Free Practice Questions for Schleswig-Holstein Abitur English

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Exam Review

Key Facts: Schleswig-Holstein Abitur English Exam

2 Themenfelder

Confirmed 2026 corridors: 'The Individual and Society' and 'Global Chances and Challenges'

schullv.de Englisch-Abi 2026 Schleswig-Holstein; klett-sprachen.de; westermann.de Abiturthemen Schleswig-Holstein Englisch

55 / 25 / 20

Grading weight of Schreiben / Sprachmittlung / Sprechen in the Kernfach Englisch subject mark

schullv.de Englisch-Abi 2026 Schleswig-Holstein

285 min

Total written Bearbeitungszeit for Schreiben plus Sprachmittlung, including 15 min Lese-/Auswahlzeit

schullv.de Englisch-Abi 2026 Schleswig-Holstein

30.04.2026

Written Englisch Kernfach exam date in the 2026 main session; Sprechprüfungen 18.-19.03.2026

za.schleswig-holstein.de Terminplan Abitur 2026 (via profiling-institut.de, salemkolleg.de)

0-15 Punkte

Grading scale for each Prüfungsfach, from Note 1 (15-13 Punkte) to Note 6 (0 Punkte)

Landesverordnung über die Gestaltung der Oberstufe und der Abiturprüfung (OAPVO), Schleswig-Holstein

200 / 100 Punkte

Minimum Gesamtqualifikation: 200+ from Block I and 100+ from Block II, out of 900 maximum

OAPVO §§31-33, Schleswig-Holstein

Free 100-question English-language MCQ study bank for Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur Englisch, mapped to the confirmed 2026 Themenfelder ('The Individual and Society' and 'Global Chances and Challenges', including set texts such as 'Animal Farm', 'Lord of the Flies', 'Death of a Salesman' and 'American War') plus the Fachanforderungen Englisch and KMK Bildungsstandards (CEFR B2) framework. Official exam: Schreiben (55%, 700-1,000 words) + Sprachmittlung (25%, German-to-English) + separately scheduled Sprechprüfung (20%); 285 minutes written including Lese-/Auswahlzeit; written date 30.04.2026, Sprechprüfung 18-19.03.2026. Not an official-format simulation; no fee for regular school candidates.

Sample Schleswig-Holstein Abitur English Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Schleswig-Holstein Abitur English exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary focus of the Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur Themenfeld 'The Individual and Society'?

A.How personal identity develops and how individuals relate to social expectations such as conformity and diversity

B.The economic history of the United Kingdom since 1945

C.The grammar rules governing reported speech in formal English

D.The technical vocabulary of international diplomacy

Explanation: The Themenfeld 'The Individual and Society' centers on identity questions - ambitions and obstacles, conformity versus individualism - together with the chances and challenges of a diverse society, including ethnic, cultural, social and gender issues. It is one of the two confirmed Themenfelder for the 2026 Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur in English.

2Which pair of concepts is explicitly named within the 'questions of identity' strand of this Themenfeld?

A.Conformity versus individualism

B.Supply and demand

C.Passive versus active voice

D.Monarchy versus republic

Explanation: The identity strand of 'The Individual and Society' is framed around ambitions and obstacles facing the individual and the tension between conformity and individualism. This tension recurs across the literary and non-literary texts used to illustrate the Themenfeld.

3According to the Themenfeld's description of societal challenges, which of the following is explicitly listed alongside ethnic and cultural diversity?

A.Gender issues

B.Currency exchange rates

C.Traffic regulation

D.Agricultural subsidies

Explanation: The societal side of 'The Individual and Society' names ethnic, cultural and social diversity together with gender issues as chances and challenges facing society. These form part of the confirmed content scope for the Themenfeld.

4A student writing about 'conformity versus individualism' in a Schreiben task chooses to argue that group pressure can suppress personal ambition. Which approach best matches the Themenfeld's intent?

A.Balancing textual evidence of social pressure against evidence of individual agency

B.Ignoring the text and describing only the writer's own opinion

C.Focusing exclusively on plot summary without analysis

D.Translating the prompt word-for-word into German before answering

Explanation: Because the Themenfeld frames identity as a tension between conformity and individualism, a strong response draws on concrete textual evidence for both social pressure and individual agency rather than asserting one side alone. This balanced use of evidence is what the Schreiben task rewards.

