In which places does the European Parliament work?

Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Brussels

Question catalogue in force since 2024-07-01

Mock exam — Berlin

33 questions as in the real exam: 30 federal and 3 on Berlin. With an explanation for every option. Free, 2026.

Questions in the test: 33
Split: 30 + 3
Pass mark — naturalisation: 17 / 33
Pass mark — "Leben in Deutschland": 15 / 33
Time: 60 min

Two pass marks — read this
It is the same paper, but there are two pass marks. Naturalisation requires 17 of 33 correct. The "Leben in Deutschland" test at the end of an orientation course requires 15. So a score of 15 or 16 passes the orientation course and does not meet the naturalisation requirement. If you are sitting this for naturalisation, 17 is your number.

0 of 33 answered

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Question 1 of 33Catalogue question 238
In which places does the European Parliament work?
- Paris, London and The Hague
- Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Brussels
- Rome, Bern and Vienna
- Bonn, Zurich and Milan
1. A — Paris, London and The Hague are not among the three official working locations of the European Parliament.
2. B — Correct: the European Parliament works in three locations — Strasbourg (plenary sessions), Brussels (committees, group meetings) and Luxembourg (secretariat-general).
3. C — Rome, Bern and Vienna are not working locations of the European Parliament; Switzerland is also not an EU member.
4. D — Bonn, Zurich and Milan are not working locations of the European Parliament.
Source: www.europarl.europa.eu
Question 2 of 33Catalogue question 52
What does "popular sovereignty" mean? All state authority is derived from the …
- people.
- Bundestag.
- Prussian king.
- Federal Constitutional Court.
1. A — Correct: Art. 20(2) of the Basic Law states "All state authority is derived from the people" — the people are the source of all legitimacy.
2. B — The Bundestag exercises state authority but is itself legitimised by the people, not their origin.
3. C — A Prussian king has not existed since 1918 and was never the basis of popular sovereignty under the Basic Law.
4. D — The Federal Constitutional Court applies the constitution but is not the source of state authority.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 3 of 33Catalogue question 95
What applies to most children in Germany?
- compulsory voting
- compulsory schooling
- a duty of confidentiality
- compulsory religious observance
1. A — There is no compulsory voting in Germany — and children cannot vote anyway.
2. B — Correct: general compulsory schooling applies to all children in Germany and is anchored in state constitutions and school laws.
3. C — A general "duty of confidentiality" for children does not exist; duties of confidentiality apply to certain professions (e.g. doctors).
4. D — There is no state-imposed religious obligation; freedom of religion (Art. 4 Basic Law) also includes the right to practise no religion at all.
Source: www.kmk.org
Question 4 of 33Catalogue question 48
Which of these is not a constitutional organ of Germany?
- the Bundesrat
- the Federal President
- the citizens' assembly
- the government
1. A — The Bundesrat is a constitutional organ anchored in the Basic Law (Art. 50 ff.), through which the Länder participate in legislation.
2. B — The Federal President, as head of state, is a constitutional organ (Art. 54 ff. Basic Law).
3. C — Correct: a "citizens' assembly" does not exist as an independent constitutional organ in the Basic Law; direct citizen participation at the federal level is not provided for in this form.
4. D — The federal government, as the executive organ, is a constitutional organ (Art. 62 ff. Basic Law).
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 5 of 33Catalogue question 227
Which country is a neighbouring country of Germany?
- Finland
- Denmark
- Norway
- Sweden
1. A — Finland does not border Germany; the Baltic Sea with other coastal states lies between them.
2. B — Correct: Denmark is one of Germany's nine direct neighbouring countries, to the north.
3. C — Norway does not border Germany but lies further north in Scandinavia.
4. D — Sweden does not directly border Germany; the Baltic Sea separates the two countries.
Source: www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Question 6 of 33Catalogue question 298
Migrants living in East Germany came mainly from …
- Vietnam, Poland, Mozambique.
- France, Romania, Somalia.
- Chile, Hungary, Zimbabwe.
- North Korea, Mexico, Egypt.
1. A — Correct: East Germany recruited so-called "contract workers" mainly from socialist fraternal states such as Vietnam, Poland and Mozambique.
2. B — France, Romania and Somalia were not the main countries of origin of East German contract workers.
3. C — Chile, Hungary and Zimbabwe had some political connections (e.g. Chilean exiles after the Pinochet coup), but were not the main groups of contract workers.
4. D — North Korea, Mexico and Egypt were not the central countries of origin for East German labour migration.
Source: www.bpb.de
Question 7 of 33Catalogue question 243
Maik and Sybille want to hold a demonstration on the street with friends where they live in Germany. What must they do beforehand?
