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Where these numbers come from
Most lists of "hard questions" are guesses. This one is not. In CivicLearn practice data (391 learners, about 700,000 answers, October 2026) we counted, for every practice question, how often learners chose a wrong option. The questions below are the ones with the highest miss rates among questions answered at least 200 times, so that a handful of unlucky answers cannot push a question up the list.
- 391
- learners preparing for Vivre ensemble
- ~700,000
- practice answers
- 15.3%
- average miss rate across all questions
- 200+
- answers per question to be listed
An average miss rate of 15.3% means learners get about 85 of every 100 practice answers right. The 15 questions below are missed roughly two and a half to three and a half times more often than that. They are practice questions written from the official study material, not the exam's questions, but they point clearly at the facts people mix up.
What the list shows at a glance
Three patterns stand out before you look at any single question.
First, almost every hard question is a choice between two real facts, not between a fact and nonsense. The wrong option is usually a correct date, court or treaty that belongs to a different question. Second, the European treaties and the courts dominate: they account for eight of the 15 questions. Third, dates of the rights declarations cause trouble out of all proportion to how simple they look.
The good news is that these traps repeat. Once you know the six families described further down, many of the hardest questions become easy.
The 15 most-missed Vivre ensemble questions
Try each question before you open the answer. The line above each question shows its miss rate in our data and its subtopic.
Are the administrative courts part of the judicial order?
- Yes
- No
- Only for certain disputes
- Only on appeal
Show the answer
Answer: No.
No. The administrative courts form an order of their own: the Administrative Tribunal, then the Administrative Court on appeal. The judicial order is made up of the justices of the peace, the district courts and the Superior Court of Justice. The two orders are independent; neither is above the other.
Which treaty strengthened policies related to free movement and citizens’ rights?
- The Treaty of Maastricht
- The Treaty of Rome
- The Treaty of Lisbon
- The Treaty of Amsterdam
Show the answer
Answer: The Treaty of Amsterdam.
This is the Treaty of Amsterdam again. Three things are attributed to it in this syllabus: strengthening the European Parliament, extending the co-decision procedure, and developing free movement and citizens' rights.
In which year was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed?
- 1789
- 2000
- 1948
- 1951
Show the answer
Answer: 1948.
1948, in Paris, by the United Nations. The other dates belong elsewhere: 1789 is the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and 2000 is the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The early 1950s belong to the Council of Europe's European Convention on Human Rights, a separate text.
Which court ensures consistency of administrative case law at the highest level?
- The Superior Court of Justice
- The Constitutional Court
- The Administrative Court
- The Administrative Tribunal
Show the answer
Answer: The Administrative Court.
The Administrative Court, at the top of the administrative order, ensures the consistency of administrative case law. Its counterpart in the judicial order is the Superior Court of Justice: each order has its own summit.
Which administrative court rules on appeal?
- The Superior Court of Justice
- The Constitutional Court
- The Administrative Court
- The Administrative Tribunal
Show the answer
Answer: The Administrative Court.
On appeal it is the Administrative Court; at first instance, the Administrative Tribunal. The word to hold on to is "Court": in the administrative order the Court hears appeals, the Tribunal hears first instance.
Can an alderman be regarded as a municipal civil servant?
- Yes
- Only for financial matters
- No
- Only in certain municipalities
Show the answer
Answer: No.
No. An alderman is a member of the municipal executive body, a political office — not a post in the municipal administration. He exercises his functions collectively, within the board of mayor and aldermen.
Which 1997 European treaty strengthened the role of the European Parliament?
- The Treaty of Rome
- The Treaty of Lisbon
- The Treaty of Amsterdam
- The Treaty of Maastricht
Show the answer
Answer: The Treaty of Amsterdam.
The Treaty of Amsterdam, in 1997, strengthened the role of the European Parliament. A useful marker: Amsterdam is the 1997 treaty, between Maastricht (1992) and Lisbon (2007).
In which year was the County of Luxembourg elevated to the rank of duchy?
- 963
- 1815
- 1443
- 1354
Show the answer
Answer: 1354.
1354: Emperor Charles IV, grandson of Henry VII and son of John the Blind, raised the County of Luxembourg to the rank of duchy. 963 is Sigefroi's founding act, 1443 the capture of the city by the Burgundians, 1815 the creation of the Grand Duchy.
Which 1957 treaty created the European Economic Community?
- The Treaty of Lisbon
- The Treaty of Rome
- The Treaty of Maastricht
- The Treaty of Amsterdam
Show the answer
Answer: The Treaty of Rome.
The Treaty of Rome, in 1957, created the European Economic Community. Keep the order in mind: ECSC 1951, Rome 1957, Maastricht 1992, Amsterdam 1997, Lisbon 2007.
To which Netherlands did Luxembourg belong in the 18th century before the French Revolution?
