What is the Sprachtest zur Einbürgerung?
The Sprachtest zur Einbürgerung (language test for naturalization) is a German test made by the working group AG Sprachtest of the Berlin Volkshochschulen (VHS), the city's adult education centres. It shows that your German is at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Berlin offers it for people who need to prove B1 German for naturalization but do not already have a recognised certificate.
The test is short and practical. It checks whether you can understand everyday texts, write a simple message and talk about your life and common situations. It is a Berlin test, so it is taken at a Berlin VHS.
Test format at a glance
The whole test takes 65 minutes. It has a written part (reading and writing) and an oral part (speaking). There are 30 points in total.
| Part | German name | Time | Points | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Lesen | 30 min | 9 | Three kinds of tasks with short everyday texts |
| Writing | Schreiben | 20 min | 6 | Write a message that answers four content points |
| Speaking | Sprechen | 15 min | 15 | Individual interview with three parts |
| Total | 65 min | 30 |
There is no separate listening (Hören) section. Your listening skills still matter, because you need to understand the examiner in the speaking part.
The three parts in detail
Reading (Lesen): 30 minutes, 9 points
- Task type 1: you read a short situation and three ads. You choose the ad that fits the situation.
- Task type 2: you read a newspaper article and decide if four statements are true or false (richtig/falsch).
- Task type 3: you read a text and choose the best headline out of three.
More details and a worked example: reading section guide.
Writing (Schreiben): 20 minutes, 6 points
You write a short message, for example an email. The task gives you four content points. You answer each one with one or two sentences and use a fitting salutation and closing. There is no official word count. See the writing section guide for a model message.
Speaking (Sprechen): 15 minutes, 15 points
The speaking test is an individual interview: you are the only candidate. It has three parts:
- 1Getting to know each other (Kennenlernen), about 3 minutes: you talk about yourself.
- 2Photo, about 6 minutes: you choose one of three photos, describe it and answer follow-up questions.
- 3Discussing a situation, about 6 minutes: you talk about advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion or decision.
Phrases and sample answers are in the speaking section guide.
How to pass: the points rules
You pass only if you meet all three conditions at the same time:
- at least 18 of 30 points in total, and
- at least 7.5 of 15 points in the written part (reading + writing), and
- at least 7.5 of 15 points in the oral part (speaking).
Speaking gives half of all points. Reading and writing together give the other half. So it makes sense to train both halves, and not only the part you like.
Who needs to take the test?
For naturalization in Germany you usually have to prove German at level B1. The Berlin Sprachtest is one way to do this. If you already have a recognised B1 certificate, you may not need it. The Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA), Berlin's immigration office, decides whether you need the test. If you are unsure, ask the LEA before you register.
Who is exempt?
According to the official information, the following people do not have to take the test:
- minors under 16,
- people who are legally incapacitated,
- people who cannot meet the requirement because of illness, disability or age (you need medical documents for this).
The LEA makes the final decision. More on this on our registration and fees page.
What happens with the certificate?
After the test, you receive the certificate yourself. The VHS does not send it to the authorities for you. You submit it to the LEA as part of your naturalization application.
How to prepare
- 1
- 2
Do the official model test
The Berlin VHS publishes a free model test. Use it once under real time limits. See our practice test page.
- 3
Build everyday vocabulary
Most texts and tasks are about daily life: appointments, housing, work, health and authorities. Start with our B1 vocabulary and phrases.
- 4
Practise speaking out loud
Prepare a short introduction about yourself, and practise describing photos and giving your opinion. Speaking is half of all points.
- 5
Do timed mock exams
In the last weeks, practise with a timer: 30 minutes reading, 20 minutes writing, 15 minutes speaking.
Our app helps with all of these steps: practice tasks with model answers and English and Turkish support, review cards, vocabulary flashcards and timed mock exams. It is an independent study tool. It is not run by the VHS or the State of Berlin, and it cannot give you official results.
- Berlin VHS: Sprachtest zur Einbürgerung (berlin.de)
- Official model test (Modelltest), PDF (berlin.de)
- VHS Pankow: Einbürgerungstest and Sprachtest (berlin.de)
- Service Berlin: Sprachtest zur Einbürgerung (service.berlin.de)