Passing the Naturalisation Test: The 8 Best Tips
The naturalisation test covers federal, cantonal, and local knowledge. With the right strategy, you can pass it on the first try.
Put the tips into practice
The 8 tips only work if you apply them consistently. The app makes it simple: spaced repetition, practice exam mode and questions created specifically for your municipality. 15 minutes a day is enough.
The app is available in German, French, Italian and Romansh. The naturalisation test is held in the local language.
Structure Learning in Three Levels
Learn systematically: federal (history, politics, institutions), then your canton, then your municipality. These three levels build on each other.
Prioritise Local Questions
In several cantons, the municipality also tests your knowledge of where you live. Who is the municipal president? When was the municipality founded? Which parties are on the municipal council?
Practise Regularly Rather Than Intensively
15-20 minutes daily is more effective than an intensive study weekend just before the test. The brain anchors knowledge through repetition over time.
Do Practice Tests Under Real Conditions
Simulate the real test: time-limited, no aids, quiet environment. This helps you get used to exam pressure and identify knowledge gaps.
Check Current Information
Who is the current municipal president? What votes happened recently? In the interview, questions about current events and votes may come up.
Learn the Map and Geography
Know your canton's location, neighbouring cantons, and major rivers and mountains. In many cantons, geographic questions appear.
Repeat Weak Points Systematically
Note incorrectly answered questions and repeat them more often. Spaced repetition helps you retain what you have learned in the long term.
Go to the Test Relaxed
The passing threshold varies by canton. In Aargau you need 34 out of 45 questions correct within 40 minutes; in the canton of Bern the test lasts 90 minutes and you need at least 60 per cent correct answers; in the canton of Zurich, the cantonal test requires 30 out of 50 questions correct (50 questions drawn from a published catalogue of about 350). More in Naturalisation Test Procedure. Be well-rested and arrive early on test day.
Further Reading