- The United Provinces
- The German Confederation
- The Spanish Netherlands
- The Austrian Netherlands
Show the answer
Answer: The Austrian Netherlands.
In the 18th century, before the French Revolution, these were the Austrian Netherlands. The Spanish Netherlands were the earlier period, right after the Burgundians.
Which treaty transformed the EEC into the European Union in 1992?
- The Treaty of Lisbon
- The Treaty of Rome
- The Treaty of Amsterdam
- The Treaty of Maastricht
Show the answer
Answer: The Treaty of Maastricht.
It is the Treaty of Maastricht, in 1992, that turned the European Economic Community into the European Union. Rome, in 1957, had created the EEC; Maastricht gave it today's name.
In which year was the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union proclaimed?
- 1789
- 1948
- 2000
- 1951
Show the answer
Answer: 2000.
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union was proclaimed in 2000. Watch the second date: it has been legally binding only since 2009, when the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force.
In which year was Luxembourg annexed by Revolutionary France?
- 1815
- 1795
- 1839
- 1789
Show the answer
Answer: 1795.
1795: Revolutionary France annexed Luxembourg and made it the Department of Forests. 1789 is the start of the Revolution, 1815 the Congress of Vienna, 1839 the Treaty of London.
How many district courts are there in Luxembourg?
- One
- Four
- Three
- Two
Show the answer
Answer: Two.
Two district courts, in Luxembourg and Diekirch. Do not confuse them with the justices of the peace, of which there are three: Luxembourg, Diekirch and Esch-sur-Alzette.
Which member of the House of Luxembourg, father of John the Blind, was elected Holy Roman Emperor in the early 14th century?
- William I
- Sigefroi
- Henry VII
- Charles IV
Show the answer
Answer: Henry VII.
Henry VII, father of John the Blind, was elected Holy Roman Emperor in the early 14th century. Three generations of the House of Luxembourg not to be mixed up: Henry VII, then his son John the Blind, then John's son, Emperor Charles IV.
Miss rate by subtopic
Single questions tell you about single facts. The subtopic view tells you where to spend your study time. The table ranks all 21 subtopics of the syllabus by the share of practice answers that were wrong.
| # | Subtopic | Exam area | Practice answers | Miss rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concept and Sources | Rights | 29,201 | 28.0% |
| 2 | European Integration | History | 37,352 | 28.0% |
| 3 | From County to Duchy | History | 13,857 | 20.2% |
| 4 | From Duchy to Grand Duchy | History | 29,207 | 19.2% |
| 5 | From Independence to Neutrality | History | 22,060 | 19.1% |
| 6 | Political parties | Institutions | 3,799 | 18.9% |
| 7 | Council of State | Institutions | 19,985 | 17.0% |
| 8 | Government | Institutions | 22,375 | 16.7% |
| 9 | Municipalities | Institutions | 26,446 | 16.5% |
| 10 | Chamber of Deputies | Institutions | 36,964 | 16.1% |
| 11 | Elections | Institutions | 22,233 | 16.0% |
| 12 | Judiciary | Institutions | 79,197 | 15.9% |
| 13 | Protection of rights | Rights | 16,921 | 15.6% |
| 14 | From 1945 to the Present | History | 19,023 | 14.2% |
| 15 | From Industrialization to 1945 | History | 66,238 | 13.3% |
| 16 | The Grand Duke | Institutions | 36,419 | 11.5% |
| 17 | Consultative bodies | Institutions | 31,590 | 11.1% |
| 18 | Origins | History | 16,149 | 11.1% |
| 19 | Constitution of Luxembourg | Rights | 68,697 | 10.9% |
| 20 | Limits of rights | Rights | 20,765 | 10.1% |
| 21 | The State | Institutions | 81,922 | 9.9% |
Two subtopics stand well above the rest at 28.0%: the concept and sources of fundamental rights, and European integration. Both are small chapters packed with similar dates and names. The history of the County and the Duchy follows at 20.2%.
The bottom of the table is just as useful. The State, the Constitution and the limits of rights are missed about one time in ten. They are large subtopics with many questions, so you cannot skip them, but you need less time on them than on the treaties.
The judiciary sits in the middle at 15.9%, yet it has the most-missed single question on this page. That is typical: most court questions are easy, and a few confusable ones (the two court orders, Tribunal versus Court) catch almost half of learners.
The six trap families and how to beat them
Nearly every hard question on this page belongs to one of six families. Each has a simple fix.
1. The European treaties
Rome, Maastricht, Amsterdam and Lisbon all appear as options in each other's questions. Learners remember the names but not which treaty did what.
