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Practice test 18 — Hesse

33 questions as in the real exam: 30 federal and 3 on Hesse. 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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  1. Question 1 of 33Catalogue question 166

    At which demonstrations in Germany did people chant "We are the people"?

    1. A — At the 1953 uprising in East Germany, social and economic demands were at the forefront; the slogan "We are the people" was not coined at that time.
    2. B — The 1968 student protests in the Federal Republic were directed against social and political grievances in the West, not against the East German leadership.
    3. C — The 1985 anti-nuclear-power protests had different thematic priorities and took place in the West.
    4. D — Correct: at the Monday demonstrations in Leipzig and other East German cities in autumn 1989, people chanted "We are the people" — a central slogan of the peaceful revolution against the SED regime.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  2. Question 2 of 33Catalogue question 286

    Which organisation in a company helps employees with problems with their employer?

    1. A — Correct: under the Works Constitution Act, the works council represents the interests of the workforce vis-à-vis the employer and provides support in conflicts.
    2. B — A company auditor usually examines tax or social-insurance-related matters and is not a representative body for employees' interests.
    3. C — "Works group" is not an established employment-law institution for representing employees' interests.
    4. D — Company management represents the employer's side, not employees' interests vis-à-vis it.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  3. Question 3 of 33Catalogue question 271

    What is a custom in Germany at Christmas?

    1. A — Hiding colourful eggs is an Easter custom, not a Christmas custom.
    2. B — Correct: decorating a Christmas tree with baubles, lights and ornaments is a central German Christmas custom.
    3. C — Dressing up in masks and costumes is typical of carnival, not Christmas.
    4. D — Putting pumpkins in front of the door is a Halloween custom, not a German Christmas custom.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  4. Question 4 of 33Catalogue question 100

    Which of these is not part of statutory social insurance?

    1. A — Correct: life insurance is private and voluntary — not one of the five pillars of statutory social insurance.
    2. B — Statutory pension insurance is one of the five pillars of social insurance.
    3. C — Unemployment insurance is one of the five pillars of social insurance.
    4. D — Long-term care insurance is one of the five pillars of social insurance.

    Source: www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de

  5. Question 5 of 33Catalogue question 229

    Which country is a neighbouring country of Germany?

    1. A — Spain does not border Germany; France lies between them.
    2. B — Bulgaria lies on the Black Sea, far from Germany, with no common border.
    3. C — Norway does not border Germany but lies further north in Scandinavia.
    4. D — Correct: Luxembourg is one of Germany's nine direct neighbouring countries, to the west.

    Source: www.auswaertiges-amt.de

  6. Question 6 of 33Catalogue question 225

    In which other country is there a large German-speaking population?

    1. A — In Czechia, Czech is the national language; German is not spoken by a large share of the population.
    2. B — In Norway, Norwegian is the national language, with no significant German-speaking population.
    3. C — In Spain, Spanish is the national language, with no significant German-speaking population.
    4. D — Correct: Austria has German as its official language and a predominantly German-speaking population — one of the countries with the most native German speakers besides Germany.

    Source: www.bmeia.gv.at

  7. Question 7 of 33Catalogue question 208

    What was the "Stasi"?

    1. A — The Nazi secret service and political police were called the Gestapo and SD, not Stasi — the Stasi was only established in 1950 in East Germany.
    2. B — The Stasi was not a memorial site but an active surveillance authority.
    3. C — Correct: the Ministry for State Security (Stasi) was East Germany's secret service and political secret police.
    4. D — The Stasi was not a sports club but a state security and surveillance authority.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  8. Question 8 of 33Catalogue question 164

    What happened in Germany on 9 November 1938?

    1. A — The attack on Poland, and thus the start of the war, was on 1 September 1939, not 9 November 1938.
    2. B — The Nazi party did not lose an election in 1938 — there were no longer any free elections at that time.
    3. C — Correct: during the night of 9–10 November 1938, the November Pogroms organised by the National Socialists took place, in which synagogues and Jewish shops were destroyed throughout Germany.
    4. D — Hitler never became Reich President; he never held that office, and Hindenburg only died in 1934, after which Hitler merged the offices of Reich Chancellor and Reich President into "Führer" — not on 9 November 1938.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  9. Question 9 of 33Catalogue question 292

    People in Germany live by the principle of religious tolerance. What does that mean?

