Our Common Bond: the citizenship test booklet and PDF

What the booklet is

Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond is the booklet from Home Affairs for people who want to become citizens. All test questions are based on it. Home Affairs publishes it in English and in 40 community languages.

The booklet has six parts. Parts 1 to 4 are the testable section. Parts 5 and 6 are not tested.

Get the booklet

Use the Home Affairs pages. They are free.

• The Our Common Bond page
• The testable section, English PDF

For a plain walk through the booklet, read our guide to Our Common Bond explained. If you prefer to listen, see the booklet audio and podcast.

Part 1: Australia and its people

This part is about the country and who lives in it. It covers the First Australians and the early days of European settlement, then later waves of migration. It also gives the states, territories and capital cities. You learn national days such as Australia Day and Anzac Day, and the flags, the Coat of Arms and the anthem.

Part 2: Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties

This part describes how Australians think about freedom and fairness. It covers parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, and freedom of speech, association and religion. It also covers equality between men and women. The second half lists the duties of citizens, such as obeying the law, voting and jury service, and the privileges you gain.

Part 3: Government and the law in Australia

This part explains how the country is run. It covers the Constitution, how it can change by referendum, and the three kinds of power. It explains the King as head of state, the roles of governors and other leaders, and the three levels of government. It then covers Parliament, the courts, the police and juries.

Part 4: Australian values

This part sets out the values that shape the country. These include the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, mutual respect and equal opportunity. It also covers a fair go, compassion for those in need, and English as the national language. This is the part behind the five values questions. All five must be right to pass.

Parts 5 and 6 are not tested

Part 5 is "Australia today" and Part 6 is "Our Australian story". They are in the non-testable section. Read them for interest. They will not be in the test.

How to use the booklet

1. Read Parts 1 to 4 once through.
2. Go back to each part and note names, numbers and dates.
3. Test yourself with a mock. Our free 20-question mock has 20 questions in 45 minutes.
4. Return to the parts where you lost marks.

Home Affairs also has a free sample test on its own site. It does not endorse paid apps or courses.

What the test asks

The real test has 20 multiple choice questions in English. You need 15 right and all 5 values questions right. Read each question with care.

For the rules about who sits the test, see the requirements. The values you agree to when you apply are on the Australian values statement page.

Independent and not Home Affairs

We are not Home Affairs. Our practice questions are our own words.