100+ Free Zertifizierungsprüfung für Gerichtsdolmetscher:innen Practice Questions

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Key Facts: Zertifizierungsprüfung für Gerichtsdolmetscher:innen Exam

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Practice Questions in This Bank

OpenExamPrep

4 Parts

Legal questionnaire, written translation, sight interpreting and a simulated hearing, in about 3-4 hours

ÖVGD, Gerichtsdolmetscher:in werden

€400

Examination fee payable to the Landesgericht, full or restricted examination alike

§ 4a Abs. 3 SDG and BMJ ordinance BGBl. II Nr. 397/2007

5 Years

Duration of the entry before recertification is required

§ 6 Abs. 1 SDG

4 Weeks

Period for claiming the interpreting fee, on pain of losing it

§ 38 Abs. 1 GebAG via § 53 Abs. 1 GebAG

1 or 3 Years

Prior practice required — one year within three with a qualifying translation degree, otherwise three within five

§ 14 Z 1 SDG

Austria's court interpreter certification is examined by a commission at the Landesgericht under §§ 4 and 4a SDG: four parts in roughly three to four hours — a German legal questionnaire, written translation both ways, sight interpreting both ways and a simulated hearing — for a €400 fee, with entry limited to five years and renewable on proof of activity and continuing education. This free bank provides 100 research-based English-language multiple-choice practice questions with detailed explanations on Austrian court structure and procedure, SDG professional law, the GebAG interpreter tariff and interpreting method — a study aid, not a format simulation.

Sample Zertifizierungsprüfung für Gerichtsdolmetscher:innen Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Zertifizierungsprüfung für Gerichtsdolmetscher:innen exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the Austrian Gerichtsorganisationsgesetz (GOG), what are the four tiers of ordinary courts (ordentliche Gerichtsbarkeit) in Austria?

A.Bezirksgerichte (District Courts), Landesgerichte (Regional Courts), Oberlandesgerichte (Higher Regional Courts), and Oberster Gerichtshof (Supreme Court / OGH)

B.Amtsgerichte, Landgerichte, Oberlandesgerichte, and Bundesgerichtshof

C.Magistrates Courts, Crown Courts, High Court, and Supreme Court

D.Municipal Courts, Provincial Tribunals, Federal Appeals Court, and Constitutional Senate

Explanation: Under the Austrian court hierarchy (GOG), the four tiers of ordinary civil and criminal courts are: Bezirksgerichte (first instance for minor claims and misdemeanors), Landesgerichte (first instance for major civil/criminal matters and appellate court for Bezirksgericht appeals), Oberlandesgerichte (appellate courts in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Innsbruck), and the Oberster Gerichtshof (OGH) as the supreme court in civil and criminal matters.

2Under § 73a of the Austrian Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO), when is a civil court statutorily required to appoint a court interpreter (Dolmetscher)?

A.Whenever a party, witness, or other participant does not have sufficient command of the German language to follow the proceedings and make statements

B.Only if the plaintiff pays a mandatory €5,000 cash advance into the court registry

C.Exclusively in commercial lawsuits between international airline corporations

D.Only upon unanimous written consent of both parties' attorneys

Explanation: Under § 73a ZPO and § 39a JN, the court is legally required to call in a sworn court interpreter ex officio whenever a party, witness, or other involved person cannot understand or express themselves in the official language of the court (German). This guarantees the constitutional right to be heard (rechtliches Gehör / Art. 6 ECHR).

3Under § 56 and § 126 of the Austrian Strafprozessordnung (StPO), what is the statutory duty regarding court interpretation in criminal proceedings?

A.A suspect, accused person, or victim who does not speak or understand German has the absolute statutory right to free interpretation of all investigative interrogations, hearings, and trials, and translation of essential documents (wesentliche Aktenstücke)

B.The defendant must pay the interpreter's hourly fee in cash before each trial session

C.Interpretation is provided only if the defendant pleads guilty in advance

D.The police officer conducting the interrogation is permitted to act as the official sworn court interpreter

Explanation: Under § 56 StPO and Directive 2010/64/EU, a criminal defendant or victim who lacks command of German is entitled to interpretation for all hearings and trials and translation of essential case documents (such as arrest warrants, indictments, and judgments) free of cost, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the criminal trial.

