What is the LiD test (Leben in Deutschland)?

The Leben in Deutschland (LiD) test is the official German citizenship and naturalization exam administered by BAMF. It consists of 310 questions covering democracy, history, law, society, and geography. The actual exam draws 33 questions randomly from the pool.

How many questions are in the LiD Einbürgerungstest?

The official pool has 310 questions: 300 general and 10 state-specific per federal state. The exam you sit has 33 questions — 30 from the general pool and 3 specific to your state.

What score do you need to pass the LiD test?

You need at least 17 out of 33 correct (approximately 51%) to pass the Leben in Deutschland Einbürgerungstest.

How long does it take to prepare for the LiD Einbürgerungstest?

Most people prepare for 4–8 weeks. The BAMF integration course covers the material, but self-study using all 310 official questions — grouped by topic — is the most effective approach. Practising timed 33-question mock tests in the final week helps build exam confidence.

What happens if you fail the LiD test?

You can retake the LiD Einbürgerungstest. There is no mandatory waiting period between attempts. The BAMF test centre will schedule a new date for you.

Is the LiD test the same as the A1, A2, or B1 German language test?

No. The LiD test is a civics exam about German society, history, and law. A1, A2, and B1 tests measure German language proficiency. B1 German is a separate prerequisite for citizenship alongside the LiD test.

Who needs the German A1 language test?

The A1 exam is required for family reunification and spouse visas (§ 30 AufenthG). It covers reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The exam lasts 65 minutes and requires 60% (36/60 points) to pass.

Is there a free A1 German mock test online?

Yes. GetGermanReady offers a free A1 German mock test mirroring the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 and telc Deutsch A1 format, with all four sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. No account required.

Is there a free A2 German mock test online?

Yes. GetGermanReady provides a free A2 mock test covering reading (notices, advertisements), writing, listening, and speaking — matching the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 and telc Deutsch A2 format. Free, no sign-up needed.

What German language level is needed for citizenship?

German citizenship (Einbürgerung) requires B1 German language level. This can be demonstrated via a Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, or ÖSD Zertifikat B1. You must also pass the LiD Einbürgerungstest separately.

What does the A2 German exam test?

The A2 exam tests understanding of sentences about familiar topics, communication in routine situations, and describing immediate environment. It covers reading (signs, emails, notices), writing (short messages), listening (announcements, conversations), and speaking (describing yourself and daily life).

What topics does the LiD test cover?

The Leben in Deutschland Einbürgerungstest covers three official BAMF Themenbereiche (topic areas) of 100 questions each: (1) Politik in der Demokratie — democracy, rights, elections, rule of law; (2) Geschichte und Verantwortung — German history, National Socialism, post-war development; (3) Mensch und Gesellschaft — society, integration, religion, family. Plus 10 questions specific to your federal state, for a total of 310 questions in the pool.

Accessibility

We want everyone preparing for German exams to be able to use this site comfortably — whether they rely on a keyboard, screen reader, screen magnifier, or reduced-motion setting.

Our target standard

GetGermanReady aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. We're an indie project and not all of the site is there yet — this page is an honest snapshot of what works today and what doesn't.

What works today

Skip-to-content link for keyboard users (Tab from the URL bar).
Semantic headings, landmarks (main, nav, footer) on most pages.
Modals close with the Esc key.
Icon-only buttons in the top nav have descriptive aria-label attributes.
Light- and dark-mode themes with sufficient contrast for body text.
All forms accept keyboard input; no mouse-only interactions on the exam flow.

Known gaps

We have not yet completed a full keyboard-focus-trap pass in every modal.
Some chart visualisations don't have a text-equivalent summary.
Audio in the Listening section can't be paused; replay is supported, but there are no closed captions for the spoken German. Transcripts are available on the answer-review page.
Colour-contrast on a small number of UI chips (e.g. "Pro" badge) may fall below AA — we're working through these.

How to report an issue

If something on the site is hard to use with assistive technology, please email contact@getgermanready.com with the page URL, what you tried, and what didn't work. We aim to reply within two business days and fix critical issues within 30 days.

You can also use the — please choose "Bug" as the subject and mention "accessibility" in the message.

Last reviewed

This statement was last reviewed on 13 May 2026.