Australian Citizenship Test: Questions, Pass Rate, and How to Prepare (2026)
Published 2026-02-14
What Is the Australian Citizenship Test?
The Australian citizenship test is a mandatory requirement for most applicants aged 18 to 59 applying for citizenship by conferral. The test assesses your knowledge of Australia, including its democratic beliefs, laws, government, society, and values. It is conducted in English on a computer at a Department of Home Affairs office. The test is free of charge and is scheduled after you lodge your citizenship application.
What Questions Are on the Test?
The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official resource booklet 'Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond.' Five of these questions are about Australian values — you must answer all 5 values questions correctly to pass. For the remaining 15 questions, you need to answer at least 10 correctly, for a total minimum score of 75% (15 out of 20). Questions cover topics including: the role of Parliament, the Australian flag and symbols, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, Indigenous culture and history, and the democratic principles that guide Australian society.
How to Prepare for the Citizenship Test
The single most important preparation step is to read the official resource booklet 'Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond,' available free on the Department of Home Affairs website. Read it thoroughly — all test questions are drawn from this booklet. Practice with the official practice test on the Department's website, which uses the same format as the real test. Focus particularly on the values section, as you must get all 5 values questions correct. Allow 2 to 4 weeks of study time. Free practice tests and study resources are widely available online.
What Is the Pass Rate?
The overall pass rate for the Australian citizenship test is approximately 96% on first attempt, according to Department statistics. The test is designed to be achievable for applicants who have studied the resource booklet. Most people who fail do so because they did not answer all values questions correctly. If English is your second language, you may want to spend extra time studying the booklet and practising with the official practice test to ensure you understand the terminology used.
What Happens If You Fail the Test?
If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can retake the test. There is no limit to the number of attempts, and there is no additional fee. You will typically be offered a new test date within a few weeks. If you fail three times, you will be invited to attend a citizenship interview with a Department officer, where your knowledge and understanding of Australia will be assessed in a conversational format. Use the time between attempts to study the areas where you lost marks.
Who Is Exempt from the Test?
You do not need to sit the citizenship test if you are: aged under 18, aged 60 or over, suffering from a permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity that prevents you from understanding the nature of the application, born stateless in Australia, or born in Papua before independence. People with hearing, speech, or sight impairments may be offered a modified test or interview instead. Exemptions are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis.
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