Australian Citizenship Test: Format, Pass Mark and Practice Questions

By HSP · Published October 26, 2026 · 5 min read · Exams & Admissions

If you apply for Australian citizenship by conferral and are in the age group required to sit it, you must pass the citizenship test. It is computer-based and covers Australian values, history, government and symbols. This guide explains the pass rules, what to study and has original practice questions to check yourself.

Test facts

• 20 questions, multiple choice, on a computer.
• About 45 minutes.
• Pass: at least 15 of 20 (75%), and all five questions about Australian values correct.

Rules about who must sit the test, exemptions and fees are set by the Department of Home Affairs and can change. Read the official citizenship test page before you book, and try the official practice test.

The values questions: do not miss any

Five of the 20 questions test Australian values. Missing one means failing even with 19 of 20. The values include respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of religion, commitment to the rule of law, Parliamentary democracy, equality of men and women, equality of opportunity, peace, and the spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mateship and a “fair go”. The questions often present a situation and ask which option fits the values. Read the booklet’s values section until you can explain each one in your own words.

What else to study

• Australia and its people: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the first settlers, and migration.
• Democratic beliefs, rights and liberties: the Constitution, voting and the rule of law.
• Government and the law: the three levels of government, the Parliament, courts.
• Symbols and traditions: flag, anthem, national days, floral emblem.

Compulsory voting in federal elections is a common topic, as are the roles of Parliament and the Governor-General.

Test-day tips

• Read each question and all options before you answer. Values questions often have a “most correct” answer.
• Do not rush. 45 minutes is ample for 20 questions.
• If you fail, you can usually re-sit the test, but check the rules and any waiting time on the official page.

A 4-week study plan

• Week 1: read the values section and write each value in your own words.
• Week 2: read the sections on Australian people and history; note dates.
• Week 3: government, the law, symbols; use the questions below and the official practice test.
• Week 4: two timed sets of 20, with every values question marked as “must be perfect”.

Free original practice questions

These questions were written for ViralScopeHub. They are not from the real test and not from any official question bank. Tap a question to see the answer and why.