general questions into 11 topics. Three of them are especially large:

Together that is 129 of the 300 general questions – more than 40%. Gaps here hurt the most. On top of that come the 10 questions on your federal state: 3 of them are in every test, so they are easy points once you know them.

Step 2: your study plan for the retake

Plan on 2–4 weeks of focused study – you are not starting from scratch. A possible plan:

1. Week 1 – weak spots: Work through your weakest topics completely, one or two a day. Practise by topic until you get almost everything right.
2. Week 2 – everything once: Go through all 310 questions for your state. Repeat anything you got wrong the next day.
3. Week 3 – exam training: Take three or four practice exams a week. Go over every mistake straight away.
4. Week 4 (if needed) – confidence: No new material, just your mistakes and practice exams.

Our benchmark: only book the test again once you consistently get 30 or more out of 33 in practice exams – that is, in several practice exams in a row. This isn't an official rule, just our recommendation. You need 17 to pass, but 30 gives you a 13-point cushion for nerves and tricky wording. For a fuller timetable, see how long to study for the citizenship test.

Prefer learning with others? There are also preparation courses for the test (Einbürgerungskurse). They are voluntary (§ 10(5) StAG). Your naturalisation authority or local adult education centre can tell you whether there is one near you.

Step 3: the usual sources of mistakes

• Negative questions: Almost 30 of the 300 general questions contain "nicht" (not) or "kein" (no/none), for example question 25: "Which is not a federal state of the Federal Republic of Germany?" Read every question to the end.
• Similar answers: Two options often sound right. Learn why an answer is correct, not just what it looks like.
• Wrong state: Your state questions depend on where you live. If you have moved, learn the questions for your new state.
• Unfamiliar words: Terms like "Verfassungsorgan" (constitutional body) or "Legislative" slow you down. The citizenship test glossary explains them simply.
• Blank boxes: Wrong answers don't cost points, so mark an answer for every question.

Step 4: handling test nerves

Nerves can cost you points even when you know the material. What helps:

• Practise under real conditions: Full practice exams in one sitting, timed, with no phone and no looking things up. The situation becomes familiar.
• Get a feel for the time: 60 minutes is almost 2 minutes per question – plenty. If you get stuck, move on and come back later.
• The day before: No new topics. Get enough sleep, pack your ID and a pen, and allow extra time for the journey.
• In the test: Answer the questions you are sure about first. That gives you calm for the rest.

For more strategies, read how to pass the German citizenship test: 10 tips.

Step 5: register again

It is best to book a new date straight away. In big cities the wait can be several months – time you can use to study. How registration works and what to bring is covered in how to register for the citizenship test. You can also find test centres on the BAMF naturalisation page.