4Under § 56 Abs. 2 of the Austrian StPO, which documents are considered wesentliche Aktenstücke (essential case documents) that must be translated for a non-German speaking defendant?

A.Anklageschrift (Indictment), Strafantrag, Haftanordnung (Arrest warrant), Beschlüsse über die Verhängung und Fortsetzung der Untersuchungshaft (Detention orders), and the Urteil (Judgment)

B.All internal administrative police emails and fuel purchase receipts

C.The entire Austrian Federal Law Gazette from the past five years

D.Only the personal business cards of the prosecuting attorneys

Explanation: Under § 56 Abs. 2 StPO, essential documents that must be translated in writing (or exceptionally summarized orally if the defendant agrees and rights are preserved) include: detention warrants, detention continuation orders, indictments, penal orders (Strafverfügungen), and final court judgments.

5Under § 39a of the Austrian Allgemeines Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz (AVG), what is the rule regarding language and interpreters in administrative and asylum procedures?

A.Administrative authorities must call in a sworn interpreter if a party or participant does not have sufficient command of German, particularly in asylum and residence hearings before the BFA and BVwG

B.Administrative authorities are prohibited from ever using interpreters in public hearings

C.Parties must speak German or their application is rejected within 24 hours without review

D.Only university professors can act as interpreters in administrative proceedings

Explanation: Under § 39a AVG and specific procedural statutes (e.g., BFA-Verfahrensgesetz and Asylgesetz), administrative authorities and the Federal Administrative Court (BVwG) must appoint a qualified interpreter whenever a participant lacks German language skills, ensuring fair and accurate establishment of the relevant facts.

6What is the legal difference between a Dolmetscher (interpreter) and a Sachverständiger (expert witness) under Austrian procedural law?

A.A Dolmetscher translates spoken language or texts without evaluating the substantive facts; a Sachverständiger provides specialized empirical knowledge and draws evaluative conclusions (Befund und Gutachten) on factual questions

B.There is no legal difference; both terms are legally identical in all Austrian statutes

C.A Dolmetscher decides whether the defendant is guilty; a Sachverständiger decides the punishment

D.A Dolmetscher works only for the police, while a Sachverständiger works only for private banks

Explanation: While both are governed by the SDG and GebAG, their procedural roles are fundamentally distinct: a court interpreter (Dolmetscher) functions as a neutral linguistic conduit, translating declarations faithfully without adding personal opinions. A court expert (Sachverständiger) evaluates facts based on specialized professional expertise (Befundaufnahme and Gutachtenerstattung).

7Under § 2 of the Austrian Sachverständigen- und Dolmetschergesetz (SDG), what are the prerequisites for entry into the federal list of sworn court interpreters (SDG-Liste)?

A.Full legal capacity, personal suitability and trustworthiness, orderly financial circumstances, habitual residence or place of work in the Landesgericht's district, a demonstrated need for interpreters in that language, the practice periods required by § 14 Z 1 SDG, and a positive result in the certification procedure under §§ 4 and 4a SDG

B.A minimum age of 60 years and ten years of political party membership

C.Ownership of a commercial translation agency with at least 50 employees

D.Austrian birth with no knowledge of foreign languages

Explanation: § 14 SDG applies Section II of the SDG to interpreters with modifications, and expressly excludes § 2 Abs. 2 Z 1 lit. b, f and i as well as § 2a. That means an interpreter needs neither the ten-year professional record of an expert, nor Austrian/EU/EEA/Swiss citizenship, nor the liability insurance that is compulsory for experts. What remains from § 2 Abs. 2 Z 1 SDG is legal capacity, personal suitability, trustworthiness, habitual residence or place of work in the district, orderly financial circumstances — plus the need criterion of § 2 Abs. 2 Z 2 SDG. § 14 Z 1 SDG then substitutes its own practice requirement, and the president obtains the reasoned opinion of the § 4a commission after the certification examination.