5Which statement best distinguishes 'conformity' from 'individualism' as used in this Themenfeld?

A.Conformity means adapting to group norms, while individualism means asserting one's own distinct identity

B.Conformity means rejecting all social rules, while individualism means blind obedience to authority

C.Conformity and individualism are simply two words for the same idea

D.Conformity refers only to school rules, while individualism refers only to family rules

Explanation: Conformity describes adapting behavior or beliefs to match group expectations, while individualism describes prioritizing personal identity, values or choices even against group pressure. The Themenfeld uses this contrast to frame questions about ambition and obstacles.

6'Ambitions and obstacles' in the identity strand most directly refers to which idea?

A.The personal goals individuals pursue and the barriers that stand in their way

B.The obstacle course used in physical education classes

C.Career obstacles faced only by athletes

D.Financial obstacles faced only by large corporations

Explanation: The phrase names the goals a person sets for themselves and the social, personal or structural barriers that can prevent achieving them, a recurring subject in texts used for this Themenfeld. It supports analysis of characters' motivations and setbacks.

7A literary text presents a protagonist who conforms outwardly while harboring private doubts about the group's values. Which analytical framing, consistent with this Themenfeld, best captures that tension?

A.The gap between public conformity and private individual conscience

B.A straightforward endorsement of the group's values with no inner conflict

C.A purely comic device with no thematic significance

D.An error in characterization that the writer failed to resolve

Explanation: This Themenfeld specifically invites analysis of tension between outward conformity and inward individual identity; a character's private doubt beneath public compliance is a textbook example of that tension rather than a flaw in the writing. Recognizing this gap is central to strong Interpretation or Erorterung responses.

8Which type of source material can the exam's Textaufgabe use for the 'Individual and Society' Themenfeld?

A.Both literary and non-literary (Sachtexte) texts

B.Only poetry

C.Only newspaper editorials

D.Only social media posts

Explanation: For every Themenfeld, including 'The Individual and Society,' both literary texts and Sachtexte (non-literary/factual texts) must be available for candidates to work with, and the Zentralabitur presents two texts to choose between. This dual literary/non-literary scope is a defined feature of the exam design.

9Which of these best represents 'social diversity' as tested under this Themenfeld?

A.Differences in ethnic background, culture, and social class within a society

B.Differences between football clubs in a league table

C.Differences between verb tenses in English

D.Differences in currency values between countries

Explanation: Social diversity in this Themenfeld refers to the range of ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds within a society, which texts explore as both an opportunity and a source of tension. This is explicitly one of the named 'chances and challenges for society.'

10In an exam response discussing gender issues under this Themenfeld, which approach is most likely to score well on content criteria?

A.Analyzing how the text represents gender roles or inequality using specific evidence from the source

B.Giving only a general statement that gender equality is important without reference to the text

C.Describing the grammatical gender of German nouns

D.Listing dictionary definitions of 'gender' without further analysis

Explanation: Content criteria reward specific, text-based analysis: how gender roles, expectations or inequality are represented in the given material, supported with evidence. General assertions or dictionary definitions without engagement with the source text do not meet that analytical standard.

About the Schleswig-Holstein Abitur English Exam

Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur Englisch is the state examination in continued foreign-language English for the Allgemeine Hochschulreife, taken as a written Kernfach or Profil-/weiteres Prüfungsfach under the Landesverordnung über die Gestaltung der Oberstufe und der Abiturprüfung (OAPVO). Since the 2021/22 introduction of the Profiloberstufe, every candidate studies Deutsch, Mathematik and one fortgeführte Fremdsprache as obligatorische Kernfächer; Englisch is one of the language options (with Französisch, Spanisch, Russisch, Dänisch, Latein and Griechisch) that can fill that third Kernfach slot, and the one most commonly chosen since most students begin and continue English longest before the Qualifikationsphase. Kernfach candidates sit three separately weighted components: Schreiben (55%, a 700-1,000-word text response with a choice of task on the final subtask), Sprachmittlung (25%, a compulsory German-to-English mediation task), and Sprechen (20%, a separately scheduled paired or three-way oral exam). Content follows the Fachanforderungen Englisch and the KMK Bildungsstandards für die fortgeführte Fremdsprache (Allgemeine Hochschulreife, 2012), targeting CEFR B2 with select competencies at C1. Schleswig-Holstein sets confirmed Zentralabitur-Themenfelder; for the 2026 Abiturjahrgang these are 'The Individual and Society' (identity, conformity versus individualism, social/ethnic/cultural diversity, gender issues) and 'Global Chances and Challenges' (sustainability, international relations, conflict and cooperation, peacekeeping, migration), illustrated in current teaching materials by texts including George Orwell's 'Animal Farm', William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman', Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road', John Lanchester's 'The Wall' and Omar El-Akkad's 'American War'. This free bank of 100 original multiple-choice questions is an English-language study adaptation designed to build and check factual, literary and grammatical command of that content. It is not a simulation of the official exam, which requires extended English writing, mediation from German, and an interactive oral Sprechprüfung.

