New Australian Citizenship Test – A complete guide to what to expect at the test

The Australian citizenship test is one of the requirements for becoming an Australian citizen.

The test will assess your knowledge of Australia (its people, traditions, geography, symbols, beliefs and values, government and laws), as well as the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.

The citizenship test is in English and is computer-based. You will have to answer 20 questions within 45 minutes.

It is a multiple-choice test, which means each question will have 3 possible answers (unless it is a True/False questions with only two possible answers). The passing mark is 75% You will have to answer at least 15 questions correctly, so you are allowed up to 5 incorrect questions.

The test is based on the resource book Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond.

UPDATE: The Australian government wants to implementing a new citizenship test. Subject to the passage of legislation, this new citizenship test will still have questions from the study guide, “Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond”, but will also include new questions about the applicant’s understanding of and commitment to Australian values.

The new potential questions will test migrants for example on their views about gender equality and religious freedom. The new questions will include issues such as violence against women and children, female genital mutilation and forced marriage.

In order to take the test, you must:

● have applied for Australian citizenship

● be a permanent resident of Australia

● show proof of your identity during the test registration

● provide a photograph of yourself or allow the government to take one

Not everybody has to take this test. The exceptions are:

● if you are under 18 or over 60

● if you have a substantial cognitive or physical disability that prevents you from being able to take the test

● if one of your parents is a former Australian citizen

● if you were born in Papua before 16 September 1975 and one of your parents is an Australian citizen who was born in Australia

● if you are a stateless person but you were born in Australia

The test fee is part of your citizenship application so there are no additional fees for this test.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will send you a letter or an email, depending on the method of communication you chose, with the date, time and location of your citizenship test. Once you applied for citizenship, the waiting time to get this letter will vary depending on your local test centre.

Australian citizenship test – what to bring to the test

you will have to bring all the original documents that you have provided with your citizenship application. As well, you will need to supply your completed identity declaration and photograph.

Australian citizenship test – arrive on time at the test centre

You will need to arrive on time for your citizenship test, otherwise you won’t be able to take your test that day. It is best if you know how to get to the test location and how much time it will take to do so before your test day.

Australian citizenship test – Children

There is no childcare at the test centres, so please don’t bring children.

Australian citizenship test – what happens when you arrive at the test centre

Upon arriving at the test centre, you will be called to a counter where a citizenship officer will go over your documentation to verify your identity and the information you provided on your citizenship application form. This registration procedure will verify that you are eligible to take the citizenship test that day. If you haven’t brought an endorsed picture of you, the officer will take a picture of you.

The officer will then give you a password so that you can login into of the computers placed on the other side of the room.

Australian citizenship test – rules in the test room

● a maximum of 45 minutes will be allowed for you to take your Australian citizenship test

● you cannot bring any resource material (notes, resource book, etc.)

● all your personal belongings will have to be placed underneath your desk while you take your test

● all electronic devices will have to be turned off

● you can talk to a test administrator but you cannot talk to anybody else

If you don’t follow these rules, you could be asked to leave the test centre and take another test at a later date

Australian citizenship test – what happens during the test

If you don’t know how to use a computer, a test officer can show you how to use it.

One of the staff can assist you in taking your test if you have a cognitive or physical disability that restricts you from being able to take your test independently. (for example- if you cannot read the computer screen or if you cannot use the computer mouse)

If you have poor English literacy skills, one of the staff can read the questions and answers for you (but they won’t answer the question for you).

For more information on assistance at the test (also called Assisted Test), please contact the department (Telephone: 131 880).

All other applicants will take the Standard Test (the same test but without assistance).

If you cannot take the Standard or Assisted Test, you can take the test in the form of a course. It is called the Course-Based Test. This course-based test can be taken only after you fail the Standard or Assisted Test 3 times or more. For more information on the course-based test, click here, or contact the department (Telephone: 131 880).

Australian citizenship test – tips for passing the test

● read the resource book many times before your test day. Know your material.

● take a lot of practice tests before your test day.

● eat before the test so you are not hungry or distracted while you take it.

● sleep well the night before the test

● arrive on time at the test centre

● you can answer 5 questions incorrectly, but you should really answer ALL the questions. If you don’t know the answer for a question, just pick any answer that sounds like it might be right. You have a 33% chance of choosing the right answer (or 50% chance for the True/False question). You are not penalized for incorrect answers.

● take your time during the test. Relax and read the questions carefully. Forty-five minutes should be plenty of time.

Australian citizenship test – after the test

At the end of our Australian citizenship test, your test result will show on your computer screen. Your test result will be automatically recorded on your citizenship application.
The citizenship officer will return all your documents to you.

You will then have to wait for the outcome of your citizenship application. If you meet all the citizenship requirements, you will get an Approval Letter saying that your application has been approved. You will have to wait to receive another letter with the date, time and location for your citizenship ceremony (usually within 6 months of your citizenship application approval).

You must attend your citizenship ceremony. You will not become an Australian citizenship until you have taken the Australian Citizenship Pledge. Click here to learn more about the pledge.

You must attend the citizenship ceremony within 12 months of the approval of your citizenship application. If you do have a valid reason for not doing so, exceptions can be made. Please contact the department if you cannot attend your ceremony.

You don’t have to attend a citizenship ceremony and make the Pledge if:

● you have a permanent cognitive or physical impairment

● one of your parents was a former Australian citizen

● you were born in Papua

● you were stateless when born in Australia

● you are 15 or under

● you acquire your citizenship by descent or adoption

● you are re-instituting your Australian citizenship

Australian citizenship test – if you fail the test

If you fail your test, you can take another one, possibly on the same day; or you can book another test date if you need some time to study.

UPDATE: the new rule (subject to the passage of legislation, this new rule will come into effect on 1 July 2018) stipulates that after 3 citizenship test failures, the applicant must wait 2 years before retaking the test (the current system allows applicants to retake the test as many times as they want). The new rule applies to all citizenship applications made on or after 1 July 2018 (subject to the passage of legislation).

There is no additional fee for taking the test again.

Do you need help preparing for your Australian citizenship test? We have helped thousands of people pass their test, check out our Australian Citizenship Test – Complete Online Training Program.

Did you like this article? Share it and “like” it!