Abstract: A method for determining the ignition angle for an internal combustion engine with adaptive knocking control, in which the occurrence of knocking is reduced by a controlled adjustment of the ignition angle in the retarded direction. The current values for the adjustment in the retarded direction are stored in a characteristic diagram in an operating parameter-dependent fashion. An average adjustment in the retarded direction is determined from these characteristic diagram values, and both a correction ignition angle and a control range limitation for the knocking control are determined therefrom. The fuel quality and ambient influences are automatically sensed with reference to a learned RON level and are also used to reduce the amount of energy expended to control engine knocking.