How to beat it: learn them as a numbered list, each with one date and one keyword. ECSC 1951: coal and steel, six founders including Luxembourg. Rome 1957: creates the EEC. Maastricht 1992: the EEC becomes the European Union. Amsterdam 1997: more power for the European Parliament, free movement and citizens' rights. Lisbon 2007, in force 2009: institutional reform, the permanent President of the European Council, a binding Charter of Fundamental Rights. If a question mentions 1997, the answer is Amsterdam.
2. The dates of the rights texts
Four texts, four dates, all offered as options in every question about any of them: the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the European Convention on Human Rights (early 1950s) and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (proclaimed 2000, binding since 2009).
How to beat it: attach each date to its author, not just to its name. 1789 is France. 1948 is the United Nations, in Paris. The Convention is the Council of Europe. 2000 is the European Union. When you see "Universal", think United Nations, 1948.
3. Council of Europe versus European Union
The two are separate organisations, but both are "European" and both deal with rights. The European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg belong to the Council of Europe. The Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Court of Justice of the EU in Luxembourg belong to the European Union.
How to beat it: Strasbourg and "Human Rights" go together: Council of Europe. "Charter", "Union" and "Court of Justice": European Union. Our European Union chapter sets them side by side.
4. Judicial order versus administrative order
This family produced the most-missed question in the whole data set. Luxembourg has two separate court orders. The judicial order (justices of the peace, district courts, Superior Court of Justice) handles disputes between private parties and criminal cases. The administrative order handles disputes with the administration. The Constitutional Court belongs to neither.
How to beat it: in the administrative order, remember "Tribunal first, Court second": the Administrative Tribunal rules at first instance and the Administrative Court on appeal. And remember the numbers: three justices of the peace, two district courts. The courts and justice chapter walks through both orders.
5. The municipal bodies
A municipality has two bodies, and questions swap them. The municipal council, elected for six years, is the deliberative assembly: it votes the budget and the municipal regulations. The board of mayor and aldermen is the executive. Aldermen hold a political office; they are not municipal civil servants.
How to beat it: "council decides, board executes". If the question is about voting, deciding or the budget, the answer is the council. See communes and elections.
6. Spanish versus Austrian Netherlands
After the Burgundian period, Luxembourg was ruled as part of the Habsburg Netherlands, first Spanish, then Austrian. Questions ask about one period and offer the other as a wrong option.
How to beat it: use the century. The 18th century, right up to the French Revolution, is Austrian. The earlier period, right after the Burgundians, is Spanish. Then 1795: annexation by Revolutionary France as the Department of Forests. The history chapter has the full timeline.
- 1443 Burgundians take the city of Luxembourg
- 16th–17th c. Spanish Netherlands
- 18th c. Austrian Netherlands
- 1795 Annexed by France: Department of Forests
- 1815 Congress of Vienna: Grand Duchy
How to use this list in your revision
Do not try to memorise these 15 questions. The exam will not ask them word for word. Use them to find which of the six families you fall into, then revise the whole family.
A good routine is to answer the 15 questions now, note which families caught you, revise those chapters, and try again a week later. If you are still missing the treaties or the courts, write them out from memory on one page until you can do it without errors. For a broader check across all three areas, use the 20 practice questions, which follow the exam's split.
The CivicLearn course has a "common traps" mode built from exactly this kind of data, so the questions you see there are weighted towards the ones learners miss most.
Using this data
Journalists, bloggers and teachers are welcome to quote the figures on this page. Please cite them as "CivicLearn practice data, October 2026 (391 learners, about 700,000 answers)" and link to this page. The figures describe learners practising with CivicLearn, not all Vivre ensemble candidates, and they measure practice answers, not exam results.
Official sources
- guichet.lu – Luxembourg nationality and the Vivre ensemble requirement
- lifelong-learning.lu – adult education and Vivre ensemble sessions
- legilux.public.lu – the law of 8 March 2017 and the Constitution
Questions people ask
What is the hardest part of the Vivre ensemble exam?
In CivicLearn practice data, the subtopics with the highest miss rates are the sources of fundamental rights and European integration, both at 28.0%. Both are full of similar dates and names that are easy to swap.
Why do people confuse the administrative courts with the judicial courts?
Because Luxembourg has two separate court orders with similar names. The judicial order handles private and criminal cases; the administrative order (Administrative Tribunal, then Administrative Court) handles disputes with the administration. Neither is above the other.
Which European treaties do I need to know for the Vivre ensemble exam?
Five, in order: the ECSC treaty of 1951, the Treaty of Rome of 1957, Maastricht in 1992, Amsterdam in 1997 and Lisbon, signed in 2007 and in force from 2009. Learn one key change for each.
Are these questions from the real exam?
No. They are practice questions written from the official study material. The miss rates show where learners struggle in practice, which is a good guide to what to revise.
Can I quote these statistics in an article?
Yes. Please cite "CivicLearn practice data, October 2026" and link to this page. The figures describe CivicLearn learners, not all exam candidates.