Why Are There State-Specific Questions?

Germany is a federal state with 16 federal states (Bundesländer). Each state has its own characteristics in politics, history, and culture. That's why the citizenship test contains 3 questions specifically tailored to your federal state.

The Structure in Detail

Of the 33 exam questions:

• 30 questions are general (identical nationwide)
• 3 questions are state-specific (depending on your residence)

Each federal state has a pool of 10 unique questions. On exam day, 3 are randomly selected.

Which Federal State Applies to Me?

Your current residence at the time of test registration is decisive. What counts:

• Where you are registered with primary residence
• NOT where you were born
• NOT where you lived before

Example: Born in Bavaria but now living in Berlin? You get Berlin questions!

What Do State Questions Test?

The 10 state-specific questions cover these areas:

1. State Capital and Geography

Example: "What is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia?"

• Simple factual questions
• Often multiple-choice with obviously wrong answers

2. State Coat of Arms and Symbols

You must recognize your state's coat of arms. Pay attention to:

• Colors (e.g., Bavaria: White-Blue)
• Symbols (e.g., Berlin Bear, Bremen Town Musicians)

3. State Politics

What's the head of government called? In most states "Ministerpräsident" (Minister President), but:

• Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg: "Bürgermeister" (Mayor) - these are city-states

4. Special Historical Events

Important dates from state history:

• Bavaria: Free State since 1918
• Saxony: Peaceful Revolution 1989
• Berlin: Fall of the Wall 1989

5. State Parliament and Elections

Questions about regional parliament:

• "What's the state parliament called?" → Landtag (except Berlin: Abgeordnetenhaus, Bremen/Hamburg: Bürgerschaft)
• Voting eligibility from 16 or 18 years?

Federal State Overview: Key Differences

🏛️ City-States (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg)

Special features:

• Head of government = Mayor (not Minister President)
• Parliament has different name (Abgeordnetenhaus/Bürgerschaft)
• Many questions about city history

🏔️ Territorial States (all other 13 federal states)

Classic structure:

• Head of government = Minister President
• Parliament = Landtag
• Often questions about regional economy or culture

Top 3 Traps in State Questions

Trap 1: Confusing City and State

"What is the capital of Thuringia?"

• ❌ Wrong: Jena (largest city)
• ✅ Correct: Erfurt

Trap 2: Mixing Up Neighboring States

"Which state does Saxony not border?"

• Read carefully! "NOT" is often overlooked

Trap 3: Coat of Arms Mix-Up

Memorize your state coat of arms. Example Bavaria:

• ✅ White-blue lozenges
• ❌ NOT the Bavarian lion (that's only part of the large coat of arms)

How to Learn State Questions Effectively

Strategy 1: Memorize All 10 Questions

There are only 10 questions per state. Invest 30 minutes and memorize them all – 3 guaranteed points!

Strategy 2: Use Mnemonics

Examples:

• NRW capital: Remember "Düsseldorf" not Cologne!
• Bremen: Small but mighty = smallest state
• Bavaria: Lozenges = White-Blue like the sky

Strategy 3: Wikipedia + Google Maps

Take 15 minutes:

1. Open your state's Wikipedia page
2. Note down: Capital, coat of arms, Minister President, 3 neighboring states
3. Look at your state on Google Maps

Common Questions About State Differences

Can I choose which state questions I get?

No. You automatically get questions for your current residence. Moving just for "easier" questions isn't worth it – all state questions are similarly difficult.

What if I move shortly before the exam?

Your residence on the day of registration is decisive, not exam day. If you move after registration, you still get the old state's questions.

Are some state questions harder than others?

No. BAMF ensures comparable difficulty. Statistically, all states pass with ~95% similar success.

Do state questions count more than general questions?

No. All 33 questions count equally. You need 17 correct answers total, regardless of how many are state questions.

Checklist: What You Must Know About Your State

✅ Capital (often confused: Lower Saxony = Hanover, not Brunswick)

✅ Coat of arms (recognize from 4 options)

✅ Head of government title (Minister President or Mayor?)

✅ Parliament name (Landtag, Abgeordnetenhaus, Bürgerschaft?)

✅ Neighboring countries/states (which border it?)

✅ 1-2 historical facts (e.g., Saxony: Reunification, Bavaria: Free State)

Sample Questions by State (Top 5 Popular)

Bavaria

"Which coat of arms belongs to the Free State of Bavaria?"
✅ White-blue lozenges

North Rhine-Westphalia

"What is the state capital of NRW?"
✅ Düsseldorf (NOT Cologne!)

Berlin

"What's the head of government called in Berlin?"
✅ Governing Mayor (Regierender Bürgermeister)

Baden-Württemberg

"Which state was divided before 1952?"
✅ Baden-Württemberg (from Baden, Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern)

Saxony

"What event took place in Leipzig in 1989?"
✅ Monday Demonstrations (Peaceful Revolution)

Practice Tip: Use the State Filter

On our platform, you can specifically practice your state's 10 questions:

1. Select "State Questions" in practice mode
2. Choose your federal state
3. Practice all 10 questions 2-3 times
4. Take a mini-test with just the 3 state questions

Conclusion: State Questions Are Bonus Points!

The good news: State-specific questions are often easier than general politics and history questions. With 30 minutes of preparation, you secure 3 of the 17 required points!

Our advice: First memorize all 10 questions for your state. Then you already have almost 20% of the required points secured!