When do you get your Australian citizenship test result, and what happens next?

When do you get your Australian citizenship test result, and what happens next?

You see your result on the screen as soon as you finish the test. There is no waiting for the post. What happens next depends on whether you pass or fail.

What counts as a pass?

You must do two things. Answer at least 15 of the 20 questions correctly, which is 75 percent. And answer all 5 values questions correctly. Missing one values question means a fail, even with 19 of 20 right. See how the test is scored and the values rule.

What happens if you pass?

Your application keeps moving. Home Affairs says it will write to you if it needs more information, or when it has made a decision.

You do not become a citizen yet. If your application is approved, you attend a citizenship ceremony. Home Affairs sends an invitation letter about four weeks before the event. The letter comes from your local council or from Home Affairs, and it shows the date, time and place. You cannot choose them.

At the ceremony you make the Australian Citizenship Pledge. You become a citizen when you make the pledge, and you receive your certificate after that. Waiting times for ceremonies vary, and Home Affairs publishes them on its website. We cannot give you a number.

Some people do not need a ceremony. In that case, the certificate is sent to you by registered post.

What happens if you fail?

First, a calm point. A fail leaves your permanent visa as it is, and you stay in Australia as before.

Home Affairs books another appointment for you, and there is no extra cost. You do not need to apply again. While you wait, use the time. That is the moment to find out why you missed.

You can have up to three appointments. If you do not pass after three, Home Affairs may refuse your application. Read how many times you can sit the test.

How do you use a fail?

The pages we read do not tell you which questions you missed, so work from what you remember and from your weak spots.

1. Write down every topic you felt unsure about, the same day.
2. Go back to the booklet for those parts. If you are weak on values, read Australian values first, because one wrong values question fails the test.
3. Take practice tests until you reach 15 of 20 and 5 of 5 on values several times with fresh questions.

Our free practice test is a mock with 20 questions, 45 minutes and the same pass rule, so it is a good way to check.

A simple next step

If you passed, read about the ceremony and keep your letters safe. If you did not, start your review this week with the two week study plan, and take a mock test at the end of each week.