Austrian Citizenship Test: How Many Questions Do You Need to Get Right?

Before you start preparing for the Austrian citizenship test, it helps to know exactly what you are aiming for. How many questions are there, how many do you need to answer correctly and what happens if you fall short?

Here is a straightforward breakdown.

The numbers

The test has 18 questions in total, and there are two ways to pass. You pass if you get at least 3 of the 6 questions right in each of the three areas. You also pass if you get at least 12 of the 18 right overall, which is two thirds.

So 12 correct answers always pass, however they are spread. With 9 to 11 correct you can still pass, as long as every area has at least 3. For example, 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 correct passes, but 11 correct with only 2 in one area does not.

How are the 18 questions divided?

The 18 questions split into three areas of exactly 6 questions each.

Six are about the democratic order of the Republic of Austria. This area covers democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, Austria as a federal state and Austria as a member of the European Union.

Six are about the history of Austria.

Six are about the history of your Bundesland. These change depending on which Austrian state you are registered in. The questions in Tyrol are different from those in Vienna, for example, so it is important to study the right set for your location.

The first two areas follow the same federal material everywhere in Austria.

What format are the questions?

All 18 questions are multiple choice with four answer options each. One, two or three of the options can be right, so you mark every option you think is correct. You get the full point for marking all the right ones and part of a point for marking only some of them. If you mark a wrong option, that question scores zero. You do not have to write anything from memory, and the format is the same across all states.

What happens if you do not pass?

You can retake the test as many times as you need. The same federal rules apply in every state, and no official source mentions a waiting period between attempts. The Provincial Government sets the date of each retake together with you.

Your result is generally communicated to you on the day of the test.

Is it hard to reach the pass mark?

For people who prepare properly, no. The test covers a defined body of knowledge, and the government publishes official learning materials and an online practice test, so you know in advance which areas it covers. The multiple choice format also means you never have to produce an answer from scratch.

The most common reason people fall short is not that the questions are tricky. It is that they underestimated how specific the questions are. Knowing broadly that Austria has a Nationalrat is not enough. You need to know details like how many members it has, how long the legislative term lasts and what its specific functions are. That level of detail requires active study, not just general reading.

The state-specific questions catch people out more often than the federal ones, mainly because they tend to get less preparation time. Six questions out of 18 is a full third of the test, and if you score fewer than 12 overall, you need at least 3 of them right.

How long do you need to study?

Two to three weeks of regular practice is enough for most people. Thirty to 45 minutes a day, working through the material section by section and testing yourself as you go, covers everything comfortably in that time.

If Austrian history and politics are already familiar to you, you may need less. If you are starting from scratch, four weeks gives you more room to revisit the parts that did not stick the first time.

Where to practise

PassCitizen has free Austrian citizenship test practice questions based on the official learning materials, organised by topic and state. You can go through one section at a time or take a full 18-question mock test whenever you feel ready. No signup needed.

Start practising for free