Einbürgerungstest Pass Mark: How Many Answers You Need Right

The single number every candidate wants confirmed before booking is the pass mark. For the Einbürgerungstest it's 17 out of 33 — and here's exactly what that translates to on the day.

The pass mark in plain numbers

• The test has 33 questions.
• You need 17 correct to pass.
• You have 60 minutes, which is nearly two minutes per question — plenty of time.
• There's no negative marking: each question is simply right or wrong.

So you can get up to 16 questions wrong and still pass. That sounds generous, but there are good reasons not to aim for the bare minimum.

Why "just passing" is the wrong target

Three things quietly eat into that buffer on test day:

1. Nerves. Even well-prepared candidates misread a question or two under pressure.
2. The state questions. 3 of the 33 are specific to your Bundesland — easy marks if you've revised them, lost marks if you haven't.
3. Similar-sounding options. Some questions hinge on a single detail — a date, an institution, a right.

Candidates who pass comfortably usually score well into the high 20s on mock tests before booking.

How to build a safe margin

• Take full 33-question mock tests under the 60-minute limit, not casual quizzes.
• Revise the 3 state-specific questions for your Bundesland — they're published in the catalogue.
• Don't book until you're clearing the mid-to-high 20s consistently.

GermanPass practice tests match the real format exactly, so the score you see in practice is the score that counts on the day.

Do you find out your score?

You're told whether you passed, and passing earns you a certificate you submit with your naturalisation application. Always confirm current requirements at the official source: BAMF — Einbürgerungstest.