    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

  10. Question 10 of 33Catalogue question 211

    Which politician is associated with the "Ostverträge" (Eastern Treaties)?

    1. A — Helmut Kohl is above all associated with German reunification in 1990, not with the Eastern Treaties of the early 1970s.
    2. B — Correct: with his "Ostpolitik", Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt initiated the Eastern Treaties (including with the Soviet Union and Poland, 1970), which led to détente with the Eastern Bloc.
    3. C — Mikhail Gorbachev was the Soviet head of state and party who shaped the reform policies of glasnost and perestroika, not a German politician of the Eastern Treaties.
    4. D — Ludwig Erhard was known for the social market economy and the economic miracle, not for the Eastern Treaties.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  11. Question 11 of 33Catalogue question 199

    In East Germany, the abbreviation "Stasi" referred to …

    1. A — East Germany's parliament was called the Volkskammer, not "Stasi".
    2. B — Correct: "Stasi" was the short form for the Ministry for State Security, East Germany's feared secret service and domestic surveillance authority.
    3. C — East Germany's governing party was the SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany), not the Stasi.
    4. D — The Ministry for People's Education was responsible for the school system, not the same as the Stasi.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  12. Question 12 of 33Catalogue question 97

    What do you automatically pay in Germany if you are in permanent employment?

    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

  13. Question 13 of 33Catalogue question 161

    What characterised the Nazi state? A policy of …

    1. A — Correct: with the Nuremberg Laws and its racial ideology, the Nazi state pursued a systematic, state-institutionalised racism that led to the Holocaust.
    2. B — Freedom of expression was abolished; dissenting opinions were persecuted.
    3. C — Religious communities were under heavy state pressure, and Jews were persecuted precisely because of their identity — this was not freedom of religion.
    4. D — The opposite was true: the democracy of the Weimar Republic was destroyed, not developed further.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  14. Question 14 of 33Catalogue question 5

    Elections in Germany are free. What does that mean?

    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

  15. Question 15 of 33Catalogue question 263

    In Germany, young people are criminally responsible from age 14. This means: young people aged 14 and older who violate criminal law …

    1. A — Correct: from age 14, criminal responsibility applies; young people can be held criminally responsible for offences and punished under the Youth Courts Act (JGG) — however, with more lenient, education-oriented sanctions than for adults.
    2. B — Young people are dealt with under youth criminal law, which has its own, more lenient and education-oriented rules than adult criminal law — it is not identical to how adults are treated.
    3. C — A sentence is imposed personally and is not "shared" with the parents; German criminal law does not recognise collective family liability.
    4. D — The opposite is true: from age 14, young people can indeed be held criminally liable.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  16. Question 16 of 33Catalogue question 201

    Which of the following lists contains only federal states that belonged to former East Germany?

    1. A — Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Schleswig-Holstein were West German states; only Brandenburg belonged to East Germany.
    2. B — Correct: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are exactly the five "new states" that joined the Federal Republic in 1990.
    3. C — Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate were West German states; only Thuringia and Saxony belonged to East Germany.
    4. D — Hesse and Lower Saxony were West German states; only Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg belonged to East Germany.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  17. Question 17 of 33Catalogue question 273

    For problems with raising children, in Germany you go …

    1. A — Doctors are responsible for medical matters, not primarily for advice on upbringing.
    2. B — The public health office is responsible for health matters, not specifically for problems with upbringing.
    3. C — The residents' registration office handles residence matters, not advice on upbringing.
    4. D — Correct: under the Child and Youth Welfare Act (Book VIII of the Social Code), the youth welfare office offers advice and support for problems with raising children.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  18. Question 18 of 33Catalogue question 12

    A party in the German Bundestag wants to abolish freedom of the press. Is that possible?

