Key facts
- The test has 20 multiple-choice questions and you have 45 minutes.
- You pass with at least 75% (15 out of 20) and all 5 Australian values questions correct.
- Questions come from the four testable parts of the official booklet, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond.
- The test is in English.
The Australian citizenship test is a 20-question multiple-choice test that you have 45 minutes to complete. To pass, you need at least 75% (15 out of 20) and you must answer all 5 Australian values questions correctly. Everything on the test comes from the testable parts of the official booklet, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond.
What is the format of the citizenship test?
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 20 multiple-choice questions |
| Time allowed | 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 75% (15 out of 20) |
| Values questions | 5, and all 5 must be correct |
| Language | English |
| Study resource | Our Common Bond (testable parts 1–4) |
The practice questions printed in the booklet each have three answer options. Home Affairs also has an official practice test on its website that is designed to look and feel like the real one, but the questions on the day will be different.
What score do you need to pass?
There are two rules and you must meet both:
- At least 75% overall. That is 15 or more correct answers out of 20.
- All 5 values questions correct. One wrong values answer is a fail, even if you score 19 out of 20.
The second rule is the one that catches people out. Our free mock test marks you exactly this way, so you can see whether you would have passed.
What topics are on the test?
The test covers the four testable parts of Our Common Bond:
- Part 1 (Australia and its people): Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, early European settlement, states and territories, important days, flags and national symbols. Practise this topic.
- Part 2 (Australia’s democratic beliefs, rights and liberties): parliamentary democracy, the Rule of Law, freedoms, equality, and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. Practise this topic.
- Part 3 (Government and the law in Australia): voting, the Constitution, the separation of powers, the three levels of government, how laws are made and enforced. Practise this topic.
- Part 4 (Australian values): the Rule of Law, freedom of speech, association and religion, equality, a fair go, mutual respect, mateship and English as the national language. Practise this topic.
The booklet also has parts that are not tested. You can read them, but spend your study time on parts 1 to 4.
How should you prepare?
- Read the testable parts of Our Common Bond once, slowly. Don’t try to memorise it on the first read.
- Take a full mock test to find your starting point.
- Drill your weakest topic with topic practice.
- Give values questions extra time. Our Australian values guide explains each value with examples.
- Review every mistake. Wrong answers are saved in Review mistakes.
- Aim to pass three mock tests in a row with all values questions right before your appointment.
For a day-by-day plan, see the study guide.
What happens on the day?
Your appointment letter from Home Affairs tells you where to go and when. Home Affairs asks you to bring an original photo ID (for example a passport or an Australian driver licence). Certified copies and electronic images are not accepted. There is no extra cost to sit the test, because it is included in your citizenship application fee. More detail: what to bring and test day.
Is the citizenship test hard?
Every question is based on the booklet, so there are no surprises in the content. Common ways to lose marks are rushing, misreading a word like “not”, or getting one values question wrong. Forty-five minutes for 20 questions is more than two minutes per question, so slow down.
Always check the latest official information on the Home Affairs citizenship test page.