Exam sponsor: Ministerium für Allgemeine und Berufliche Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur (MBWFK), Schleswig-Holstein, with the Institut für Qualitätsentwicklung an Schulen Schleswig-Holstein (IQSH). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Official written Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur examination in Englisch, one of the fortgeführte-Fremdsprache options (alongside Französisch, Spanisch, Dänisch, Latein and Griechisch) that can fill the state's third obligatorisches Kernfach slot under the Profiloberstufe introduced in 2021/22, and the option most commonly chosen since English is typically begun earliest and studied longest by German students. Candidates choose two of the three Kernfächer plus their Profil-giving subject as written Abiturprüfungsfächer. Grading weights Schreiben 55%, Sprachmittlung 25% and Sprechen 20% of the subject mark. For the 2026 Abiturjahrgang the confirmed Themenfelder are 'The Individual and Society' (identity, conformity versus individualism, social/ethnic/cultural diversity, gender issues) and 'Global Chances and Challenges' (sustainability, international relations, conflict and cooperation, peacekeeping, migration), illustrated in current teaching materials by George Orwell's 'Animal Farm', William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman', Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road', John Lanchester's 'The Wall' and Omar El-Akkad's 'American War'. This 100-question bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation only - it does not reproduce the Schreiben, Sprachmittlung or Sprechen formats.

Time Limit

285 minutes total for the written components: approximately 210 minutes for Schreiben plus a 15-minute Lese- und Auswahlzeit to choose between the two Themenfeld text options, and 60 minutes for the compulsory Sprachmittlung task (transferring one or two German source texts, up to 650 words combined, into English). Permitted aids for the written parts: a monolingual and a bilingual dictionary. The Sprechprüfung is scheduled separately (about 20 minutes for two candidates or 30 minutes for three, no dictionaries permitted); in the 2026 main session it was held on 18-19 March 2026, with the written Englisch Kernfach exam on Thursday, 30 April 2026.

Passing Score

Subject performance is reported on the 0-15 Punkte scale (Note 1 = 15-13 Punkte, Note 6 = 0 Punkte), combining Schreiben (55%), Sprachmittlung (25%) and Sprechen (20%) into the subject mark. Under the OAPVO, the Gesamtqualifikation requires at least 200 of a possible 600 Punkte in Block I (Qualifikationsphase Halbjahresergebnisse) and at least 100 of a possible 300 Punkte in Block II (the Abiturprüfungen, each weighted four times), subject to further per-subject and per-Aufgabenfeld minimums and no Prüfung scored 0. The 900-point maximum converts to the Abitur-Durchschnittsnote via the nationally shared KMK table; the landesweite Abiturdurchschnittsnote in 2025 was 2.37 at Gymnasien and 2.61 at Gemeinschaftsschulen.

Exam / Certification Fees

No exam fee for regularly enrolled school candidates; the Abitur is a state school examination administered by the MBWFK. Externenprüfungen (Nichtschülerprüfungen) follow separate school-administered arrangements, and no Englisch-specific external fee is published in the sources reviewed.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Study emphasis ~16%

The Individual and Society

Identity (ambitions/obstacles, conformity versus individualism) and societal diversity and gender issues.

Study emphasis ~14%

Global Chances and Challenges

Sustainability (social, environmental, economic) and international relations (conflict, cooperation, peacekeeping, migration).