8Under § 6 of the Austrian Sachverständigen- und Dolmetschergesetz (SDG), what is the statutory duration of certification as a sworn court interpreter?

A.Five years (befristete Eintragung); it can be extended for successive five-year periods upon timely application for Rezertifizierung

B.One year, after which the candidate must completely re-sit the entire written examination

C.Ten years without any requirement for continuing professional education

D.Lifetime appointment without any expiration or review

Explanation: Under § 6 Abs. 1 SDG, certification is strictly granted for a fixed period of five years. Under § 6 Abs. 2 SDG, the interpreter must apply for recertification (Rezertifizierung) before expiry, demonstrating ongoing professional activity and verified continuing education (Fortbildung).

9Under § 5 of the Austrian Sachverständigen- und Dolmetschergesetz (SDG), what is the legal significance of the Amtseid (oath of office) sworn by a court interpreter?

A.The interpreter swears to translate faithfully, conscientiously, and impartially to the best of their knowledge and ability; because of this general oath, the interpreter does not need to be sworn in separately for every individual court session

B.The interpreter swears loyalty to the ruling political party of Austria

C.The oath grants the interpreter sovereign diplomatic immunity in criminal proceedings

D.The oath allows the interpreter to disclose private court proceedings on personal blogs

Explanation: Under § 5 SDG, upon entry in the register, the interpreter takes the solemn oath (allgemeine Beeidigung) before the President of the Landesgericht. This general oath applies to all future assignments by Austrian courts and authorities without requiring individual oaths at each hearing.

10Under § 19 of the Austrian Jurisdiktionsnorm (JN) and § 47 of the StPO, when is a court interpreter considered befangen (conflicted / disqualified from acting)?

A.If there is any reasonable ground to doubt their complete impartiality (e.g., being a relative, close friend, business partner, or having a direct personal or financial interest in the outcome of the litigation)

B.Whenever the interpreter charges the statutory fee under the GebAG

C.Only if the interpreter was convicted of a felony within the last six months

D.Whenever the interpreter resides in a different federal province than the courthouse

Explanation: Under § 19 JN, § 47 StPO, and § 7 AVG, the grounds for disqualification and recusal of judges apply analogously to court interpreters. An interpreter must immediately disclose any circumstance that could give rise to justifiable doubts regarding their objectivity or neutrality (Befangenheit).

About the Zertifizierungsprüfung für Gerichtsdolmetscher:innen Exam

The Zertifizierungsprüfung is the statutory examination taken inside the entry procedure of §§ 4 and 4a SDG to become an allgemein beeidete oder allgemein beeideter und gerichtlich zertifizierter Dolmetscher in Austria. It is administered by the presidents of the Landesgerichte, who obtain a reasoned opinion from a commission chaired by a judge and staffed with language examiners nominated by the ÖVGD. Successful candidates are entered in the Gerichtssachverständigen- und Gerichtsdolmetscherliste for the language concerned, take the oath under § 14 Z 3 SDG, and alone may produce certified translations under the protected title.

Assessment

Certification takes place inside the entry procedure of §§ 4 and 4a SDG. Once the formal requirements are met, the Landesgericht summons the applicant before a commission chaired by a judge with at least two ÖVGD-nominated language examiners. The ÖVGD sets out four parts: (1) a legal questionnaire on definitions and abbreviations, answered in German; (2) written translation in both directions; (3) sight interpreting in both directions; (4) a simulated court hearing interpreted in both directions — together roughly three to four hours. Under § 14 Z 5a SDG a restricted certification for non-European languages omits the written translation part; its holder may interpret before courts and authorities but may not produce certified translations or use a Rundsiegel, and the restricted status lapses after five years unless the written part is passed as a supplementary examination.

