What is happening, or what condition is it in?
A process description focuses on an action. A state description focuses on the resulting condition. It need not identify who caused that state or exactly when. Some participles also act like adjectives, so avoid treating every combination with sein as proof of one universal analysis.
Das Tor wird geschlossen. Das Tor ist geschlossen.
The gate is being closed. The gate is closed.
Keep both parts after a modal
In a passive requirement, the participle names the action and the infinitive werden supplies passive meaning. The modal is the conjugated verb and agrees with the subject. Leaving out the infinitive produces an incomplete construction.
Die Tore müssen geschlossen werden.
The gates must be closed.
Separate instructions from results
A requirement can still be unfulfilled. A state report describes what holds now. Reading that difference matters in ordinary instructions: do not mistake something that needs checking for something already checked.
Der Eingang muss geprüft werden. Der andere Eingang ist geprüft.
The entrance must be checked. The other entrance has been checked.
Practise this pattern
The matching block includes guided questions, a separate mastery check and spaced review. The first 10 blocks and two samples at each higher level are free; other blocks require course access or an eligible seven-day trial. These tasks practise specific grammar patterns and do not certify a complete language level.
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References
Original explanations and examples informed by grammar references. Level placement is an editorial teaching choice.