Blog

How to prepare for the Australian Citizenship Test

May 9, 2024

Congratulations!!

If you’re reading this then you have probably met the eligibility criteria and you’ve applied for Australian Citizenship!

You’ve probably already submitted your application, obtained your police checks, uploaded your documents, paid the application fee and most likely you’ve waited for a bit.

Now you have received an appointment time to attend your Australian Citizenship Test.

If you’re feeling a mild sense of panic, you’re in good company, that’s totally normal.

There’s a lot riding on this test and clients often tell us it’s been a hot minute since they’ve had to do a test of any kind.

What happens next?

How do you prepare?

Don’t stress!

We’ve got you covered.

Here’s the action plan that we share with our clients to prepare for the Australian Citizenship Test.

Stick with us to the final step, it’s the secret weapon that our clients love the most.

So, what do you do to prepare for the Australian Citizenship test?

Step 1: Listen to the Podcast

The Australian Government have a Citizenship Test Podcast and it’s a great place to start as you prepare for the test.

Click here to access it and listen on your way to work or while you go for a walk.

Step 2: Read the Information Booklet

The Australian Government also have a handy Citizenship Test information booklet that has been translated into dozens of languages.

It’s called “Australian Citizenship: Our common bond”.

Click here to access the booklet in English.

If you are looking for Citizenship Test information in a language other than English, click here to view the available translations.

Step 3: Make sure you’re familiar with the test format

If you’ve listened to the podcast and had a look at the booklet you’re probably familiar with the test format.

The Australian Citizenship test is a computer based test conducted in English.

You will need to answer 20 multiple choice questions.

You will have up to 45 minutes to complete the test.

If you don’t pass the test the first time you will have an opportunity to sit the test again, but this might need to be scheduled on a different day depending on your test centre location. You can’t use any resources during the test, which means you can’t access information on your phone or refer to any resources like the information booklet.

Step 4: Practice Test Questions

There are practice test questions on the Home Affairs website.

Click here to have a look at them, but you may want to jump directly to step 5.

Step 5: Use the Australian Citizenship Test Practice Apps

This is the final step in your test preparation journey and it’s the most important one.

If you do one thing to prepare for the test, do this.

This is the preparation hack our clients love the most.

Before you do the test, jump on your favourite ap store and download one of the Australian Citizenship Test preparation and practice aps.

Click here and click here to look at some of the options.

Clients often ring me immediately after their test to tell me that they would have been lost without this.

They tell me the practice questions they did on the apps were EXACTLY the same as the questions on the test.

They download the aps and they just work through all the practice test and all the practice questions until they feel completely confident.

If you do one thing to prepare for the test, do this.

Now, before we finish I’ve just got some extra tips for the day of the test.

What do you do on the day of the test?

Allow plenty of time to get to the venue of your Australian Citizenship test so you’re not late. If you arrive late you might not be able to sit the test which will be annoying and inconvenient because your test will need to be rescheduled which will obviously impact your processing timeframe.

Take your appointment letter with you. Either take a hard copy of make sure you can access it on your phone.

You’ll need original photo ID so take along your Passport, drivers licence, student card or other photo ID to prove your identity.

Don’t forget to take your name change documentation if you have changed your name since you lodged your Australian Citizenship Application, perhaps if you got married or legally changed your name.

So there you have it.

That is the five step action plan that we share with our clients to help them prepare for the Australian Citizenship Test.

It is a winning formula that has helped so many of our clients ace their Citizenship Test.

Whether you are applying for a Work Visa, Partner Visa or Australian Citizenship, we’re here to help. 

Good luck on the test!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Australian Citizenship Test?

The Australian Citizenship Test is an assessment for individuals applying for Australian citizenship, designed to evaluate their knowledge of Australia's values, history, traditions, and national symbols.

Who needs to take the Australian Citizenship Test?

Most applicants aged between 18 and 59 who are applying for Australian citizenship by conferral need to take the test, with some exceptions for those with certain conditions or circumstances. You can read more here

What topics are covered in the Australian Citizenship Test?

The test covers topics including Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties, government and the law in Australia, and Australian values.

How many questions are in the Australian Citizenship Test?

The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions.

What is the passing score for the Australian Citizenship Test?

To pass, you must answer at least 75% of the questions correctly (15 out of 20 questions) and correctly answer all five questions on Australian values.

How can I prepare for the Australian Citizenship Test?

You can prepare by studying the "Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond" resource book, available online and in print, which provides all the information needed for the test.

Is the Australian Citizenship Test available in multiple languages?

No, the test is conducted in English only.

What happens if I fail the Australian Citizenship Test?

If you fail the test, you can retake it. You will be given multiple opportunities to pass the test as part of your citizenship application process.

Where can I take the Australian Citizenship Test?

The test is administered at Department of Home Affairs offices and other designated test centers across Australia.

Is there a fee for taking the Australian Citizenship Test?

There is no separate fee for the test itself; however, there is an application fee for Australian citizenship, which covers the cost of the test.

Joanna Hill

Registered Migration Agent

Joanna Hill is a Registered Migration Agent with over 8 years experience assisting individuals, business owners and HR managers to apply for all Australian Visas. Joanna’s areas of expertise include Work Visas, Partner Visas, Visitor Visas and Australian Citizenship. She makes the complex and constantly changing process of applying for Australian visas simple and stress free for client sand achieves a 100% success rate for partner visa applications. Joanna is a Member of the Migration Institute of Australia and is registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARN 1575613). In addition to her work in Migration, Joanna has over 15 years experience as a teacher, Leading Teacher and Learning Specialist in Primary and Secondary schools. She has a research Masters in Education and has presented research and workshops at conferences in Australia and internationally


Latest News

Let us help you secure your future in Australia

Our Registered Migration Agents specialise in making Partner Visa applications tailored, simple and stress free. We are here to guide you through every step, helping you secure your future in Australia.



Connect with us!