1.1 Test Format and Pass Rules

Why the test rules matter

The Australian Citizenship Test is part of the citizenship by conferral process, not a general-knowledge quiz. It checks basic English, knowledge of Australia, understanding of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, and commitment to Australian values. You sit it after the Department of Home Affairs assesses your application and books an appointment, and you must already meet eligibility requirements such as the residence requirement (generally four years of lawful residence, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident).

The rule that trips up the most candidates is the dual pass rule. You must clear the whole test and the values section separately. Treat the five Australian Values questions as an all-or-nothing checkpoint sitting inside the larger 20-question test. A candidate who memorises facts but skims the values scenarios will often pass the 75% threshold and still fail, which is exactly the pattern the exam is built to catch.

Most applicants aged 18 to 59 must sit the test. People who are 60 or over, under 18 in many cases, or who have certain permanent incapacities may be exempt, but exemption from sitting the test does not exempt anyone from the underlying commitment to Australian values, which is signed as part of the application.

Core format at a glance

The testable content comes from Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, usually shortened to Our Common Bond or OCB. The booklet is available in English and in many community languages for study, but the test itself is sat in English. Home Affairs also offers a practice test and a podcast, but the official booklet is the source to study first.

The two pass conditions

You pass only when both of these are true at the same time:

1. You answer at least 15 of the 20 questions correctly (75% overall).
2. You answer all 5 Australian Values questions correctly.

Worked example: a candidate scores 18/20 but misses one values question. The overall score (90%) is well above 75%, yet the result is a fail, because the values section was not perfect. Conversely, a candidate who answers all 5 values questions correctly but scores only 14/20 overall also fails the 75% threshold. Both gates must be cleared in the same sitting; a strong score on one part does not bank credit toward a later attempt.

It helps to think of the score sheet as two separate columns. The first column is the overall tally out of 20, where you have a margin of error of up to five wrong answers. The second column is the values tally out of 5, where your margin of error is zero. Because the five values questions are mixed randomly among the other fifteen, you cannot tell at the time which question belongs to which column, so the only safe strategy is to treat every question that involves a value, a freedom, the law, voting, or how people should treat one another as if it were a values question that must be perfect.

How to pace the test

Forty-five minutes for 20 questions gives more than two minutes per question, and most candidates finish well inside the limit. Use the spare time to read carefully, especially on answer choices that sound partly correct.

A practical pacing plan:

• First pass: answer direct fact questions quickly and flag anything uncertain.
• Slow down: read every values question twice before choosing.
• Check traps: confirm the answer follows Australian law, not personal custom, family pressure, money, or religious authority.
• Final review: make sure every question is answered before you submit; blanks count as wrong.

Appointment rules and retakes

At the appointment you must follow the test rules: turn off and put away your phone, do not talk to other people, do not use notes or other materials, do not copy answers, finish within the time limit, and raise your hand if you need help. Bringing identification documents is required.

If you fail, Home Affairs can book another appointment and there is no extra fee for sitting the test again. Failing does not affect your permanent visa by itself; you keep your residence status. However, if you do not pass after three appointments, the citizenship application may be refused, and you would generally need to lodge a fresh application and pay the application fee again. Not turning up to a booked appointment without a valid reason can also count against you, so candidates who are not ready should reschedule rather than simply skip.

If you have a medical condition, disability, or low literacy that makes the standard computer-based test difficult, you can ask about an assisted test, where an officer reads the questions and records your answers. This is still the same test with the same pass rules; it changes the delivery method only, not the standard. Always raise such needs before the appointment so arrangements can be made.

Exam trap to memorize

The safest rule to lock in is 15/20 plus 5/5 values. Do not reduce the standard to "just 75%." On this test the values section carries its own perfect-score requirement, and that is the single most common reason a high-scoring candidate still fails.