The Swiss fide test in German: two parts, four skills, a level rather than a pass, and free practice questions

How is the fide test structured?

Two parts, four skills. The oral part combines Sprechen, speaking with an examiner, and Verstehen, listening to a recording that is played at most twice, and takes about 40 minutes in total. The written part, Lesen und Schreiben, takes about 60 minutes. You choose a level combination before you sit it, either A1 to A2 or A2 to B1; the test starts at A2 and the examiners can suggest a higher or a lower level.

• Oral part: Sprechen plus Verstehen, about 40 minutes
• Written part: Lesen plus Schreiben, about 60 minutes
• Combinations: A1 to A2, or A2 to B1

How is the fide test scored, and what do you actually get?

A language passport, not a certificate of passing. The oral level is worked out from Sprechen counting two thirds and Verstehen one third; the written level comes from Lesen and Schreiben. You need to reach at least the lower level of the combination you chose to be certified, and the passport then shows one level for oral and one for written. The result usually arrives after four to six weeks.

Which German level do you need for a Swiss permit or naturalisation?

It depends on the permit, and the oral and written requirements are different. As a guide: family reunification on a B permit usually needs spoken A1; the C settlement permit needs spoken A2 and written A1; an early C permit needs spoken B1 and written A1; and ordinary or simplified naturalisation needs spoken B1 and written A2. Cantons can set higher requirements than the federal minimum, so confirm your exact level with your canton or commune before you book a level combination.

• Family reunification (B permit): spoken A1
• Settlement (C permit): spoken A2 and written A1
• Early C permit: spoken B1 and written A1
• Naturalisation: spoken B1 and written A2, cantons may ask for more

What does the fide test actually ask about?

Everyday life in Switzerland, not grammar for its own sake. The tasks are built around the situations a resident meets: the commune office, the Krankenkasse, renting and recycling, the doctor, buying a Billett. Our practice bank groups itself into the same nine everyday themes, which is why the free questions below run across all nine rather than through a grammar syllabus.

• Persönliche Angaben: introducing yourself, family, appearance, character
• Alltag und Familie: daily routine, household, time
• Wohnen und Nachbarschaft: housing, renting, the commune, waste and recycling
• Arbeit und Bildung: jobs, applications, training, school
• Einkaufen und Dienstleistungen: shops, money, restaurants, services
• Gesundheit: the body, the doctor, the pharmacy, the Krankenkasse
• Verkehr und Reisen: Tram, Billett, Velo, travel, weather
• Ämter und Behörden: appointments, forms, public services
• Freizeit und Gesellschaft: hobbies, clubs, festivals, taking part

Is the German Swiss German?

Swiss Standard German, de-CH, which is what the test is written in. That means never the eszett and always ss, and everyday Swiss vocabulary: Velo rather than Fahrrad, Billett rather than Fahrkarte, Kehricht, Gemeinde, Krankenkasse, Spital. Practising on German-German material leaves you fluent in words the examiner will not use, which is a small problem in reading and a real one in the listening part.

Are these the official fide questions?

No. The official fide model tests and scenario materials are copyright-protected, with rights held by the State Secretariat for Migration, and none of them are reproduced here. Every question, reading text, listening script and illustration in the app is written or drawn from scratch to match the publicly documented format of the test, with an explanation for each answer in German and English.

Is RiverMap Learning connected to fide or the SEM?

No. RiverMap Learning is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the fide secretariat, the State Secretariat for Migration or any accredited test centre. These pages and the app are independent preparation material. You book the test directly at an accredited centre with no obligation to take a course, the fee is set by the centre so it varies, and the fide secretariat itself does not run preparation courses. Always confirm the current format, levels and fee on the official fide page before you book.