- They must register the demonstration.
- They do not need to do anything. In Germany you may demonstrate anywhere at any time.
- They cannot do anything at all, because demonstrations are fundamentally forbidden in Germany.
- Maik and Sybille must found a new club, because only clubs are allowed to demonstrate.
1. A — Correct: under the Assembly Act, public open-air assemblies must be registered with the responsible authority at least 48 hours in advance — freedom of assembly (Art. 8 Basic Law) still exists, but with this formal requirement.
2. B — Pure freedom of assembly without any formal registration requirement does not apply to registered open-air demonstrations; registration is provided for by law.
3. C — Demonstrations are precisely a protected basic right in Germany (Art. 8 Basic Law), not fundamentally forbidden.
4. D — There is no requirement to found a club for demonstrations; private individuals and loose groups may also demonstrate, provided they register.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 8 of 33Catalogue question 279
Most rented apartment buildings in Germany have "house rules". What is in such "house rules"? They set out …
- rules for using public transport.
- all tenants in the building.
- rules that all residents must observe.
- the address of the nearest public order office.
1. A — Public transport has nothing to do with house rules; that is a different regulatory area.
2. B — House rules do not list the names of tenants; that would be a tenant directory, not a set of rules.
3. C — Correct: the house rules contain rules of conduct for living together in the building, such as quiet hours, cleaning the stairwell or waste separation, which all residents must observe.
4. D — Authority addresses do not belong in house rules; these regulate living together in the building.
Source: www.mieterbund.de
Question 9 of 33Catalogue question 259
The Vocational Information Centre (BIZ) at the Federal Employment Agency in Germany helps with …
- pension calculation.
- the search for an apprenticeship.
- the tax return.
- health insurance.
1. A — Pension calculation is the task of the German Pension Insurance, not the BIZ.
2. B — Correct: the Vocational Information Centre provides information and advice on choosing a career, searching for apprenticeships and training places, and career prospects.
3. C — Tax returns are submitted to the tax office, not handled by the BIZ.
4. D — Health insurance matters concern the health insurance funds, not the BIZ.
Source: www.arbeitsagentur.de
Question 10 of 33Catalogue question 295
Which religion has shaped European and German culture?
- Hinduism
- Christianity
- Buddhism
- Islam
1. A — Hinduism is historically rooted mainly in South Asia and has not shaped European culture to a comparable extent.
2. B — Correct: over almost two millennia, Christianity has decisively shaped the art, law, holidays, values and institutions of Europe and Germany.
3. C — Buddhism is historically rooted mainly in Asia and has not shaped European culture to a comparable extent.
4. D — Islam has made important contributions to world culture and today is part of Germany's religious diversity, but historically did not shape European culture to the same extent as Christianity.
Source: www.bpb.de
Question 11 of 33Catalogue question 15
What does the German Basic Law forbid?
- military service
- forced labour
- free choice of occupation
- working abroad
1. A — Military service is regulated by law and not forbidden in principle; the Basic Law expressly permits it (Art. 12a).
2. B — Correct: Art. 12(2) and (3) of the Basic Law forbid forced labour except in narrowly defined cases such as a court-ordered deprivation of liberty.
3. C — Free choice of occupation is a basic right (Art. 12(1) Basic Law) and is protected, not forbidden.
4. D — Working abroad is covered by freedom of movement and is not forbidden by the Basic Law.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 12 of 33Catalogue question 270
The Volkshochschule (adult education centre) in Germany is an institution …
- for religious education.
- only for young people.
- for continuing education.
- only for pensioners.
1. A — The Volkshochschule offers a broad, ideologically neutral course programme and is not an institution for religious education.
2. B — The Volkshochschule is aimed at adults of all age groups, not exclusively at young people.
3. C — Correct: the Volkshochschule is the central institution for adult and continuing education in Germany, with courses ranging from languages to professional qualifications, culture and health.
4. D — The Volkshochschule is open to all adults, not only to pensioners.
Source: www.dvv-vhs.de
Question 13 of 33Catalogue question 283
What do you do if you receive an incorrect bill from a German authority?
- I let the bill lie unattended.
- I file an objection with the authority.
- I send the bill back to the authority.
- I take the bill to the tax office.
1. A — Inaction results in the incorrect notice becoming final once the deadline expires.
2. B — Correct: against a defective administrative act (such as an incorrect fee or cost invoice), one files a formal objection with the issuing authority.
