The test
Australian citizenship test: format, pass rules and a marked practice test
Sit a full practice test below, then read how the real one works, from the appointment letter to the result on screen.
Independent, non-government site: tests, applications and appointments are handled only on the Home Affairs website.
Your score
0 / 20
0 / 20 answered
Pick an answer to start
| Pass mark: 15 of 20 (75%) |
Practice questions adapted by Radif Partners from Our Common Bond. Not the official test questions.
Questions adapted from Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0, by Radif Partners.
The Australian citizenship test is a computer-based test of 20 multiple choice questions that most applicants for citizenship by conferral sit at a Home Affairs appointment. It lasts 45 minutes and has two pass conditions that apply together: at least 75% overall, which on 20 questions means 15 correct answers, and every one of the 5 questions on Australian values answered correctly. A score of 19 with one values question wrong is a fail. The test is in English, with headsets so questions can be heard, and it checks basic English, knowledge of Australia and of the privileges and duties of citizenship, and commitment to Australian values. Applicants aged 18 to 59 on the day Home Affairs receives their application generally sit it. The application fee already pays for it, resits cost nothing, and failing has no effect on a permanent visa. Every question is drawn from the testable section of Our Common Bond.
Did I pass the Australian citizenship test?
Result
Pass
| Overall | 16 of 20 (80%), 15 needed |
| Values questions | 5 of 5, all 5 needed |
| Why | Both rules met |
Questions, dates and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How questions and dates are built
The test in one table
| Point | What Home Affairs says |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20, multiple choice |
| Values questions | 5, all must be right |
| Overall mark | at least 75%, so 15 of 20 |
| Time | 45 minutes; 90 for an Assisted Test |
| Language | English, questions can be heard through a headset |
| Who sits it | most applicants aged 18 to 59 |
| Cost | included in the application fee; resits free |
| Attempts | refusal possible after 3 appointments without a pass |
What the test is for
Home Affairs gives the test four aims. Passing it shows a basic knowledge of English, an understanding of what becoming a citizen means, adequate knowledge of Australia and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, and an understanding of and commitment to Australian values based on freedom, respect and equality. That is why there is no separate language exam for citizenship: the test is the language check, and a candidate who can read the practice questions above comfortably is at the right level.
Where the questions come from
Everything you need is in the testable section of Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, a booklet of about fifty pages in four parts: Australia and its people; democratic beliefs, rights and liberties; government and the law; and Australian values. The 5 values questions come from the fourth part. The department advises using only its own resources, and says it does not endorse outside courses or paid apps. Our questions are adapted from that booklet under its CC BY 4.0 licence; they train on the same facts but are not the official questions, which are never published.
Reading your practice result
The panel next to the test keeps the two rules apart, because they fail people in different ways. The overall mark allows 5 mistakes. The values rule allows none, and it is checked first. A run with 19 correct answers and one values mistake shows as a fail on values, which mirrors the real marking. When you finish, the result by part tells you which part of the booklet cost you points. Switch the marking to "At the end" to see nothing until you are done, as in the test room.
How many questions can I get wrong?
Still a pass?
Yes, 2 more mistakes allowed
| Mistakes allowed in total | 5, none on values |
| Your score | 17 of 20 |
| Rule broken | none |
From letter to result
After you apply, Home Affairs checks your identity and eligibility, then writes with the date, time and place of your appointment. Appointments are held at departmental offices in most capital cities and at some Services Australia offices; people who apply from overseas sit the test after returning, save in exceptional cases. On the day you show an original photo identity document, staff discuss your application, confirm who you are and take your photo, and then you sit the test alone. The test day page lists what to bring and the rules in the room, and the interview page explains the conversation that comes first.
If you fail
A fail is not the end of the application. The department books another appointment, there is nothing more to pay, and your permanent visa is not affected. The limit is practical: after 3 appointments without a pass, Home Affairs may refuse the application. The page on failing the test explains how to use the time between attempts, and the timed mock test reproduces the 45-minute limit.
Who skips the test
Applicants aged 17 or under, or 60 or over, when they apply do not sit it, nor do people with an incapacity that prevents them, and a few groups set by the law, such as some children of former citizens. They may still have an interview to confirm identity. Details and evidence are on the exemptions page.