Study emphasis ~14%

Set Texts: Individual and Society

'Animal Farm', 'Lord of the Flies', 'Death of a Salesman', 'The Road' and 'The Wall', as used in current SH teaching materials.

Study emphasis ~10%

Set Texts: Global Chances and Challenges

'American War' by Omar El-Akkad and the dystopian/climate-fiction tradition it represents.

Study emphasis ~16%

Grammar and Language Awareness

B2/C1 conditionals, passive voice, reported speech, modals, relative clauses, inversion, gerunds/infinitives, cohesion.

Study emphasis ~12%

Text Analysis and Writing Skills

Operatoren, essay structure, stylistic devices, and the Schreiben word-count/task structure.

Study emphasis ~10%

Sprachmittlung and Sprechen

German-to-English mediation strategy and Sprechprüfung monologue/dialogue technique.

Study emphasis ~8%

Exam Format and Strategy

Component weighting, timing, permitted aids and 2026 dates.

Preparing for the Schleswig-Holstein Abitur English Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Subject performance is reported on the 0-15 Punkte scale (Note 1 = 15-13 Punkte, Note 6 = 0 Punkte), combining Schreiben (55%), Sprachmittlung (25%) and Sprechen (20%) into the subject mark. Under the OAPVO, the Gesamtqualifikation requires at least 200 of a possible 600 Punkte in Block I (Qualifikationsphase Halbjahresergebnisse) and at least 100 of a possible 300 Punkte in Block II (the Abiturprüfungen, each weighted four times), subject to further per-subject and per-Aufgabenfeld minimums and no Prüfung scored 0. The 900-point maximum converts to the Abitur-Durchschnittsnote via the nationally shared KMK table; the landesweite Abiturdurchschnittsnote in 2025 was 2.37 at Gymnasien and 2.61 at Gemeinschaftsschulen.
Assessment: Official written Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur examination in Englisch, one of the fortgeführte-Fremdsprache options (alongside Französisch, Spanisch, Dänisch, Latein and Griechisch) that can fill the state's third obligatorisches Kernfach slot under the Profiloberstufe introduced in 2021/22, and the option most commonly chosen since English is typically begun earliest and studied longest by German students. Candidates choose two of the three Kernfächer plus their Profil-giving subject as written Abiturprüfungsfächer. Grading weights Schreiben 55%, Sprachmittlung 25% and Sprechen 20% of the subject mark. For the 2026 Abiturjahrgang the confirmed Themenfelder are 'The Individual and Society' (identity, conformity versus individualism, social/ethnic/cultural diversity, gender issues) and 'Global Chances and Challenges' (sustainability, international relations, conflict and cooperation, peacekeeping, migration), illustrated in current teaching materials by George Orwell's 'Animal Farm', William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman', Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road', John Lanchester's 'The Wall' and Omar El-Akkad's 'American War'. This 100-question bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation only - it does not reproduce the Schreiben, Sprachmittlung or Sprechen formats.
Time limit: 285 minutes total for the written components: approximately 210 minutes for Schreiben plus a 15-minute Lese- und Auswahlzeit to choose between the two Themenfeld text options, and 60 minutes for the compulsory Sprachmittlung task (transferring one or two German source texts, up to 650 words combined, into English). Permitted aids for the written parts: a monolingual and a bilingual dictionary. The Sprechprüfung is scheduled separately (about 20 minutes for two candidates or 30 minutes for three, no dictionaries permitted); in the 2026 main session it was held on 18-19 March 2026, with the written Englisch Kernfach exam on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
Exam / certification fees: No exam fee for regularly enrolled school candidates; the Abitur is a state school examination administered by the MBWFK. Externenprüfungen (Nichtschülerprüfungen) follow separate school-administered arrangements, and no Englisch-specific external fee is published in the sources reviewed. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Schleswig-Holstein Abitur English: Suggested Study Strategy

1Build one revision page per Themenfeld ('The Individual and Society' and 'Global Chances and Challenges') linking each named sub-topic - identity, diversity, gender issues, sustainability, international relations - to at least one set text and one non-fiction angle.

2Read the current set texts illustrating each Themenfeld - 'Animal Farm', 'Lord of the Flies', 'Death of a Salesman', 'The Road' and 'The Wall' for Individual and Society, and 'American War' for Global Chances and Challenges - and connect each one explicitly to its Themenfeld's named sub-points.

