A staff member of mine studied for months for her citizenship test, then nearly failed anyway because she treated all 20 questions equally. She didn’t realise five of them work completely differently to the rest, and getting even one of those wrong fails you outright, no matter how well you scored overall.
Quick answer: The Australian citizenship test has 20 multiple-choice questions with a 45-minute time limit. You need at least 15 correct (75%) to pass, but critically, 5 of the questions cover Australian values, and you must answer all 5 of those correctly, regardless of your overall score.
The Rule That Catches People Out
This is the single most important thing to understand before you sit the test: it isn’t purely a 75% cutoff. Five questions specifically test your understanding of Australian values (things like freedom of speech, equality, the rule of law, and mutual respect), and you must get all five correct. Score 19 out of 20 overall but miss one values question, and you fail. This changed the character of the test significantly when it was introduced, shifting focus from pure factual recall to genuine understanding of these principles.
Who Actually Needs to Sit It
Most applicants aged 18 to 59 need to pass the test as part of citizenship by conferral. You’re generally exempt if you’re under 18, 60 or over, or have a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity that affects your ability to understand the application. Exempt applicants can still choose to sit the test voluntarily, but the result won’t affect their application either way.
Eligibility Before You Even Get to the Test
- Permanent resident for at least 1 year at the time of applying
- Lived in Australia for 4 years total, with no more than 12 months absent during that period
- Functional English
- Meet character requirements
What’s Actually Tested
All questions are drawn directly from the official “Our Common Bond” booklet, published by the Department of Home Affairs. Broad topic areas include:
- Australia’s democratic beliefs, rights, and freedoms
- Government and the parliamentary system
- Australian history and national symbols
- The 5 mandatory values questions (freedom, equality, rule of law, respect, democracy)
How to Actually Prepare
- Read “Our Common Bond” at least once, cover to cover, before doing anything else
- Take an official practice test early to find your baseline, don’t study blind
- Focus extra revision time on the values section specifically, since a single mistake there fails you outright
- Keep retaking practice tests until you’re consistently scoring well above 85%, giving yourself a genuine buffer
The Practical Details
- Format: computer-based, multiple choice, conducted entirely in English
- Time limit: 45 minutes for 20 questions
- Cost: the citizenship application fee is $490 AUD for adults (the test itself has no separate fee once you’ve applied)
- Location: sat in person at a Department of Home Affairs office
After You Pass
Passing the test isn’t the finish line, it’s one requirement within your broader citizenship application. Processing timelines vary, but most conferral applications are decided within around 8 months, with total time (including the ceremony invitation afterward) sometimes extending to 14-17 months depending on demand.
Final Thoughts
If you remember one thing from this guide, make it this: don’t treat the values questions as “just five more questions.” They’re the ones with zero margin for error, and they’re exactly where confident, well-prepared applicants still occasionally trip up by rushing. Always confirm current test content and requirements directly through the Department of Home Affairs before your test date, since study materials can go out of date.
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*This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute migration advice. Confirm current citizenship test requirements and eligibility directly with the Department of Home Affairs.*
If citizenship is still a way off, our Australia visa guide and Working Holiday visa (417/462) explainer cover the more immediate steps.
What Happens If You Don’t Pass
Failing the test is more common than most people expect, and it isn’t the disaster it feels like at the time — but the rules around it are stricter than people assume.
If you don’t pass:
- It has no effect on your visa. You keep living in Australia exactly as before.
- Home Affairs books you another appointment at no extra cost — you don’t pay the test fee again.
- You get time before that next appointment to prepare properly.
The part people miss: you get three attempts in total. If you still haven’t passed after your third appointment, Home Affairs “may refuse your application” outright. That’s the official wording, and it means a fourth sitting isn’t guaranteed. If you’ve failed twice, treat the third attempt as the one that decides whether your application survives — not just another practice run.
The Rules You Can Be Disqualified For Breaking
The test itself is multiple choice, but Home Affairs enforces a strict set of conduct rules during the appointment. Breaking any of them can mean your test is thrown out and your application refused, regardless of how many questions you got right:
- No mobile phones or other electronic devices — this includes laptops, cameras, smart watches, and smart glasses
- No talking to anyone except the Test Facilitator during the test
- No books, notes, or other materials
- No copying answers from another person
- You must finish within the allocated time — 45 minutes for the standard test
Leave your phone in a bag, not your pocket, and don’t bring notes “just in case.” Test centres treat this as seriously as the written rule suggests.
The Assisted Test Option
If you need more time, Home Affairs offers an Assisted Test with 90 minutes instead of the standard 45 — double the time, same 20 questions and same 5/5-plus-15/20 pass mark. You need to request this in advance rather than ask for it on the day, so if you think you’ll need extra time, raise it when you’re arranging your appointment, not when you sit down at the terminal.