3. C — Simply sending the bill back without a formal statement of reasons does not correspond to the intended legal procedure (an objection).
4. D — The tax office is only responsible for tax assessments, not for any arbitrary bill from an authority — one turns to the issuing authority itself.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 14 of 33Catalogue question 254
In Germany, married couples may divorce. Usually they must observe the "year of separation" to do so. What does that mean?
- The divorce proceedings take a year.
- The spouses have been married for a year, after which divorce is possible.
- Access rights for the children apply for a year.
- The spouses live apart, each leading their own life, for at least a year. Divorce is then possible.
1. A — The duration of the court divorce proceedings itself varies and is not what "year of separation" refers to.
2. B — The length of the marriage itself is not a requirement; what matters is the period of separation, not the period of marriage.
3. C — Access rights for the children are not limited to one year and have nothing to do with the year of separation.
4. D — Correct: under § 1566 of the Civil Code, a marriage is generally only considered to have failed after one year of living apart and can then be divorced — the year of separation is meant to prevent hasty divorces.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 15 of 33Catalogue question 49
In Germany, who determines school policy?
- teachers
- the federal states
- the family affairs ministry
- the universities
1. A — Teachers implement education policy in the classroom but do not set it.
2. B — Correct: under the Basic Law, education is a matter for the individual states ("cultural sovereignty" of the Länder) — each federal state has its own school law and ministry of education.
3. C — There is no federal "family ministry" that determines school policy; education policy lies with the states, not the federal government.
4. D — Universities are part of higher education, not the general school policy for which the states are responsible.
Source: www.kmk.org
Question 16 of 33Catalogue question 261
A man wants to complete his Abitur at age 30 in Germany. Where can he do this?
- a university.
- an evening grammar school.
- a Hauptschule.
- a private university.
1. A — A university already requires the Abitur as a prerequisite; you cannot obtain it there.
2. B — Correct: an evening grammar school (Abendgymnasium) enables working adults to obtain the Abitur later in life alongside their job.
3. C — The Hauptschule leads to a lower-level qualification, not the Abitur.
4. D — A private university likewise already requires a higher education entrance qualification.
Source: www.kmk.org
Question 17 of 33Catalogue question 158
The "Third Reich" was a …
- dictatorship.
- democracy.
- monarchy.
- council republic (Räterepublik).
1. A — Correct: the Nazi propaganda term "Third Reich" referred to the totalitarian one-party state under Hitler.
2. B — Elections and parties were abolished; the opposite of a democracy.
3. C — There was no hereditary monarch; rule was based on the "Führer principle", not dynastic succession.
4. D — A council republic is a councils-based democratic system, such as briefly existed in Munich in 1918/19 — the exact opposite of the Nazi dictatorship.
Source: www.bpb.de
Question 18 of 33Catalogue question 198
Which of today's German federal states was formerly part of East Germany?
- Bavaria
- Lower Saxony
- Saxony
- Baden-Württemberg
1. A — Bavaria lay in the American zone and belonged to old West Germany, not East Germany.
2. B — Lower Saxony lay in the British zone and belonged to old West Germany, not East Germany.
3. C — Correct: Saxony was one of the five "new states" that joined the Federal Republic in 1990.
4. D — Baden-Württemberg lay in the American/French zone and belonged to old West Germany, not East Germany.
Source: www.bpb.de
Question 19 of 33Catalogue question 97
What do you automatically pay in Germany if you are in permanent employment?
- social insurance contributions
- social assistance
- child benefit
- housing benefit
1. A — Correct: in employment subject to social insurance, contributions to pension, health, long-term care and unemployment insurance are automatically deducted from salary.
2. B — Social assistance is paid out to people in need, not automatically paid by employees.
3. C — Child benefit is paid out to parents; it is not an automatic payment made by employees.
4. D — Housing benefit is a social benefit for people on low incomes toward rent, not an automatic contribution paid by employees.
Source: www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de
Question 20 of 33Catalogue question 258
What is the youth welfare office in Germany allowed to do?
- It decides which school the child attends.
- It can remove a child who is being beaten or starved from the family.
- It pays child benefit to the parents.
- It checks whether the child attends kindergarten.
1. A — The choice of school is made by the parents (or, depending on the school type, allocated by the school authority), not by the youth welfare office.
2. B — Correct: in cases of acute risk to a child's welfare — such as abuse or neglect — the youth welfare office can intervene under § 8a of Book VIII of the Social Code / § 1666 of the Civil Code and take a child into care.
