Overview

The Australian Citizenship Test is a multiple-choice exam required for Australian citizenship by conferral, administered by the Department of Home Affairs. It assesses basic knowledge of Australian values, history, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and is based on the official resource book Our Common Bond: Becoming an Australian Citizen.

Eligibility

(As of 2026)

• Permanent Resident (PR) with 4 years of residence in Australia (the last 12 months as a PR)
• Total absences under 12 months across the 4-year period, and under 90 days in the last 12 months
• Test is mandatory for ages 18–59
• Partial exemptions for ages 16–17; automatic exemption from the test at age 60+
• "Good character" requirement (no significant criminal record)
• Willingness to make the Pledge of Commitment

Language requirements:

• The test itself is in English, so there is no separate language exam.
• A "basic English" conversational check is conducted during the application interview.
• There is no English exemption, but the test itself is waived for applicants 60 and over.

Test format

• 20 multiple-choice questions: 5 on Australian values + 15 general
• Pass mark: 75% or higher overall and all 5 values questions correct (both required)
• Computer-based, conducted in English
• Taken at a Department of Home Affairs office (online in some cases)
• Study material: Our Common Bond: Becoming an Australian Citizen

Question source:

• Drawn from the three sections of Our Common Bond (Australia and its people / Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties / Government and the law in Australia)
• No public official question bank exists — questions in this app are unofficial, reconstructed from the resource book.

Test and application fees

(As of 2026; subject to change)

• The test fee is included in the citizenship application fee (no separate test fee).
• Citizenship application fee (Conferral, adult): around AUD $560 (as of 2024)
• Pension Concession Card holders (seniors): around AUD $80
• Under 16: free
• Fees change periodically — check the latest amount on the official site before applying.

How to apply

1. Submit the citizenship (Conferral) application online through ImmiAccount
2. Upload supporting documents (residence, identity, financials) and pay the application fee
3. The Department of Home Affairs notifies you of the test and interview appointment
4. Take the test and the English interview at the assigned office (or online for some cases)
5. Receive an approval letter once you pass

Retake policy

• If you fail, you can retake the test within 1–2 weeks under the same application, free of charge.
• Three failures may lead to refusal of the application, in which case you must reapply and pay the fee again.
• The Department of Home Affairs may, at its discretion, replace the test with an interview-based assessment in some cases.

After passing

1. Receive your approval letter once you pass the test and the application is approved
2. Receive an invitation to a Citizenship Ceremony — attendance is mandatory (typically within 6 months of approval)
3. Make the Pledge of Commitment to become an Australian citizen
4. Receive your Citizenship Certificate
5. You can then apply for an Australian passport

Official resources

• Test preparation page and free Our Common Bond PDF: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/test-and-interview/preparing-for-your-test
• Citizenship application: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen
• A free official practice test is available on the page above.

Things to watch out for

• All 5 values questions must be correct to pass. Even if you answer all 15 general questions correctly, missing one values question fails you — focus your study on the values section.
• Values topics include: individual freedom, the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, gender equality, freedom of religion, freedom of speech.
• Study all three sections of Our Common Bond to comfortably handle the 15 general questions.
• Cheating during the test (phones, unauthorised materials, etc.) can result in a permanent ban from sitting the test.
• Fees, residence requirements, and exemptions change frequently — check the official site at the time you apply.

FAQ

What are the "values" questions? Five mandatory questions on Australian values (e.g., respect for individual freedom, the rule of law). All five must be answered correctly to pass.

What happens if I fail? You can retake the test within 1–2 weeks under the same application, free of charge. Three failures may result in refusal of the application, and you would need to reapply and pay the fee again.

Do I need a separate English exam? No. The test itself is in English, and a basic conversational check happens during the application interview.

Can I take the test in another language? No — the test is conducted only in English. However, this app's UI is available in multiple languages.