How long should you study for the Australian citizenship test?

How long should you study for the Australian citizenship test?

For many people, one to four weeks of regular study is enough. The testable part of Our Common Bond is short, so the time depends mostly on how easily you read English and how many hours you have each day.

The test date matters too. Home Affairs sends you a letter with the date, so you will know how much time you have. Count the days from the day the letter arrives.

How big is the testable part?

The testable part is Parts 1 to 4. Counting words in the booklet text gives roughly these sizes:

• Part 1, Australia and its people: about 2,200 words
• Part 2, democratic beliefs, rights and liberties: about 1,700 words
• Part 3, government and the law: about 3,000 words
• Part 4, Australian values: about 2,000 words

That is about 9,000 words in all. Part 1 includes the words of a song, so it is a little shorter than it looks. The numbers are our own count, so treat them as a guide. Part 2 is the shortest and Part 3 is the longest.

If you read English at a slow pace, about 100 words a minute, the whole testable part takes about an hour and a half to read once. Learning is slower than reading. Plan three to five times that for study, practice and review.

How many hours do you need?

Here are rough plans. They are our suggestions, not rules.

You read English well and have a few free evenings. Aim for about eight to ten hours in total, over one to two weeks. Read each part once, then take two or three mocks.

You read English at a medium level. Aim for twelve to twenty hours, over two to three weeks. Read each part twice. Use a dictionary or your own language for words you do not know.

You are still building your English. Aim for twenty to thirty hours, over four or more weeks. Start with the booklet in your own language, then move to English. The test is in English only, so you need the English words for the main ideas.

You have a full-time job and children. Count in short blocks. Twenty minutes a day for four weeks is better than a plan for four hours on a Sunday that never happens.

Where should the time go?

Not evenly. Give Part 3 the most hours, because it is the longest and has many names, numbers and steps. Give Part 4 the most repetition, because of the values rule. You need all 5 values questions right, plus 15 of 20 overall.

Part 1 is mostly facts to remember, such as dates, capitals and symbols. Part 2 is lists. Part 4 is a set of rules you can learn as short sentences.

Signs that you are ready

• You score 15 or more out of 20 on mocks you have not seen before, more than once.
• You get all 5 values questions right every time, not just most times.
• When you miss a question, you can find the page in the booklet and explain the right answer.
• You can read the question without guessing what a word means.

If you do not see these signs yet, study a little longer. If you do, more study adds less than rest does. See how many practice tests to take before you sit.

Make a simple plan

Write the date of your test. Count back the weeks. Put one part on each study day, then leave the last week for mixed practice and Part 4. The free practice test is a good first step, because it shows your starting point in 45 minutes.

If you have exactly two weeks, use the two week study plan. If you have more time, spread it out.

Check yourself

• How many days do you have before your appointment?
• Which part will take you the most time, and why?
• What score on a new mock would make you feel ready?