How state-specific questions work
The Leben in Deutschland (LiD) test — also known as the Einbürgerungstest — is a 33-question multiple-choice exam. Of those 33 questions, 30 come from a general pool of 300 questions covering democracy, German history, and society. The remaining 3 are drawn from a state-specific pool of 10 questions tied to a single German federal state (Bundesland).
Each of Germany's 16 Bundesländer has its own dedicated set of 10 questions. That makes 160 state-specific questions in total across the country, but on any single exam you'll only ever see 3 of them — and they'll all come from the same state's set.
To pass the LiD test you need to answer at least 17 of 33 questions correctly (about 52%). State questions count exactly the same as general questions — one point each — so getting all three state questions right makes a noticeable difference.
What state questions cover
State-specific questions test your familiarity with the political, geographic, and cultural features of one Bundesland. The exact mix varies slightly between states, but you can expect questions about:
- State capital — every state has one, and at least one question per set asks you to identify it.
- State flag or coat of arms — you may be asked to identify your state's Wappen or Landesflagge from a small set of options.
- State parliament (Landtag) — its name, where it sits, and how it works in your state. Note: city-states (Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen) use the term Abgeordnetenhaus or Bürgerschaft instead of Landtag.
- Heads of state government — the title of the state's prime minister (Ministerpräsident) or governing mayor (Regierender Bürgermeister) for city-states.
- Regional geography — which states border yours, major rivers, mountains, or features.
- State-specific history — significant events tied to your Bundesland, especially around the post-war division and reunification of Germany.
The questions are drawn from the official BAMF (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) question catalogue and the pool is identical to the one BAMF publishes online — there are no surprises. Once you've practised all 10 for your state, you've seen every state question you can possibly be asked.
Which state's questions will you actually get?
This is the part many people miss until exam day: the state-specific questions on your LiD test are determined by where you sit the exam, not where you live or where you're applying for residency or citizenship.
In practice, the testing centre you book the exam at sets the state. If you live in Hamburg but the Hamburg test centres are full and you take the exam at a Volkshochschule in Schleswig-Holstein, you'll get Schleswig-Holstein questions on the day — even though your Hamburg application is unaffected.
For most applicants this is a non-issue: people take the test in the state where they live. But three groups should pay attention:
- Recent movers — if you've moved Bundesländer in the last few months and book the test in the new state, study the new state's questions. Your residency application file may still show the old address; the test centre's location is what counts.
- Border-city residents — people who live near a state border sometimes choose a test centre across the line for convenience. Always confirm with the test centre which state's questions they administer.
- Applicants travelling for the test — if availability in your home state is tight, you can take the test anywhere, but you'll need to practise that state's 10 questions instead of (or in addition to) your home state's.
If you're unsure, call the testing centre before booking and ask: "Welche Bundesland-Fragen werden bei Ihnen geprüft?" ("Which state's questions are tested at your centre?"). They'll confirm.
How to study state questions efficiently
Because each state has only 10 questions in the pool and you'll see 3 of them, the state section is the highest-yield part of the LiD test to study. Ten questions can be fully memorised in a single short session.
- Memorise the answers first, understand them second. The 10 questions are fixed — you can rote-learn the correct answer for each, then come back and read about the topic if you want context.
- Pay extra attention to the flag and coat of arms. These are visual questions, harder to guess at if you've never seen the image. Use our practice cards to lock in the visual cues.
- Don't confuse city-state titles. Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen use different terms for their parliaments and heads of government than the territorial states do — a common slip-up.
- Review the day before. State questions are the easiest part of the exam to revise the night before. Run through all 10 in 15 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to know the state I'm tested on in advance?expand_more
You'll know which state's questions you'll get based on the location of the test centre you book. Some centres publish this on their booking page; if not, ask them directly before you confirm the slot.
Can I choose which state's questions I want?expand_more
Not directly. Your test centre's location determines the state. If you really want a particular state's questions (for example, your home Bundesland), book a test centre that's located in that state.
Are state questions harder than the general questions?expand_more
Not really — they're at the same difficulty level. They're often considered easier because the pool is so small (10 vs 300) and you can memorise them comfortably. Visual questions (flag, coat of arms) are the only ones that catch people out.
What if I get all 3 state questions wrong?expand_more
You can still pass — the pass mark is 17/33, so you can afford to miss up to 16 questions in total. But since state questions are the easiest to revise, missing all three is usually a missed opportunity rather than a fatal blow.
Where can I see the official BAMF state questions?expand_more
BAMF publishes the full catalogue of 300 general questions and all 16 × 10 state-specific questions on their website. Our app mirrors this catalogue so you can practise them with English translations, flags, and explanations.