3. C — Child benefit is paid out by the family benefits office (Federal Employment Agency), not by the youth welfare office.
4. D — Checking whether a child attends kindergarten is not a typical task of the youth welfare office, especially since attending kindergarten is voluntary in Germany.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 21 of 33Catalogue question 293
What is a custom in Germany at Easter?
- putting pumpkins in front of the door
- decorating a Christmas tree
- painting eggs
- shooting fireworks into the air
1. A — Putting pumpkins in front of the door is a Halloween custom, not an Easter custom.
2. B — Decorating a Christmas tree is a Christmas custom, not associated with Easter.
3. C — Correct: painting and hiding colourful eggs is a central German Easter custom, symbolising new life and spring.
4. D — Setting off fireworks is a New Year's Eve custom, not an Easter custom.
Source: www.bpb.de
Question 22 of 33Catalogue question 235Image question
The then French President François Mitterrand and the then German Chancellor Helmut Kohl jointly commemorate the dead of both world wars in Verdun. Which goal of the European Union becomes clear at this meeting?
- friendship between England and Germany
- freedom of travel to all EU countries
- peace and security in the EU countries
- uniform public holidays in the EU countries
1. A — Verdun was a battlefield of the First World War between Germany and France; England was not the subject of this meeting.
2. B — Freedom of travel concerns freedom of movement of people in the internal market (Schengen), not the symbolic meaning of the 1984 Verdun gesture.
3. C — Correct: the joint commemoration in 1984 of the millions of dead from both world wars symbolised Franco-German reconciliation and stood for the central EU goal of securing lasting peace and security in Europe through cooperation.
4. D — Uniform public holidays are not an EU goal and have no connection to the Verdun meeting.
Source: www.bundesregierung.de
Question 23 of 33Catalogue question 247
A woman is pregnant. She is specially protected by law shortly before and after the birth of her child. What is this protection called?
- parental leave
- maternity protection
- birth preparation
- the postpartum period (Wochenbett)
1. A — Parental leave is a later, voluntary period of leave taken by either parent for childcare, not the special statutory protection shortly before/after birth.
2. B — Correct: maternity protection (Maternity Protection Act) protects pregnant and breastfeeding women, in particular through employment bans and protection against dismissal shortly before and after giving birth.
3. C — Birth preparation refers to courses and medical preparation for birth, not a legal protection concept.
4. D — "Wochenbett" is the medical term for the period directly after birth, not a legal protection term.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 24 of 33Catalogue question 234
Where is one of the seats of the European Parliament?
- London
- Paris
- Berlin
- Strasbourg
1. A — London is in the United Kingdom, which has no longer been an EU member since Brexit, and was never a seat of the European Parliament.
2. B — Paris is the seat of many French institutions, but not one of the central seats of the European Parliament.
3. C — Berlin is the seat of the German Bundestag, not of the European Parliament.
4. D — Correct: Strasbourg is one of the three working locations of the European Parliament (alongside Brussels and Luxembourg), the site of the monthly plenary sessions.
Source: www.europarl.europa.eu
Question 25 of 33Catalogue question 292
People in Germany live by the principle of religious tolerance. What does that mean?
- No mosques may be built.
- Everyone believes in God.
- Everyone can believe whatever they want.
- The state decides which god people believe in.
1. A — Building mosques is legally permitted in Germany and protected by freedom of religion — the opposite of the statement.
2. B — Religious tolerance precisely does not mean that everyone believes in God — being without a religious affiliation and atheism are also protected.
3. C — Correct: religious tolerance and the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Basic Law (Art. 4) mean that everyone can freely decide what faith to hold, or to have none at all.
4. D — The state in Germany precisely does not decide on its citizens' faith; that would be incompatible with the state's ideological neutrality.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 26 of 33Catalogue question 239
Through which treaties did the Federal Republic of Germany join with other states to form the European Economic Community?
- through the "Hamburg Treaties"
- through the "Treaties of Rome"
- through the "Paris Agreements"
- through the "London Agreements"
1. A — "Hamburg Treaties" is not a real designation for the founding treaties of the EEC.
2. B — Correct: the Treaties of Rome of 1957 founded the European Economic Community (EEC).
3. C — The Paris Agreements (1952/1955) regulated NATO accession and West Germany's sovereignty, not the founding of the EEC.
4. D — "London Agreements" is not a real designation for the founding treaties of the EEC.
