How the Australian citizenship test is scored, and the values rule
Last updated 22 October 2026
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. This guide explains the scoring, because most people know only half of it.
Two rules
The test has 20 multiple choice questions. To pass you must meet both rules.
- Overall score: at least 15 right. That is 75 percent.
- Values rule: every Australian values question right.
Home Affairs counts five values questions. They come from Part 4 of the booklet.
Some examples
| Your result | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 20 of 20 | Pass |
| 15 of 20, all values questions right | Pass |
| 15 of 20, one values question wrong | Does not pass |
| 19 of 20, one values question wrong | Does not pass |
| 14 of 20, all values questions right | Does not pass |
The second row from the bottom surprises people. A very high score does not cancel the values rule. The two rules are separate.
When you see the result
You see your result when you finish the test. Practise the same way: answer all the questions first, then check.
Where the marks are
If you want to protect your result, look at where wrong answers cost most.
- Values questions. One wrong answer fails you, however well you do elsewhere. Spend the most care here.
- Everything else. You may miss some of these. If the five values questions are among the 20, you can miss up to five of the other fifteen and still reach 15. Do not plan to miss any, but know the room exists.
The exact split of questions between values and other parts is not published. This is our reading, not a promise. What is certain is the pair of rules.
How to practise for two rules
Most practice apps give you one number. That hides the values rule. When you practise, track two things:
- Your overall score out of 20.
- Your values score out of 5.
Take a full set. Count the values questions separately. A score of 4 of 5 is not good. It is a fail. If you see 4 of 5 in practice, go back to Part 4 and find the question you missed.
Our mock shows both numbers, and it tells you which rule you missed. Five of its twenty questions are on values. That split is our design for practice.
Reading a values question
Values questions follow the booklet. The right answer usually keeps the law, protects people and treats everyone as equals. Two checks help.
- Find the value in Part 4 that the question is about.
- Look for words that flip the meaning, such as NOT. See how to read the trap words.
If you do not pass
A fail does not affect your permanent visa. Home Affairs books another appointment at no extra cost. You can have up to three appointments. After three, the application may be refused. Read more in how many times you can sit the test.
Try it
Take the free mock and read the two numbers at the end.
Last checked against Our Common Bond (2020): 22 October 2026