Politics · Germany · 7 hrs ago
Germany plans stricter German tests for immigrants from November
Germany plans to tighten its German test for immigrants under a new regulation from Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
Officials say some candidates obtained written test questions and answers illegally online.
The test covers listening, reading, writing and speaking, and is usually the final exam in an integration course.
A candidate will no longer pass if any section is done inadequately, even if their results in other sections are strong.
The government says written German skills are important for lasting, independent integration.
The change is due to take effect on November 1.
Last year, 318,550 people took the test, and 55% reached the B1 level needed to communicate in everyday German.
Germany plans to make its German-language test for immigrants stricter from 1 November.
Under the planned change, a test will not count as passed if any one section is inadequately completed.
The Interior Ministry says the change is intended to prevent cheating involving written test questions and answers obtained illegally online.
The test assesses listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Of 318,550 people who took the test last year, 55 percent reached the B1 level.
- Who
- Germany’s Interior Ministry, led by Alexander Dobrindt, plans the change for immigrants taking the German test.
- What
- The test will not count as passed if any section is inadequately completed.
- When
- The new regulation is due to take effect on 1 November 2026.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- The ministry says the change is intended to prevent cheating and improve test security.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
318,550 immigrants took the German test, according to the article.
The Interior Ministry said there had been increased attempts to cheat in the tests.
The new regulation is due to take effect.
- Planned start date
- 1 November 2026
- Last year's test participants
- 318,550
- Reached B1 level
- 175,193 people (55 percent)
- Reached A2 level
- 102,663 people (32.2 percent)
- Below A2 level
- 40,694 people (12.8 percent)
What people are saying
increased attempts at cheating
illegally acquired via the internet
increasing the security of the tests due to the described pattern of cheating