    1. A — A simple majority is not enough to amend the Basic Law — and even a majority could not touch the essential core of a basic right.
    2. B — Even a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat could not fully abolish freedom of the press, because the "eternity clause" (Art. 79(3) Basic Law) protects the core of basic rights.
    3. C — Correct: freedom of the press is a basic right (Art. 5(1) Basic Law) and its essential core is protected from abolition by the eternity clause (Art. 79(3) Basic Law).
    4. D — The Bundesrat alone has no power to abolish basic rights; constitutional amendments require the Bundestag and Bundesrat together — and even then the core of press freedom is untouchable.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  19. Question 19 of 33Catalogue question 56

    Which office belongs to municipal administration in Germany?

    1. A — The parish office is a church institution, not a municipal administrative authority.
    2. B — Correct: the public order office (Ordnungsamt) is a classic authority of local self-government, responsible for example for local public safety and order.
    3. C — The tax office is a state (Land) authority (with federal oversight on tax matters), not a municipal authority.
    4. D — The Federal Foreign Office is a top-level federal authority for foreign policy, not a municipal institution.

    Source: www.bmi.bund.de

  20. Question 20 of 33Catalogue question 38

    The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic and social …

    1. A — "Staatenverbund" (a compound of states) rather describes the EU (per the Federal Constitutional Court), not Germany's internal structure.
    2. B — Correct: Art. 20(1) of the Basic Law describes Germany as a democratic and social federal state made up of 16 constituent Länder.
    3. C — A confederation is a loose alliance of sovereign states (like the former German Confederation) — Germany itself is not that.
    4. D — A unitary state has no independent constituent states with their own legislative power — Germany with its 16 Länder is not a unitary state.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  21. Question 21 of 33Catalogue question 95

    What applies to most children in Germany?

    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

  22. Question 22 of 33Catalogue question 149

    What is an example of antisemitic behaviour?

    1. A — Attending a Jewish festival is cultural participation, not antisemitic behaviour.
    2. B — Factual criticism of a government's policy — including Israel's — is covered by freedom of expression and is not inherently antisemitic.
    3. C — Correct: denying the Holocaust is a recognised form of antisemitism, because it disputes or trivialises the historically documented crime against humanity committed against European Jews, and is furthermore a criminal offence in Germany (§ 130(3) Criminal Code).
    4. D — A sporting match against a Jewish team is a normal sporting encounter, not antisemitic behaviour.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  23. Question 23 of 33Catalogue question 28

    In Germany, who elects the members of the Bundestag?

    1. A — The military has no political voting function in Germany; it is subject to civilian control.
    2. B — Business associations may represent interests but do not elect members of parliament.
    3. C — Correct: under Art. 38 of the Basic Law, the Bundestag is elected by the eligible electorate in general, direct, free, equal and secret elections.
    4. D — The administration implements laws but has no voting role as an institution.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  24. Question 24 of 33Catalogue question 284

    What is needed for work is changing very quickly in the future. What can you do?

    1. A — What you learn is by no means unimportant — targeted continuing education is crucial for adapting to changing job requirements.
    2. B — Correct: given rapidly changing qualification requirements (partly due to digitalisation), lifelong learning is necessary, even after completing initial training.
    3. C — School knowledge alone is no longer enough for an entire working life given the rapid pace of change.
    4. D — Retiring earlier from working life is not a response to changing qualification requirements but a completely different issue (pension policy).

    Source: www.bmbf.de

  25. Question 25 of 33Catalogue question 257

    An adult woman wants to complete her Abitur later in life in Germany. She can do this at …

    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 adults to obtain the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) later in life alongside work.
    3. C — The Hauptschule leads to a lower-level qualification (Hauptschulabschluss), not the Abitur.
    4. D — A private university likewise already requires a higher education entrance qualification.

    Source: www.kmk.org

  26. Question 26 of 33Catalogue question 197

    Which of today's German federal states was formerly part of East Germany?