3Practise Sprachmittlung regularly: take a short authentic German news item and transfer its content into natural English for an English-speaking audience, since this is a dedicated, separately timed task worth a quarter of the written Bearbeitungszeit and grade.

4Rehearse Sprechprüfung moves with a partner: state a clear position, invite their view, concede a point, offer a counter-argument, and close with a joint or contrasting conclusion, since the oral exam specifically rewards responsive interaction over a memorized monologue.

5Drill B2/C1 grammar in writing contexts - mixed conditionals, modal deduction, inversion, cohesive devices - since Sprache (language accuracy) is assessed alongside content in both Schreiben and Sprachmittlung.

6Use the 15-minute Lese- und Auswahlzeit deliberately in Schreiben: skim both text options, choose the one you can evidence best against the Themenfeld, then plan your three subtasks before writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the official Schleswig-Holstein Englisch Zentralabitur exam multiple-choice?

No. The official exam has three separately weighted components: Schreiben (an extended 700-1,000-word English text response, 55% of the grade), Sprachmittlung (a compulsory German-to-English mediation task, 25%), and Sprechen (a separately scheduled paired or three-way oral Sprechprüfung, 20%). This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation for learning and checking the underlying content, grammar and strategy, not a simulation of the official format or a substitute for writing, mediation or speaking practice.

What are the confirmed Themenfelder for the 2026 Schleswig-Holstein Englisch Abitur?

For the 2026 Abiturjahrgang, the confirmed Themenfelder are 'The Individual and Society' (identity, conformity versus individualism, social/ethnic/cultural diversity, gender issues) and 'Global Chances and Challenges' (sustainability, international relations, conflict and cooperation, peacekeeping, migration). Current teaching materials illustrate these with texts including 'Animal Farm', 'Lord of the Flies', 'Death of a Salesman', 'The Road', 'The Wall' and 'American War'. Themenfelder rotate over multi-year spans, so always check the current Prüfungsregelungen for your own exam year.

Is Englisch a Kernfach in the Schleswig-Holstein Abitur?

It can be. Since the Profiloberstufe reform of 2021/22, every candidate studies Deutsch, Mathematik and one fortgeführte Fremdsprache as obligatorische Kernfächer; Englisch is one of the language options (with Französisch, Spanisch, Russisch, Dänisch, Latein and Griechisch) that can fill that third Kernfach slot, and it is the option most commonly chosen since most students study English longest before the Qualifikationsphase. Candidates can also study Englisch as a Profil- or further Abiturprüfungsfach instead.

How long is the written exam and what parts does it have?

285 minutes total for the written parts, including a 15-minute Lese- und Auswahlzeit, with roughly 210 minutes for Schreiben and 60 minutes for Sprachmittlung. Permitted aids are a monolingual and a bilingual English dictionary. The Sprechprüfung (about 20 minutes for two candidates, 30 for three) is scheduled separately, with no dictionaries permitted.

How is the Kernfach Englisch grade weighted?

Into the subject mark: Schreiben 55%, Sprachmittlung 25%, Sprechen 20%. Schreiben carries the largest share, but Sprachmittlung and Sprechen together still make up 45% of the grade, so all three components need dedicated preparation.

When was the 2026 exam held?

Per za.schleswig-holstein.de's Terminplan, the Sprechprüfungen for Kern- und Profilfach Englisch were held on 18 and 19 March 2026, and the written Englisch Kernfach exam was set for Thursday, 30 April 2026, within the state's Kernfach/Naturwissenschaften written-exam window (which also included Deutsch on 28 April and Französisch on 8 May).

Is there an exam fee?

No. The Abitur is a state school examination in Schleswig-Holstein and regularly enrolled school candidates pay no fee. Externenprüfungen are handled separately by individual schools and carry no published Englisch-specific fee in the sources reviewed.

Free Practice Questions for Schleswig-Holstein Abitur English

Explore More Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur

Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur Biology (Biologie)

Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur Chemistry (Chemie)

Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur Danish (Dänisch)

Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur French (Französisch)

Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur German (Deutsch)

Schleswig-Holstein Zentralabitur Latin (Latein)