Kenntnisprüfung: the most frequently reported exam topics

By Dr. Pascal Bafteh, board-certified dermatologist and internist · Updated 10/2026

Which topics come up again and again in the Kenntnisprüfung, the knowledge test in Germany for doctors with a degree from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland? We counted 1,575 exam reports – written down from memory by candidates, collection as of 2021 – and sorted them by subject. Many topics link to a free study page (some in German only). From 1 November 2026, the Kenntnisprüfung becomes the standard route to the German medical licence for doctors with a degree from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland – see Recognition reform 2026.

The most frequent topics (rank 1–30)

number = exam reports mentioning the topic

  1. 1X-ray interpretation82
  2. 2Cholecystitis and cholelithiasis59
  3. 3ECG interpretation51
  4. 3Pyelonephritis and urinary tract infection51
  5. 5Atrial fibrillation47
  6. 6Anaemia (iron deficiency, vitamin B12)41
  7. 7Acute coronary syndrome39
  8. 7Pneumonia39
  9. 9Antibiotics37
  10. 9Pneumothorax37
  11. 9Radiation protection37
  12. 12Hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease36
  13. 13Hernias (inguinal and femoral)34
  14. 14Diabetes mellitus33
  15. 15Diverticulitis32
  16. 15Clinical images (spot diagnoses)32
  17. 17Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs31
  18. 18Pain management (WHO analgesic ladder, analgesics)30
  19. 19Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)29
  20. 20Laboratory values (blood count, inflammatory markers)28
  21. 21Pulmonary embolism27
  22. 22Physical examination25
  23. 22Polytrauma and trauma bay25
  24. 24Compartment syndrome23
  25. 25Blood transfusion22
  26. 25CT and MRI interpretation22
  27. 25Jaundice22
  28. 28Heart failure21
  29. 28Vaccinations21
  30. 28Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)21
  31. 28Proximal femoral fracture FSP case21

All topics by subject

Interpretation & examination

10 topics · 288 mentions

  1. 1X-ray interpretation82
  2. 2ECG interpretation51
  3. 3Clinical images (spot diagnoses)32
  4. 4Laboratory values (blood count, inflammatory markers)28
  5. 5Physical examination25
  6. 6CT and MRI interpretation22
  7. 7Blood gas analysis and acid–base balance19
  8. 8Anatomy (drawing on the board)14
  9. 9Pacemaker ECG9
  10. 10Imaging techniques (how they work)6

Internal medicine

73 topics · 838 mentions

  1. 1Pyelonephritis and urinary tract infection51
  2. 2Atrial fibrillation47
  3. 3Anaemia (iron deficiency, vitamin B12)41
  4. 4Acute coronary syndrome39
  5. 4Pneumonia39
  6. 6Hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease36
  7. 7Diabetes mellitus33
  8. 8Pulmonary embolism27
  9. 9Blood transfusion22
  10. 9Jaundice22
  11. 11Heart failure21
  12. 11Vaccinations21
Show all 73 topics
  1. 11Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)21
  2. 14Acute diarrhoea and gastroenteritis19
  3. 14Gastrointestinal bleeding19
  4. 16Arterial hypertension and hypertensive crisis18
  5. 16Sepsis18
  6. 18Hospital-acquired infections and multidrug-resistant organisms17
  7. 19Aortic dissection15
  8. 19Gastritis and Helicobacter pylori15
  9. 21AV block13
  10. 21Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation13
  11. 23COPD12
  12. 23Deep vein thrombosis12
  13. 23Peptic ulcer disease12
  14. 26Electrolyte disorders (potassium, sodium)11
  15. 26Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease11
  16. 28Valvular heart disease (aortic stenosis)9
  17. 28Liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension9
  18. 28Pancreatitis9
  19. 28Supraventricular tachycardia and WPW syndrome9
  20. 32Fever (pathophysiology, differential diagnosis)8
  21. 32Zoonoses8
  22. 34Hepatitis7
  23. 34Meningitis7
  24. 34Tetanus7
  25. 37COVID-196
  26. 37Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis6
  27. 37Lyme borreliosis6
  28. 37Pleural effusion6
  29. 37Thyroid cancer6
  30. 42Alcohol use disorder and its complications5
  31. 42Inflammatory bowel disease5
  32. 42Conn's syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism)5
  33. 42Coagulation (cascade, factor V Leiden)5
  34. 42Gout5
  35. 42Leukaemias and lymphomas5
  36. 42Osteoporosis5
  37. 42Phaeochromocytoma5
  38. 42Bundle branch block5
  39. 42Syncope5
  40. 52Malaria4
  41. 52Metabolic syndrome and obesity4
  42. 52Thrombocytopenia (ITP, HIT)4
  43. 55Clostridioides difficile infection3
  44. 55Erysipelas3
  45. 55Dehydration3
  46. 55Lipid disorders3
  47. 55Herpes zoster3
  48. 55Infective endocarditis3
  49. 55Coronary artery disease3
  50. 55Adrenal insufficiency3
  51. 55Renal artery stenosis3
  52. 55Goitre and thyroid nodules3
  53. 65Coarctation of the aorta2
  54. 65Asthma2
  55. 65Diabetic foot syndrome2
  56. 65Haemochromatosis and Wilson's disease2
  57. 65Hospital hygiene and hand disinfection2
  58. 65Lung cancer2
  59. 65Mallory–Weiss and Boerhaave syndrome2
  60. 65Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade2
  61. 65Tuberculosis2