    1. A — Correct: Thuringia was one of the five "new states" that joined the Federal Republic in 1990.
    2. B — Hesse lay in the American zone and belonged to old West Germany, not East Germany.
    3. C — Bavaria lay in the American zone and belonged to old West Germany, not East Germany.
    4. D — Bremen was a Western city-state enclave in the British/American zone and belonged to old West Germany, not East Germany.

    Source: www.bpb.de

  27. Question 27 of 33Catalogue question 53

    What does "Rechtsstaat" (rule-of-law state) mean in Germany?

    1. A — This is a play on the similar-sounding words, but factually wrong: "Rechtsstaat" does not mean the state is automatically right.
    2. B — "Rechtsstaat" has nothing to do with parties' political left-right orientation; it is a constitutional principle.
    3. C — Citizens elect the legislature but do not decide directly on individual laws — that is representative democracy, not the definition of Rechtsstaat.
    4. D — Correct: in a Rechtsstaat, the state itself is also bound by the law (Art. 20(3) Basic Law); arbitrariness is excluded.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  28. Question 28 of 33Catalogue question 184

    On what legal basis was the State of Israel founded?

    1. A — Correct: on 29 November 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted the partition plan for Palestine with Resolution 181, on the basis of which the State of Israel was proclaimed on 14 May 1948.
    2. B — The Zionist Congress (first held in 1897) formulated the political programme of Zionism but had no international-law authority to found a state.
    3. C — The Federal Republic of Germany did not yet exist in 1947/48 (only founded in 1949) and had no influence on the founding of the State of Israel.
    4. D — The USSR voted in favour of the UN resolution but did not make an independent founding proposal.

    Source: www.un.org

  29. Question 29 of 33Catalogue question 135

    Who do trade unions represent in Germany?

    1. A — Large companies are organised in employers' associations, not trade unions.
    2. B — Small companies are likewise a matter for the employer side, not trade unions.
    3. C — Self-employed people have their own forms of representation (e.g. chambers), but are not the core constituency of trade unions.
    4. D — Correct: trade unions represent the interests of employees vis-à-vis employers, including in collective bargaining.

    Source: www.dgb.de

  30. Question 30 of 33Catalogue question 14

    Freedom of expression in Germany means that I …

    1. A — Insulting someone (§ 185 Criminal Code) is a criminal offence and is not covered by freedom of expression.
    2. B — Correct: freedom of expression (Art. 5(1) Basic Law) expressly protects stating your own opinion, including online.
    3. C — Publicly displaying symbols of unconstitutional or terrorist organisations is a criminal offence (§ 86a Criminal Code) and is not protected speech.
    4. D — The opposite is true: criticising the government is precisely a core area protected by freedom of expression.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  31. Questions on Hesse

    Question 31 of 33Hesse · Catalogue question 10

    Which minister does Hesse not have?

    1. A — A justice ministry is one of the classic departments of every state government, including Hesse's.
    2. B — Correct: foreign policy is exclusively a federal matter (Art. 32 Basic Law); no federal state — including Hesse — has its own foreign ministry.
    3. C — A finance ministry is one of the classic departments of every state government, including Hesse's.
    4. D — An interior ministry is one of the classic departments of every state government, including Hesse's.

    Source: www.gesetze-im-internet.de

  32. Question 32 of 33Hesse · Catalogue question 6

    Where can you get information about political topics in Hesse?

    1. A — Correct: the Hesse State Centre for Political Education is the responsible institution for cross-party political information.
    2. B — The consumer advice centre advises on consumer issues, not political education.
    3. C — The public order office deals with public safety and order, not political education.
    4. D — Churches are religious institutions and not an official point of contact for political education.

    Source: hlz.hessen.de

  33. Question 33 of 33Hesse · Catalogue question 2

    Which is a rural district in Hesse?

    1. A — Ammerland lies in Lower Saxony, not in Hesse.
    2. B — Altötting lies in Bavaria, not in Hesse.
    3. C — Prignitz lies in Brandenburg, not in Hesse.
    4. D — Correct: the Main-Taunus district lies in the Rhine-Main region in Hesse.

    Source: www.hessen.de

Questions on Hesse · Practice tests

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