One in two failed Danish citizenship test
Half of all naturalisation hopefuls that took Denmark’s citizenship test in June failed.
Only one in two of the thousands of people that took the citizenship test (indfødsretsprøven) at language centres across the country in June managed to pass, according to Ministry of Immigration figures.
49.8 percent passed the test by correctly answering at least 32 out of 40 questions on the test, which covers subjects such as society and culture, as well as having a strong focus on historical events and figures.
READ ALSO: Reading the runes: Denmark's tough citizenship test
The figure is significantly lower than the pass rate for the previous exam cycle in December 2016, but better than in June 2016, when as many as two thirds failed to reach the pass score.
The new test replaced an earlier and easier citizenship test (statsborgerskabsprøven) that was introduced by the previous government in 2014.
When the new test was introduced, a number of Danish media outlets posted it on their websites, with even natural-born Danes having a hard time passing it, leading to political calls to revamp the exam.
“It is a somewhat lower pass rate this time, and that just shows how important it is to prepare thoroughly – which is also the point,” immigration minister Inger Støjberg told news agency Ritzau on Wednesday.
“Danish citizenship is a great privilege, so we demand that applicants have knowledge of basic elements, as well as the culture and history, of the society they want to be a part of,” the minister continued.
Applicants for Danish citizenship must also meet requirements for financial self-reliance and language and have clean police records.
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Only one in two of the thousands of people that took the citizenship test (indfødsretsprøven) at language centres across the country in June managed to pass, according to Ministry of Immigration figures.
49.8 percent passed the test by correctly answering at least 32 out of 40 questions on the test, which covers subjects such as society and culture, as well as having a strong focus on historical events and figures.
READ ALSO: Reading the runes: Denmark's tough citizenship test
The figure is significantly lower than the pass rate for the previous exam cycle in December 2016, but better than in June 2016, when as many as two thirds failed to reach the pass score.
The new test replaced an earlier and easier citizenship test (statsborgerskabsprøven) that was introduced by the previous government in 2014.
When the new test was introduced, a number of Danish media outlets posted it on their websites, with even natural-born Danes having a hard time passing it, leading to political calls to revamp the exam.
“It is a somewhat lower pass rate this time, and that just shows how important it is to prepare thoroughly – which is also the point,” immigration minister Inger Støjberg told news agency Ritzau on Wednesday.
“Danish citizenship is a great privilege, so we demand that applicants have knowledge of basic elements, as well as the culture and history, of the society they want to be a part of,” the minister continued.
Applicants for Danish citizenship must also meet requirements for financial self-reliance and language and have clean police records.
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