Australian citizenship test · Learn · 2 November 2026 · 5 min read
Australian citizenship test format and the five values questions rule
The Australian citizenship test explained: 20 questions, 45 minutes, 15 to pass, and why all five Australian values questions must be answered correctly.
The Australian citizenship test has 20 multiple-choice questions and you have 45 minutes to answer them. To pass you must meet two rules at once: an overall mark of at least 15 out of 20 (75%), and all five of the questions on Australian values answered correctly. A single wrong values answer means you do not pass, even if your overall score is 15 or more.
This guide explains the format, the values rule, who sits the test and how to prepare for it.
The format at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20, multiple choice |
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Overall pass mark | At least 15 of 20 (75%) |
| Values questions | 5 of the 20; all 5 must be correct |
| Delivery | Computer-based |
| Language | English only |
| Cost | No extra cost; included in the application fee |
| Study material | The testable section of Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond |
The two pass rules
Rule 1: 15 out of 20 overall
You need at least 15 correct answers out of 20. That leaves room for five wrong answers in total.
Rule 2: 5 out of 5 on values
Five of the questions are about Australian values, and Home Affairs requires all five to be correct. In practice this changes how you should think about the margin:
- Any wrong answers you can afford must come from the other 15 questions.
- A score of 19 out of 20 fails if the one wrong answer was a values question.
- A score of 15 out of 20 passes if all five values answers are right.
Home Affairs does not say whether the values questions are labelled on screen, so treat every question with the same care.
A worked example
| Candidate | Overall score | Values score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 18 / 20 | 5 / 5 | Pass |
| B | 19 / 20 | 4 / 5 | Not a pass |
| C | 15 / 20 | 5 / 5 | Pass |
| D | 14 / 20 | 5 / 5 | Not a pass |
Our practice tests check both rules in the same way, so the result screen tells you which rule you met and which you missed.
What the questions cover
All test questions are based on the booklet Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. Only the testable section is examined. It has four parts:
- Australia and its people
- Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
- Government and the law in Australia
- Australian values
In our practice tests, the five values questions come from Part 4, and each test has five questions from each part. The booklet also has a non-testable section that gives background, but nothing in it is examined.
A note on the booklet's wording
The 2020 booklet says the test has 20 randomly selected questions and that, from 15 November 2020, it also includes five questions on Australian values. Read on its own that could suggest 25 questions. The current Home Affairs test page is clear: there are 20 questions in total, five of them on values. Go by the current page.
Who sits the test
Home Affairs says most applicants for citizenship by conferral aged 18 to 59 will have an appointment to sit the test. Others may only have an interview. For example, applicants aged 16 or 17 may need to show basic English and an understanding of citizenship, and applicants aged 60 or over, or with a hearing, speech or sight impairment, may be asked to show they understand their application.
On the day
- The test is taken on a computer, in English only.
- Text-to-speech is available, so you can listen to the questions and answer choices.
- The booklet says tests are held at Home Affairs offices around Australia, some regional locations and some overseas missions.
- There is no separate fee: the application fee covers the test.
Home Affairs does not publish, on the pages we read, how many attempts are allowed or what happens after a fail, so we do not state a rule here. Check with the Department if this matters to you.
How to prepare
- Read the testable section once, then read Part 4, Australian values, a second time slowly. It is free in English and 40 community languages.
- Take a timed practice test: 20 questions, 45 minutes. Start with Australian citizenship practice test 1.
- Check both scores. If you dropped a values question, that is your first priority, whatever your overall total.
- Drill the values part until you are scoring 100% every time: use the Australian values drill.
- Repeat with new tests until you score 18 or more overall with 5 out of 5 on values, several times running.
Our guide to studying Our Common Bond gives a part-by-part plan. Home Affairs also offers a podcast, an official practice test and AMEPOnline modules, and says it does not endorse external courses or paid apps. All 12 of our practice tests, the chapter notes and the drills are on the Australian citizenship hub.
Quick checklist
- 20 questions, 45 minutes, 15 to pass.
- All 5 values questions right, or the test is not passed.
- Study the testable section of Our Common Bond only.
- Practice scores of 18+ overall and 5/5 on values before the real test.
Official sources: Home Affairs citizenship test page (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, last updated 7/10/2026), "Prepare for the test" and "Test and interview" pages, and the booklet Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond (Commonwealth of Australia 2020), all read on 1 November 2026.