Source: european-union.europa.eu
Question 27 of 33Catalogue question 5
Elections in Germany are free. What does that mean?
- You may accept money in exchange for voting for a particular candidate.
- Only people who have never been to prison may vote.
- Voters may not be influenced or forced to vote a certain way, and must suffer no disadvantage from voting.
- All eligible voters are required to vote.
1. A — That would be electoral bribery — a criminal offence under § 108b of the Criminal Code, not an expression of free elections.
2. B — The right to vote depends on citizenship, age and residence, not on having no criminal record.
3. C — Correct: free elections mean freedom from coercion and influence when casting a vote, and no disadvantage may result from voting.
4. D — There is no obligation to vote in Germany; nobody is required to go to the polls.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 28 of 33Catalogue question 122
What principle do elections in Germany follow? Elections in Germany are …
- free, equal, secret.
- open, secure, free.
- closed, equal, secure.
- secure, open, voluntary.
1. A — Correct: Art. 38(1) of the Basic Law names five electoral principles — general, direct, free, equal, secret; "free, equal, secret" correctly names three of them.
2. B — "Open" contradicts the principle of the secret ballot.
3. C — "Closed" is not an electoral principle of the Basic Law.
4. D — "Voluntary" is not a distinct electoral principle, even though there is in fact no compulsory voting.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 29 of 33Catalogue question 20
A party in Germany pursues the goal of establishing a dictatorship. It is then …
- tolerant.
- oriented toward the rule of law.
- law-abiding.
- unconstitutional.
1. A — Striving for a dictatorship is the opposite of tolerance toward pluralistic democracy.
2. B — A dictatorship directly contradicts the rule-of-law principle, which presupposes separation of powers and basic rights.
3. C — The goal of eliminating the free democratic basic order is incompatible with being law-abiding.
4. D — Correct: a party seeking a dictatorship works against the free democratic basic order and is unconstitutional; the Federal Constitutional Court can ban it under Art. 21(2) of the Basic Law.
Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de
Question 30 of 33Catalogue question 92
What does the abbreviation CSU stand for in Germany?
- Christian Secure Union
- Christian South German Union
- Christian Social Entrepreneurs' Association
- Christian Social Union
1. A — "Christian Secure Union" is not the correct expansion of the abbreviation CSU.
2. B — "Christian South German Union" is not the official name, even though the CSU is active only in Bavaria.
3. C — The CSU is a political party, not an entrepreneurs' association.
4. D — Correct: CSU stands for Christlich Soziale Union (Christian Social Union), the Bavarian sister party of the CDU, founded in 1945.
Source: www.csu.de
Questions on Berlin
Question 31 of 33Berlin · Catalogue question 5
What colours does the state flag of Berlin have?
- blue, white and red
- white and red
- green, white and red
- black and gold
1. A — Blue, white and red is not Berlin's state flag.
2. B — Correct: Berlin's state flag is white and red with the Berlin bear in the upper white field.
3. C — Green, white and red is not Berlin's flag; that is associated with North Rhine-Westphalia.
4. D — Black and gold is not Berlin's state flag; that is associated with Baden-Württemberg.
Source: www.berlin.de
Question 32 of 33Berlin · Catalogue question 8Image question
Which federal state is Berlin?
Kartengeometrie: Natural Earth (ne_10m_admin_1_states_provinces), Public Domain. Karte für diese App gezeichnet.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
1. A — On this map the number 1 marks a different federal state. As a city-state, Berlin lies entirely within Brandenburg's territory.
2. B — On this map the number 2 marks a different federal state. As a city-state, Berlin lies entirely within Brandenburg's territory.
3. C — On this map the number 3 marks a different federal state. As a city-state, Berlin lies entirely within Brandenburg's territory.
4. D — Correct: on this map the number 4 sits on Berlin. As a city-state, Berlin lies entirely within Brandenburg's territory.
Source: www.berlin.de
Question 33 of 33Berlin · Catalogue question 6
Where can you get information about political topics in Berlin?
- at the municipality's public order office
- at the churches
- at the consumer advice centre
- at the state centre for political education
1. A — The public order office deals with public safety and order, not political education.
2. B — Churches are religious institutions and not an official point of contact for political education.
3. C — The consumer advice centre advises on consumer issues, not political education.
4. D — Correct: the Berlin State Centre for Political Education is the responsible institution for cross-party political information.
Source: www.berlin.de

Questions on Berlin · Practice tests

Last checked: 2026-08-27 · Question catalogue in force since 2024-07-01 · Every figure on this page is checked against its primary source.