Which citizenship test has the highest pass mark?

Of the 8 citizenship knowledge tests compared here, France asks the most: 80% of the scored questions. Australia adds a second rule on top of its 75%: all five Australian values questions must be right. The lowest is Germany's Einbürgerungstest at 17 of 33, about 52%. Read 5 October 2026.

Which countries publish their citizenship test questions?

Spain (300), Germany (310) and the United States (128) publish every question that can appear, with the answers, for free. France publishes its knowledge questions but not its situational ones. Norway, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia publish a study guide or syllabus instead, and the UK's handbook is sold rather than given away.

Is the citizenship test a language test?

Mostly not. Canada says its test has no language questions; Spain, Germany, Norway, the UK and France set a separate language requirement; the United States runs a separate English test of reading, writing and speaking at the same interview. Australia is the exception: Home Affairs says passing its test shows a basic knowledge of English, and it is conducted in English only.

Can you take a citizenship test online?

Of the tests compared here, only Canada's, which IRCC invites most applicants to take online from anywhere, watched through a webcam. Spain, Germany, Norway, the UK and France are sat at test centres, Australia's at an appointment, and the United States' is asked aloud by an officer at the naturalization interview.

Research · read 5 October 2026

Citizenship tests in 8 countries: the pass mark runs from 52% to 80%

Most countries that naturalise residents ask two things: a level of the language, compared on its own page, and a test of what you know about the country. This page compares the second one, in 8 countries, each read on the test body’s own pages on 5 October 2026. Every percentage is the stated pass mark divided by the questions that count.

Three findings. France asks 80%, the strictest, while Germany’s Einbürgerungstest passes at 17 of 33, about 52%. Only Spain, Germany and the United States publish every question that can come up, with answers, free. And Australia alone adds a rule on top of the total: all five values questions must be right, so 19 of 20 can fail.

The 8 tests side by side

Country	Questions	To pass	Pass mark	Time	Published bank	Fee
SpainCCSE	25	15	60%	45 min	300 questions	€85
GermanyEinbürgerungstest	33	17	51.5%	60 min	310 questions	€25
NorwayStatsborgerprøven	36 (32 scored)	24	75%	60 min	None	300–1,800 kr, set by the municipality
United KingdomLife in the UK test	24	18	75%	45 min	None	£50 per attempt
CanadaCitizenship test	20	15	75%	45 min	None	Not stated on IRCC's test pages
AustraliaCitizenship test	20	15and all 5 Australian values questions correct	75%	45 min	None	Included in the application fee
United StatesNaturalization civics test (2025)	20	12	60%	Oral, no limit stated	128 questions	Not stated on USCIS's test pages
FranceExamen civique (naturalisation)	40	32	80%	45 min	Knowledge questions only; situational questions not public	Not stated on the ministry's page

Study material, retakes and where you sit it

Spain, CCSE. Study material: Manual CCSE 2026, free, with all 300 questions and answers. Retakes: Fee covers a second attempt after a fail or no-show. Where: Test centre, in Spain only. Full guide · source, read 5 October 2026.

Germany, Einbürgerungstest. Study material: BAMF catalogue of 310 questions, free, plus an online test centre. Retakes: Retakes allowed; no limit stated. Where: BAMF-approved test centre. Full guide · source, read 5 October 2026.

Norway, Statsborgerprøven. Study material: Syllabus site samfunnskunnskap.no and an example test, free. Retakes: Not stated; registration is binding. Where: Computer at a test centre. Full guide · source, read 5 October 2026.

United Kingdom, Life in the UK test. Study material: Official handbook, sold as a book, eBook or audio. Retakes: Unlimited; pay each time. Where: Test centre (30+ in the UK). Full guide · source, read 5 October 2026.

Canada, Citizenship test. Study material: Discover Canada, free, plus practice questions. Retakes: Three within a 30-day window, then a hearing. Where: Online at home, webcam-proctored. Full guide · source, read 5 October 2026.

Australia, Citizenship test. Study material: Our Common Bond booklet, free, plus a practice test. Retakes: Not stated on the test page. Where: Computer, at an appointment. Full guide · source, read 5 October 2026.

United States, Naturalization civics test (2025). Study material: The 128 questions and answers, free, plus USCIS study guides. Retakes: Two: a re-examination 60–90 days later on the failed part, then denial. Where: Orally, by a USCIS officer at the naturalization interview. Full guide · source, read 5 October 2026.

France, Examen civique (naturalisation). Study material: Livret du citoyen, the citizen's charter and the list of knowledge questions, free. Retakes: Not stated; fraud bars a new attempt for two years. Where: On screen at a CCIP or FEI-approved centre; abroad via an Institut français, Alliance française or consulate. Full guide · source, read 5 October 2026.

How this was read

Each row comes from the test body’s own pages: Instituto Cervantes, BAMF, HK-dir, GOV.UK, IRCC, the Australian Department of Home Affairs, USCIS and the French Interior Ministry. Where a body states nothing on a point, the cell says so rather than filling it from elsewhere. Who must take each test, and the exemptions, are in each country’s guide. Rules change, and this page is dated; we run a marketplace for language teachers, so read it as interested rather than neutral, though nothing in the table is ours. Corrections to hello@kololingo.com.

Citizenship tests in 8 countries: the pass mark runs from 52% to 80%

The 8 tests side by side

Study material, retakes and where you sit it

How this was read

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