Question 1

Who has to take the Czech realities test?

Accepted Answer

Anyone applying for Czech citizenship. The Citizenship Act (§ 14(5)) requires a basic knowledge of the constitutional system and a basic grasp of Czech society, culture, geography and history; you also need Czech at level B1. You do not have to take it if you completed at least 3 school years at a primary or secondary school or a university where teaching was in Czech, if you are under 15 or over 65 on the day you apply, or if a physical or mental disability prevents you. The Ministry of the Interior can also waive it in cases deserving special consideration; you ask for that together with your citizenship application. Permanent residence does not require the realities test.

Question 2

Can I take the test in English?

Accepted Answer

No. The test is only in Czech, on paper, and dictionaries are not allowed. That is why every question here also shows the official Czech wording: the English translation helps you understand it, but in the exam you will need to recognise it in Czech. The questions are written in Czech at B1 level.

Question 3

How does the test work?

Accepted Answer

30 questions, each with four options of which exactly one is right, and 30 minutes to answer them. There is one question from each of the 30 topics of the databank: 16 on civics, 7 on geography and 7 on history and culture. You mark your answers in pencil on the answer sheet, and only the sheet is marked. If you also take the language exam, it is usually on the same day: the realities test from 10:00 to 10:40, the language exam from 11:00.

Question 4

How many correct answers do I need?

Accepted Answer

At least 18 of 30, which is 60%. Each correct answer is worth one point and nothing is taken off for a wrong one. The result is simply pass or fail; only candidates who fail are told their score.

Question 5

Are these the real exam questions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every question in the test comes from the public databank of test items on Czech realities published by the National Pedagogical Institute (NPI ČR): 300 items, ten for each of the 30 topics, some with a picture or a numbered map. The questions here are from the 10th edition, updated 5 January 2026, with the databank's official answers. The explanations and the English translation are our own. NPI revises items from time to time, most often in December.

Question 6

How do I register, and how much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

You apply online at any time on the ÚJOP UK website (ujop.cuni.cz/obcanstvi). You choose a test centre and whether you want a weekday or a Saturday; you cannot pick a date. When a new date opens, you are assigned a free place in the order in which applications were received, and you receive an e-mail with payment instructions; ÚJOP says this currently takes 2–3 months on average. You must pay within 7 days or the application is cancelled. The realities test costs 2,000 CZK, the language exam 3,700 CZK and both together 5,700 CZK. Cancelling or moving to another date costs 500 CZK and is possible only until the date closes; after that only with a medical certificate.

Question 7

Where is the test held, and what should I bring?

Accepted Answer

At ÚJOP UK test centres in Prague, Brno, České Budějovice, Hradec Králové, Liberec, Olomouc, Ostrava, Plzeň and Poděbrady. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the start to register, with your passport, your permanent residence permit card and proof of payment. You will be given a pencil; your phone must be switched off, and dictionaries and other aids are not allowed.

Question 8

What if I fail?

Accepted Answer

Results are published online 30 days after the exam; candidates who pass receive their certificate by post within 7 weeks. If you fail, you can apply again once the results are out, paying the fee again; the exam rules set no limit on attempts. The realities test and the language exam are marked separately, so you only retake the part you failed. You can appeal against the result in writing within 90 days; an appeal costs 1,000 CZK, refunded if it succeeds.

Question 9

How do I prepare for the Czech realities test?

Accepted Answer

All the questions are public in advance, so work through the databank topic by topic and make sure you understand why each answer is right rather than just memorising it. The practice test shows you where you stand. Read each question in Czech as well as in English, since the exam is in Czech only. For unfamiliar words, NPI has published an explanatory dictionary for the test items, the Výkladový slovník k testovým úlohám z českých reálií (written in Czech). According to ÚJOP UK, 98.4% of candidates passed in both 2023 and 2024.

Czech citizenship test in English: all 300 questions, every answer explained.

A few questions with their answers.

Questions people ask.

Try it under exam conditions.