The test
Citizenship test day: the appointment, step by step
Check you are ready with the short list above, then read what happens from the moment you arrive.
Independent, non-government site: tests, applications and appointments are handled only on the Home Affairs website.
Test day checklist
Ready?
Yes
| Originals with a photo | packed |
| Children in the test room | none |
| Time in the test | 45 minutes for 20 questions |
On the day of your citizenship test appointment you bring an original photo identity document, such as a passport, an Australian driver licence or an Australian proof of age card, plus any other document Home Affairs asked for in its letter. Certified copies and photos of an ID on a phone are not accepted, and without photo ID the appointment is moved to a later date. Children are not allowed in the test centre and there is no childcare, so arrange it beforehand. At the centre, staff discuss your application, confirm your identity and your eligibility to sit the test, and take your photo. Only then do you sit the test alone, on a computer or tablet, with your phone off and put away and no books or notes. The test has 20 questions and lasts 45 minutes, or 90 for an Assisted Test, and your result is displayed when you finish. Appointments take place at departmental offices in most capital cities and some Services Australia offices.
Which version of the test applies to me?
Likely format
Standard test
| Time allowed | 45 minutes |
| Language | English only, with a listen option |
| Assisted test offered with | a request for help, plus 400 AMEP hours or an impairment |
Questions, dates and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How questions and dates are built
Before the day
The appointment letter is the starting point: it gives the date, time and place and lists any documents to bring. Before you go, make sure every document is attached to your application in ImmiAccount, and attach new ones if something has changed since you applied, such as your address or your name. A change that the department learns about at the desk can slow things down.
| Bring | Do not rely on |
|---|---|
| Original passport, Australian driver licence or Australian proof of age card | certified copies of your ID |
| Any other document named in the letter | a photo or scan of your ID on a phone |
| Glasses if you read with them | notes, books or the booklet in the test room |
| A plan for childcare | bringing children: they are not allowed in the centre |
On arrival
Arrive on time. The appointment opens with the part people forget to prepare for: a conversation about your application. Staff confirm your identity against your documents and check that you are eligible to sit the test, then take a photo of you. The interview page covers the kind of questions asked. Only once this is done do you move to the test itself.
In the test room
You will be told where to leave your belongings. The rules are simple: phone off and put away, no talking to other people, no books, paper or other material. The test runs on a computer or a tablet with a headset; if you cannot read English well, you can choose to listen to each question. You cannot bring anyone to help, but you can ask staff for help to read the screen or use the equipment, which is why it is worth mentioning any difficulty when you apply.
The test has 20 multiple choice questions and lasts 45 minutes. An Assisted Test, with 90 minutes, may be offered if you asked for help in your application and completed at least 400 hours of English tuition under the Adult Migrant English Program, or if an impairment means you need more time. The calculator under the summary shows which version is likely to apply.
The result
The result is displayed when you finish. A pass means the department continues with your application; the page on what comes after the test explains the decision, the ceremony invitation and the typical waits. A fail means another appointment, at no extra cost. Your permanent visa is not affected either way.
The week before
Do two or three timed mock tests in quiet conditions, read the values part of the booklet once more and check the route to the centre. The night before, put your ID and the letter together. If you are anxious about English, try the practice tests reading each question aloud: it is close to the experience of listening through the headset.