How long is the Australian citizenship test?

How long is the Australian citizenship test?

The test is 45 minutes long. In that time you answer 20 multiple choice questions on a computer or tablet.

If you are offered the Assisted Test, you have 90 minutes for the same job.

How much time is that for each question?

With 45 minutes and 20 questions, you have 2 minutes and 15 seconds for each question. That is a lot for most of them.

Questions you know well take only a few seconds. A fact you have learned is quick to find among the choices. The slow questions are the ones with a twist in the wording, such as "which is not" or "all except". They need a careful second read, and so do questions on the longest part of the booklet, Part 3 on government and the law. Our guide to trap words helps with that.

A simple pace works well:

• First, answer each question at normal speed.
• Do not stay on one question for more than about two minutes.
• Keep a few minutes at the end to check your answers, and above all the five values questions.

Home Affairs does not say whether the real test lets you skip a question and return later, so do not count on it. Answer in order and give every question a real attempt.

Who gets 90 minutes?

The Assisted Test is not for everyone. Home Affairs may offer it if your application asked for support with the test and one of these is true:

• you completed at least 400 hours of English tuition in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), or
• on the day, a health condition means you still need extra time, even with staff help.

If you think this applies to you, say so in your application. Read can you listen to the questions for more on support during the test.

How long does the whole appointment take?

The 45 minutes is only the questions. Home Affairs does not give a total time for the visit. At the centre, staff first discuss your application, confirm your identity and your right to sit the test, and take your photo. Then you sit the test. You see your result on the screen when you finish.

So do not plan a short visit. Arrange the whole day with room to spare. Children are not allowed in the centre, so plan childcare for the whole visit. Arrive on time. Our guide to booking and test day lists what to bring and what the rules are.

How do you practise the timing?

Time yourself. Many people read the booklet well and then feel the clock for the first time on test day.

Our free practice test has 20 questions and a 45-minute timer, with the same pass rule as the real test: 15 of 20 and all five values questions right. It is practice, so the real questions will be different, but the time limit is the same. Do it once early and once the week before your appointment.

Next step

Do one timed practice test this week. Note how many minutes you used. If you finish in under 30, you have time to read the hard questions twice. If you finish with seconds left, read the booklet again and practise a little each day.