Is the Australian citizenship test hard?

Is the Australian citizenship test hard?

It is not hard if you prepare for it, because the test is small and fair. Every question comes from one booklet, there are only 20 of them, and you get 45 minutes. A few things catch people out. They are easy to fix.

What makes the test fair?

• One source. All questions are based on "Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond". You do not need to read the news or buy other books.
• A small size. 20 multiple choice questions, 45 minutes. That is more than 2 minutes for each one.
• Free help. The booklet, a podcast, a practice test and AMEPOnline modules are all on the Home Affairs website.
• Four parts only. Questions come from Parts 1 to 4 of the booklet, and no other part.

What makes it feel hard?

The values rule. You need 15 of 20, but you also need all 5 values questions right. A person who gets 19 of 20 can still fail if one of the misses is a values question. This is the real hard edge of the test. Treat Part 4 as a part you must know completely. See Australian values and how the test is scored.

English. The test is in English only. This is a real challenge if English is your second language. Two things help. You can choose to listen to the questions, and you can study the booklet in your own language first, then learn the English words for the same ideas.

Careful reading. A question with "not" or "except" in it asks for the opposite of what you expect. People who read fast read it wrong. Practise on trap words and how to read them.

Nerves. A computer, a quiet room and a clock make anyone tense. A mock test at home takes some of that away.

What does an easy path look like?

1. Read the booklet one part at a time. Say each idea in your own words.
2. Read Part 4 early and again at the end.
3. Do mixed practice tests, not only one topic at a time.
4. Review each mistake. Find out why you were wrong, not only what was right.
5. When you reach 15 of 20 and 5 of 5 on values several times, you are close.

Our free practice test is a mock with 20 questions and the same pass rule, built for this step. It is practice, so its questions are not the real ones. The Home Affairs practice test is a sample too.

Do not trust a story that says "everyone passes" or "nobody passes". We have no number to give you, and a number would not help you anyway. Your own scores on fresh mock tests tell you more.

What if you do not pass?

You get another try. Home Affairs books a new appointment at no extra cost, up to three appointments in total, and a fail does not affect your permanent visa.

A simple next step

Take one free practice test today, cold, with no notes. Your score and your values result show you what to study first. Then use the two week study plan.