Can you take the Australian citizenship test in your own language?

Can you take the Australian citizenship test in your own language?

No. The test is in English only. But you can study the booklet in your own language, and you can choose to listen to the questions in English.

The questions and the answer choices are written in English. There is no version in another language.

What can you read in your language?

The study booklet, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, comes in English and 40 community languages. You can find the list on the Our Common Bond page of the Home Affairs website, with a link to the booklet:

Our Common Bond page

Reading in your first language helps you understand the ideas faster. That is a good way to start, especially for Part 3 on government and the law, which has many names and steps.

Keep in mind that the test questions come from the English booklet. The idea in your language and the words in English should match when you sit the test.

Can you listen to the questions?

Yes. At the test, the computer or tablet comes with a headset. When reading English is hard for you, you may pick the option to hear each question read out. The audio is in English. It helps if reading is the hard part. The pages we read do not say it translates anything. Read more in can you listen to the questions.

How do you study in two languages?

Here is a method that works for many people who read English as a second language.

1. Read one section of the booklet in your own language. Make sure you understand the idea.
2. Read the same section in English, slowly.
3. Write the main English words on a list. Examples are "Parliament", "the Rule of Law", "freedom of speech".
4. Say what each one means, first in your language and then in English.
5. Try practice questions in English.

Step 3 matters most. If you know a fact in your language but not the English word, a question may look strange. The meaning is the same, but you will not see it at first.

Home Affairs also has a podcast on the booklet, and free AMEPOnline citizenship modules. They use characters and stories to help people who are learning English with the booklet. If you want to improve your English in general, Home Affairs suggests the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).

What if a word in the booklet is hard?

Do not skip it. Look it up in a learner dictionary, write a short example in your own words and add it to your list. The booklet has a glossary of the harder terms, and it is worth reading once before your first practice test. A word you can explain is a word you will recognise under the clock.

What about the values questions?

Take extra care with these. You must get all five right, and they use words like "freedom", "respect" and "equality" that may not translate one to one. Read Part 4 in English, and slowly.

Next step

Try the free practice test. It is in English, like the real test, so you will see which words slow you down. Add each one to your two-language list. Then read the matching part again.