Time Limit

varies-by-module

Passing Score

There is no numeric pass mark. The commission examines the applicant, documents the steps and issues a reasoned opinion, deciding by majority with the chair's casting vote (§ 4a Abs. 2 SDG). The president of the Landesgericht then decides on entry by Bescheid after any further inquiries, and there is no right to be entered (§ 4 Abs. 3 SDG).

Exam Fee

€400 payable to the competent Landesgericht before the examination — the same whether the full or the restricted 'light' examination is taken — rising by €100 for each examiner beyond three; only a quarter is payable if the candidate withdraws at least three days beforehand or is prevented by an unforeseen or unavoidable event substantiated within 14 days (§ 4a Abs. 3 SDG and § 2 of the BMJ ordinance BGBl. II Nr. 397/2007). A separate examination is required for each language. (Präsidentinnen und Präsidenten der Landesgerichte as certification bodies, with ÖVGD-nominated language examiners on the commission)

Zertifizierungsprüfung für Gerichtsdolmetscher:innen Exam Content Outline

Practice coverage — no official weightings are published

Gerichtsorganisation und Verfahrensrecht

Austrian court hierarchy, the interpreter in civil litigation (§ 73a ZPO), in criminal proceedings (§ 56 StPO, Directive 2010/64/EU) and in administrative and asylum hearings (§ 39a AVG, BFA, BVwG)

Practice coverage — no official weightings are published

SDG-Berufsrecht, Pflichten und Haftung

Entry requirements under §§ 2 and 14 SDG, the certification commission of § 4a SDG, the five-year term and recertification (§ 6 SDG), the oath, restricted certification under § 14 Z 5a SDG, the Rundsiegel (§ 8 Abs. 5 SDG), title protection (§ 14b SDG), withdrawal (§ 10 SDG) and § 1299 ABGB liability

Practice coverage — no official weightings are published

Gebührenanspruchsgesetz (GebAG) für Dolmetscher:innen

§ 54 GebAG: €1.50 per 55-character line with a €20 minimum per assignment, €4 for certification, €40/€30/€25 per started half hour of attendance, €12 for Rückübersetzung, the 25% and 30% surcharges, €25 per half hour for document review, plus the four-week claim period of § 38 Abs. 1 GebAG

Practice coverage — no official weightings are published

Dolmetschmethodik, Rechtsterminologie und Gerichtspraxis

Consecutive, simultaneous and whispered interpreting, sight translation, first-person rendition, completeness and register fidelity, and Austrian legal terminology from Einantwortung to Erwachsenenvertretung

How to Pass the Zertifizierungsprüfung für Gerichtsdolmetscher:innen Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: There is no numeric pass mark. The commission examines the applicant, documents the steps and issues a reasoned opinion, deciding by majority with the chair's casting vote (§ 4a Abs. 2 SDG). The president of the Landesgericht then decides on entry by Bescheid after any further inquiries, and there is no right to be entered (§ 4 Abs. 3 SDG).
Assessment: Certification takes place inside the entry procedure of §§ 4 and 4a SDG. Once the formal requirements are met, the Landesgericht summons the applicant before a commission chaired by a judge with at least two ÖVGD-nominated language examiners. The ÖVGD sets out four parts: (1) a legal questionnaire on definitions and abbreviations, answered in German; (2) written translation in both directions; (3) sight interpreting in both directions; (4) a simulated court hearing interpreted in both directions — together roughly three to four hours. Under § 14 Z 5a SDG a restricted certification for non-European languages omits the written translation part; its holder may interpret before courts and authorities but may not produce certified translations or use a Rundsiegel, and the restricted status lapses after five years unless the written part is passed as a supplementary examination.
Time limit: varies-by-module
Exam fee: €400 payable to the competent Landesgericht before the examination — the same whether the full or the restricted 'light' examination is taken — rising by €100 for each examiner beyond three; only a quarter is payable if the candidate withdraws at least three days beforehand or is prevented by an unforeseen or unavoidable event substantiated within 14 days (§ 4a Abs. 3 SDG and § 2 of the BMJ ordinance BGBl. II Nr. 397/2007). A separate examination is required for each language.

