Could you pass the European test?

In the early 20^th century, unwelcome foreigners were kept out of Australia thanks to a very special dictation test that quizzed immigrants in any language ̶   as long as it wasn’t their own. Germans could be tested on their understanding of Ethiopian, Maltese applicants were quizzed in Dutch, and Italians could receive questions in Gaelic.

Today, European countries have adopted their own form of citizenship tests that, though more ‘egalitarian’, have in some cases raised questions about who they are meant to let in, and keep out.

Great Britain and France adopted citizenship tests in 2005, followed by the Netherlands in 2006 and Germany in 2008. Of the European countries who impose such a test (11 countries according to 2006 figures), most offer a written exam: UK, Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania. A few additional countries; Spain, Greece, and Hungary, rely on an oral test.

In Germany, aspiring citizens have to pass a written exam, as well as demonstrate an adequate command of German, and possess clean criminal record and a source of income. Of 33 randomly chosen questions, test takers must answer 17 correctly. Although the pool of over 300 possible questions is available for study beforehand, some complain the test is too difficult. In addition to basic questions such as, “What is Germany’s population?” applicants can expect more complicated ones like “Why did the former Chancellor Willy Brandt kneel down in the former Warsaw Ghetto in 1970?”

The Dutch exam is preceded by a video with images of gay men kissing and topless sunbathers – elements meant to expose potential citizens to the liberal and open Dutch lifestyle. Meanwhile in France, applicants are tested on French history, culture, and morality. The latter subject includes potentially divisive questions on topics such as polygamy and genital mutilation. Both the French and German exams have been accused of unfairly targeting against Muslim applicants.

In Britain, immigrants are tested on their understanding of written and spoken English and on their cultural knowledge. In 2009, nearly a third of applicants failed. Migrants from Iraq, Bangladesh, and Turkey had an average pass rate below 50%. In contrast, Americans, Canadians, and Australians had the highest pass rates with 97.9%, 96.9%, and 98%. Sample questions from the UK test include: What is the population of Wales? When is the national day for England? And what proportion of young people in the United Kingdom who became first-time voters in the 2001 general election actually used their vote?

Although these tests are intended to encourage integration, many critics argue that even native citizens would have difficulty passing. (For example, according to the Christian Science Monitor, only 1 in 7 British citizens would pass their nation’s citizenship exam.) Given their difficulty level and debatable relevance, Europe’s various citizenship tests pose the troubling question – are these tests the best way to evaluate potential citizens?

Why not try you hand at some of the citizenship tests?

● The German Citizen Test Challenge. Example question: What is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia?

● The UK Citizenship Test. Example question: In which year did married women get the right to divorce their husband?

● The French Citizenship Test. Example question: According to article 3 of the 1958 constitution, what are the two ways in which the people can exercise national sovereignty?

The UK Citizenship Test…