The "Leben in Deutschland" test vs. the citizenship test

The "Leben in Deutschland" test (Life in Germany, LiD for short) and the German citizenship test use the same question catalogue, the same format and the same time limit: 33 questions in 60 minutes. The difference is their purpose. LiD is the final exam of the orientation course (Orientierungskurs) within the integration course, and you pass with 15 correct answers. The citizenship test (Einbürgerungstest) proves your knowledge for naturalisation and needs 17. If you score at least 17 in the LiD test, you have met the naturalisation requirement as well.

Side-by-side comparison

What is the "Leben in Deutschland" test?

The integration course (Integrationskurs) has two parts: a language course and an orientation course. The orientation course covers politics, history and society in Germany – the same subjects as the citizenship test. It ends with the "Leben in Deutschland" test.

With 15 out of 33 you pass the orientation course. If you also reach B1 in the German language test for immigrants (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, DTZ), you receive the "Zertifikat Integrationskurs" (§ 17 Integrationskursverordnung). The BAMF pays for your first attempt at the final tests. Your course provider usually arranges the LiD test date. You can find integration courses near you with BAMF-NAvI.

Passing the orientation course is useful even before naturalisation: according to the BAMF, it proves the basic knowledge of the legal and social order that you need for a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis). More on that step in permanent residence or German citizenship?.

What is the citizenship test?

The Einbürgerungstest shows the naturalisation authority that you know Germany's legal and social order – one of the requirements under § 10 of the Nationality Act (StAG). For the full list, see German citizenship requirements.

You don't have to attend a course first. The law provides for preparation courses (Einbürgerungskurse), but taking one is voluntary (§ 10(5) StAG). You register yourself with a BAMF-approved test centre, usually a Volkshochschule (adult education centre), and pay €25. The BAMF marks the test centrally and posts you the result. The details are in the German citizenship test: format, questions and pass mark, and signing up is covered in how to register for the citizenship test.

When the LiD test counts as the citizenship test

It all comes down to your score. The questions come from the same catalogue; only the threshold differs:

• 0 to 14 points: orientation course not passed. You can retake the test – ask your course provider how that works in your case.
• 15 or 16 points: orientation course passed, but not enough for naturalisation. For that you will usually still need to take the citizenship test.
• 17 points or more: orientation course passed and the naturalisation requirement met. Your result is equivalent to the citizenship test, so you don't need a second test.

An example: you score 16 in the LiD test. That's fine for your integration course. But if you later want to naturalise, you'll need to register for the citizenship test as well and get at least 17 there.

With 17 or more, the BAMF issues you the same certificate as after a passed citizenship test (§ 10(3) Integrationskurstestverordnung). Keep it somewhere safe – you'll submit it with your citizenship application. More in citizenship test results and certificate.

Which test is right for you?

• You're on an integration course: you'll take the LiD test anyway. Treat 17 rather than 15 as your minimum – that way the knowledge requirement for a future naturalisation is already done. In practice exams, aim to consistently get 30 or more out of 33.
• You're not on an integration course, for example because you came to Germany as a skilled worker, to study or as an EU citizen: the citizenship test is your route.
• You have a German school-leaving certificate or another exemption: you may not need any test. See who doesn't have to take the citizenship test.

How to study for either test

Because the catalogue is the same, you prepare for both tests in exactly the same way: the 300 general questions plus the 10 for your state – 310 in total. Your state questions depend on where you live. Practise by topic and take several full practice exams with 33 questions in 60 minutes before your test date.

Both tests use the BAMF's current question catalogue, dated 7 May 2025 ("Stand 07.05.2025"). The last change took effect on 1 July 2024, when 17 general and 8 state questions were replaced – several of them about Jewish life, Israel and antisemitism. Check that your course book or practice material is up to date, or you may be learning questions that no longer appear.

If you scored below 17 in the LiD test, failed the citizenship test? what to do next will help you prepare for the next attempt.