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Zertifizierungsprüfung für Gerichtsdolmetscher:innen Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the Austrian court hierarchy and know which court does what: Bezirksgerichte, Landesgerichte, Oberlandesgerichte, OGH, the Verwaltungsgerichte, VfGH and VwGH.

2Learn the GebAG interpreter tariff by heart: § 54 Abs. 1 Z 1 (€1.50 per 55-character line, €20 minimum, €4 for certification), § 54 Abs. 1 Z 2 (€40 / €30 / €25 per started half hour, €12 for Rückübersetzung), the 25% and 30% surcharges in Abs. 2 and 3, and the €25 half-hour rate for document review in Abs. 4.

3Do not confuse the claim periods: the interpreter's fee claim runs four weeks from completion under § 38 Abs. 1 GebAG, applied through § 53 Abs. 1 GebAG, with the option of claiming at the end of each hearing day under § 53 Abs. 1 Z 2 GebAG.

4Understand what § 14 SDG switches off for interpreters — the ten-year professional record, the citizenship requirement and the liability insurance duty all fall away — and what it adds, above all the practice periods of § 14 Z 1 and the restricted certification of § 14 Z 5a.

5Drill Austrian legal terminology and its traps: Einantwortung rather than Erbschein, bedingte and unbedingte Erbantrittserklärung, Erwachsenenvertretung rather than the abolished Sachwalterschaft, Diversion, Nichtigkeitsbeschwerde and Privatbeteiligter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Austrian court interpreter certification examination?

It is the examination held inside the entry procedure of §§ 4 and 4a of the Sachverständigen- und Dolmetschergesetz. Before entering an applicant in the Gerichtssachverständigen- und Gerichtsdolmetscherliste, the president of the Landesgericht must obtain a reasoned opinion from a commission chaired by a judge and staffed with at least two further independent language examiners, whom the ÖVGD nominates under § 14 Z 2 SDG.

How is the certification examination structured?

The ÖVGD sets out four parts, together lasting about three to four hours: a legal questionnaire on definitions and abbreviations answered in German, written translation in both directions, sight interpreting in both directions, and a simulated court hearing interpreted in both directions. Under the restricted certification of § 14 Z 5a SDG for non-European languages the written translation part is omitted.

How long does certification last, and what does recertification require?

Under § 6 Abs. 1 SDG the entry is limited to five years from the date of entry for the language concerned and can be extended by five years at a time. The application must be filed at the earliest one year and at the latest three months before expiry (§ 6 Abs. 2 SDG), and the ÖVGD confirms that proof of regular work for courts and authorities and of completed continuing education is required.

What fee rules govern Austrian court interpreters?

Remuneration for court and prosecution assignments follows the Gebührenanspruchsgesetz. § 54 Abs. 1 GebAG sets €1.50 per line of 55 keystrokes for written translation with a €20 minimum per assignment and €4 for the certification clause, and €40, €30 and €25 for the first, second and each further started half hour of attendance, with €12 extra for a Rückübersetzung. § 54 Abs. 2 adds 25% from the second half hour for certified interpreters and § 54 Abs. 3 adds 30% for night, weekend and holiday work. The claim must be made within four weeks of completing the work (§ 38 Abs. 1 GebAG), though § 53 Abs. 1 Z 2 GebAG allows claiming at the end of each hearing day.

Is this practice bank in the same format as the real examination?

No. The real examination is a performance assessment in German and the target language — translating, sight interpreting and interpreting a mock trial. This bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation covering the surrounding legal and professional knowledge that the commission also tests. It is not an official translation and cannot replace practising the interpreting and translation tasks themselves.