The Australian citizenship test has 20 multiple-choice questions and 45 minutes. To pass, you must get all 5 of the Australian values questions correct and at least 15 of the 20 questions overall (75%). Every question is based on one booklet, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, and the test is in English only. If you do not pass, the Department books you another appointment at no extra cost.
This guide covers who sits the test, how to prepare, what to bring, the rules on the day, the Assisted Test, and what happens if you do not pass. It sits alongside our guide to Australian citizenship by conferral, which covers eligibility.
Figures current as at 28 October 2026; confirm with the Department of Home Affairs before lodgement.
What the law says, and what the Department does
Section 23A of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 requires the Minister to approve a test by written determination, to specify what counts as successfully completing it, and allows the determination to set who is eligible to sit it. It also allows the test to be limited to permanent residents whose identity the Minister is satisfied of (Australian Citizenship Act 2007, s 23A, compilation No. 37, 4 June 2026). The pass mark, number of questions and time limit below come from the Department's page, not from the Act's text.
Pass rules at a glance
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20, multiple choice |
| Time | 45 minutes (90 minutes for an approved Assisted Test) |
| Australian values questions | All 5 must be correct (100%) |
| Overall mark | At least 15 of 20 (75%) |
| Language | English only |
| Extra cost | None; the test is included in the citizenship application charge |
Source: Home Affairs, Learn about the citizenship test.
Who sits the test
| Group | Usually sits the test? |
|---|---|
| Aged 18 to 59 on the day the Department received the application | Yes, generally required |
| Aged 17 or younger when applying | Generally not |
| Aged 60 or over when applying | Generally not |
| Child of a former citizen who lost citizenship in specific circumstances | Generally not |
| Born in Papua before 16 September 1975 to an Australian citizen born in Australia | Generally not |
| Born in Australia and stateless | Generally not |
| Permanent or enduring physical or mental incapacity | Generally not |
| Permanent loss or substantial impairment of hearing, speech or sight | Generally not |
People who do not sit the test may have an interview instead. The interview confirms identity. Applicants aged 16 to 17 may need to show they understand the application, have basic English, and understand the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. Applicants aged 60 or over, or with a hearing, speech or sight impairment, may be asked to show they understand the application, and may bring a support person and an interpreter.
Your appointment letter tells you which applies. The Department says you sit the test after your identity is confirmed.
How to prepare
All test questions are based on Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. The Department publishes it in English and in many community languages (40 for the ebook), but the test itself is only in English. The testable section is marked.
| Resource | What it is |
|---|---|
| Our Common Bond booklet | The only source of test questions |
| Our Common Bond podcast | Audio version |
| Official practice test | Sample questions only; the real questions differ |
| AMEPOnline citizenship modules | Online learning; the Adult Migrant English Program may also help |
The question topics are:
- Australia and its people
- democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
- government and the law
- Australian values (freedom, respect, equality)
The Department does not endorse external courses or paid apps. Because 5 out of 5 is needed on values, our view is that the values section deserves the most revision time.
Your appointment
You receive a letter with the date, time and place. Waiting times vary, and the letter explains how to reschedule. Tests are held at Department offices in most capital cities and some Services Australia offices; the Department has a test locator. If you applied from outside Australia, you are invited to sit after you return to Australia. In exceptional cases the test may be done at an embassy or consulate.
What to bring
- Original photo ID: a driver licence, passport or Australian proof of age card. Certified copies and electronic images are not accepted. If you have no photo ID, the appointment is moved to a later date.
- Your appointment letter, printed or on your phone.
- Any documents the Department requested. Attach documents and report changes in your ImmiAccount before the appointment.
On the day
Arrive 10 minutes early. First you discuss your application, your identity is confirmed and your photo is taken. Then you sit the test on a computer or tablet, and your result shows on the screen.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Phones and devices | None, including smart watches and glasses |
| Talking | Only to the Test Facilitator |
| Notes and resource materials | Not allowed |
| Copying | Not allowed |
| Time | You must finish in the time allowed |
| Children | Not allowed in the test centre; no childcare |
A breach of the rules may mean you are treated as not having passed, and the application may be refused.
A Test Facilitator can show you how to use the device, operate it for you, provide headphones, read questions aloud, and select your answers if you respond verbally. You must still sit the test on your own.
The Assisted Test
The Assisted Test gives 90 minutes instead of 45. You are eligible only if you asked for it in your application and either:
- you completed at least 400 hours of Adult Migrant English Program tuition and have low literacy; or
- you have a permanent or temporary physical or cognitive impairment, supported by evidence from a registered health practitioner and the Assisted Test and Additional Accommodations Request Form.
Additional accommodations, such as a quiet room, a paper print-out in different colours, extra attempts or a rest break, may be approved if requested and evidenced. Because the request must be made in the application, raise it before you lodge.
If you do not pass
Not passing does not affect your current visa. The Department books another appointment at no extra cost. If you do not pass after three appointments, the application may be refused. Use the gap between appointments to revisit the booklet, especially the values section.
After you pass
If your application is approved, you must attend a citizenship ceremony. The invitation comes about four weeks before it.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions do I need to get right? At least 15 of 20, and all 5 of the Australian values questions.
Can I take the test in my own language? No. The booklet is available in community languages for study, but the test is in English only.
Does the practice test show the real questions? No. It is a sample; the real questions differ. All real questions are based on Our Common Bond.
What if I fail? Another appointment is booked at no extra cost. After three appointments without passing, the application may be refused.
Do I have to sit the test if I am over 60? Applicants aged 60 or over when they applied are generally not required to sit, and may have an interview instead.
Get your citizenship application checked first
The test is one step in a conferral application. Migration Vision works with applicants across Australia and offshore. Nobody can promise an application will be approved. We can check eligibility, documents and any request for an Assisted Test before you lodge.
Book a citizenship application review.
Reviewed by Dr Asad Muhammad Khan, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2619525. Last reviewed 28 October 2026. Department of Home Affairs citizenship test pages read 28 October 2026; Australian Citizenship Act 2007 s 23A verified at compilation No. 37 (4 June 2026). Figures current as at 28 October 2026; confirm with the Department of Home Affairs before lodgement. This article is general information, not migration advice for your circumstances, and the law may change.
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