Surgery

42 topics · 420 mentions

  1. 1Cholecystitis and cholelithiasis59
  2. 2Hernias (inguinal and femoral)34
  3. 3Diverticulitis32
  4. 4Compartment syndrome23
  5. 5Proximal femoral fracture FSP case21
  6. 6Gastric cancer17
  7. 7Fracture basics (signs, management)15
  8. 7Bowel obstruction (ileus)15
  9. 9Colorectal cancer12
  10. 9Laparoscopy12
  11. 9Lower leg fracture (tibia/fibula)12
  12. 12Perforated viscus (free air)11
Show all 42 topics
  1. 12Wound healing and wound care11
  2. 14Distal radius fracture FSP case10
  3. 14Mesenteric ischaemia10
  4. 14Shoulder dislocation10
  5. 17Acute appendicitis FSP case8
  6. 18Abscess and whitlow (paronychia, felon)7
  7. 18Acute arterial occlusion7
  8. 18Osteoarthritis and joint replacement7
  9. 18Liver tumours7
  10. 18Prostatic hyperplasia and urinary retention7
  11. 23Chronic venous insufficiency and leg ulcer6
  12. 23Ankle fracture6
  13. 25Anal cancer5
  14. 25Abdominal aortic aneurysm5
  15. 25Hiatus hernia5
  16. 25Local and regional anaesthesia5
  17. 25Rib fracture5
  18. 30Anal fistula and anal abscess4
  19. 30Fractures in children4
  20. 32Pelvic fracture3
  21. 32Haemorrhoids3
  22. 32Carotid stenosis3
  23. 32Splenic rupture3
  24. 32Urolithiasis3
  25. 32Vertebral fracture3
  26. 38Acute abdomen2
  27. 38Testicular torsion2
  28. 38Pancreatic cancer2
  29. 38Preoperative risk assessment (ASA)2
  30. 38Oesophageal cancer2

Emergency medicine

13 topics · 195 mentions

  1. 1Pneumothorax37
  2. 2Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)29
  3. 3Polytrauma and trauma bay25
  4. 4Intracranial haemorrhage18
  5. 5Chest pain (presenting symptom) FSP case16
  6. 6Stroke FSP case15
  7. 7Poisoning and antidotes14
  8. 8Shock10
  9. 9Burns9
  10. 10Epilepsy and seizures FSP case8
  11. 10Traumatic brain injury8
  12. 12Airway management and intubation4
Show all 13 topics
  1. 13Anaphylaxis2

Pharmacology

9 topics · 131 mentions

  1. 1Antibiotics37
  2. 2Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs31
  3. 3Pain management (WHO analgesic ladder, analgesics)30
  4. 4Antihypertensives and diuretics10
  5. 5Glucocorticoids6
  6. 6Antiarrhythmic drugs5
  7. 6Oral antidiabetic drugs5
  8. 8Drug safety (Dear Doctor letters, interactions)4
  9. 9Proton pump inhibitors and antihistamines3

Radiology & radiation protection

2 topics · 40 mentions

  1. 1Radiation protection37
  2. 2Contrast media (allergy, thyroid, kidney)3

Law & professional practice

14 topics · 78 mentions

  1. 1Statutory accident insurance (Berufsgenossenschaft, D-Arzt procedure)16
  2. 2Confirmation of death and external examination of the body (Leichenschau)10
  3. 3Advance directive, lasting power of attorney and guardianship8
  4. 4Health insurance (statutory/private)7
  5. 4Guidelines and directives7
  6. 4Informed consent7
  7. 7Professional law (licence, medical chamber, specialty training)6
  8. 8Medical confidentiality4
  9. 9Treating minors (capacity to consent)3
  10. 10Sick leave certification2
  11. 10Controlled drug prescription (BtM)2
  12. 10Notifiable diseases (Protection Against Infection Act)2
Show all 14 topics
  1. 10Organ donation2
  2. 10Mental health law and involuntary admission2

Neurology, psychiatry & other

10 topics · 68 mentions

  1. 1Headache and migraine FSP case20
  2. 2TNM classification and tumour staging8
  3. 2Central venous catheter (CVC)8
  4. 4Disc herniation and back pain FSP case6
  5. 5Delirium and dementia5
  6. 5Depression5
  7. 5Parkinson's disease5
  8. 5Polyneuropathy5
  9. 9Palliative care4
  10. 10Scabies2
How the ranking works
The basis is a topic-sorted collection of exam reports from recollections of the Kenntnisprüfung (collection as of 2021). Each numbered entry – a question or a case report – counts as one report; each topic counts at most once per report, and near-identical entries only once. Individual exam days cannot be separated in the collection, so the numbers show how often a topic was mentioned, not in what percentage of exams it appeared. The ranking contains aggregated counts only – no text from the recollections, no names. The subjects and topics of your exam are set by the competent authority or medical chamber. Analysis as of: 22 October 2026.
How to prepare
The KLINIKFUCHS app has flashcards and exam questions on frequent Kenntnisprüfung topics (in German) – free in your browser. Start in browser