Australian citizenship test 2026: what to expect

Everything on the test is in the free booklet, Our Common Bond. We help you practise reading the questions the way the test asks them. Many people search for the test with a year. They want to know if the rules have changed. Here is what we can say.

The format

On the Home Affairs pages we read, the test is:

• 20 multiple choice questions on a computer or tablet
• 45 minutes (90 minutes for an Assisted Test)
• 15 right to pass, which is 75 percent
• every Australian values question right
• in English only, with audio available for the questions

The booklet says the values rule began on 15 November 2020.

What we did not find

We found no announced change to the format, the pass mark or the booklet. That is based on the pages we read. It does not rule out a change that has not reached those pages yet. So the safe step is simple: read the Home Affairs test and interview page before your appointment. It is the source for the rules.

We will not tell you a rule has changed unless Home Affairs says so.

What the year means for study

A year in a search often means "is this current?" The answer for study is to check three things.

1. The booklet. Use the current Our Common Bond from the Home Affairs website, not an old copy from a forum or a file you were sent.
2. The date on your practice set. A good set says when it was checked against the booklet. Ours do.
3. Facts that move. A leader, an office holder or a number can change between editions. If your practice set and the booklet disagree, the booklet wins.

Free tools in 2026

Home Affairs offers the booklet, a podcast and a free practice test. The practice test is a sample. The questions on the day will be different. Our free mock is a second sample. See free ways to practise.

Booking and cost

You do not book the test. Home Affairs does, and it sends a letter. There is no separate fee for the test. Your citizenship application fee covers it. Fees change each year, so check the amount on the Home Affairs form and not on a third-party site.

Who sits the test

Most people aged 18 to 59 on the day they apply for citizenship by conferral. People aged 60 or over, and people aged 17 or under, generally do not. Some other cases are listed on the Home Affairs page.

A plain plan

1. Read the four testable parts of the booklet.
2. Take one timed mock. Look at your overall score and your values score.
3. Fix the gaps.
4. Take a second mock two days later.
5. Wait for your letter.

A two week study plan fits this if you have the time.

Start the free mock

Last checked against Our Common Bond (2020): 22 October 2026