Australian citizenship test values questions explained
Five of the 20 questions in the Australian citizenship test are specifically about Australian values — and you must answer all five correctly to pass, regardless of your score on the other 15.
That requirement catches people off guard. You can get 18 or 19 questions right and still fail if you missed one of the values questions. The Department confirms this requirement on the official citizenship test page. Understanding why the rule exists, and how the questions are structured, makes it much easier to prepare for them.
What Australian values are being tested
The citizenship test draws from the Our Common Bond booklet, which outlines the values that underpin life in Australia:
- Respect for the equal worth, dignity and freedom of individuals — everyone has inherent value and deserves to be treated with respect
- Freedom of speech and expression — people can express views and beliefs within the limits of the law
- Freedom of religion and secular government — Australians can hold or not hold any religious belief; government is separate from religion
- Freedom of association — people can join or not join groups, unions, or organisations
- Support for parliamentary democracy and the rule of law — government operates through elected representatives; everyone is equal under the law
- Equality under the law — the law applies to all people regardless of background, gender, religion, or status
- Equality of men and women — women and men have equal rights in all areas of life
- Equality of opportunity — access to education, work, and public life should not depend on background
These aren't abstract concepts for the test. The questions test whether you understand how they apply in real situations.
How the questions are structured
Values questions in the citizenship test often use scenarios. Rather than asking "what is one of Australia's values?", they describe a situation and ask which response best reflects Australian values.
For example:
- A workplace situation where men and women are being treated differently
- A neighbour dispute involving different religious beliefs or practices
- A situation where someone faces pressure to behave in a way that conflicts with the law or individual freedoms
To answer correctly, you need to pick the response that upholds the relevant value — which requires understanding the values themselves, not just their names.
Why all five must be correct
The Australian government introduced the mandatory 5/5 requirement to ensure applicants demonstrate a genuine understanding of Australian values, not just a memorised list. It's possible to pass the overall test by chance or rote memory, but harder to answer five scenario-based values questions correctly without actually understanding the principles.
The practical effect: if values questions are a weak spot, they're the most expensive mistake you can make on test day.
For the full pass mark breakdown, see how the Australian citizenship test is scored.
How to study the values section
The values chapter in Our Common Bond is the only source you need. Read the official Our Common Bond booklet carefully — not just for the names of the values, but for the explanations of what each value means in practice.
After reading:
- Explain each value in your own words — if you can't, you don't know it well enough yet
- Think of a scenario for each one — how would this value apply if a neighbour, colleague, or friend behaved differently?
- Do practice tests and pay close attention to values questions — review why you got a wrong answer, not just what the right answer was
- Don't treat values as a single revision block — spread your values study across your preparation period
Use the Our Common Bond 14-day study plan if you want a structured approach that gives the values section the right weighting.
Common mistakes in values questions
- Picking the answer that sounds most "polite" rather than the one that upholds the right value
- Confusing personal beliefs with Australian legal rights — someone's religious freedom includes the right not to hold religious beliefs
- Forgetting that equality of men and women applies across all areas of life — work, law, family, and public participation
- Treating "respect for the law" as meaning "follow every rule without question" — the correct understanding is that everyone, including governments, is subject to the law
Start practising
The best way to test your values knowledge is with timed, note-free practice tests. Start with Practice Test 1 and work through the series. Review every values question you get wrong in detail — not just the answer, but the reasoning.
All values content comes from the official Our Common Bond booklet, published by the Department of Home Affairs. This guide is reviewed regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to get all Australian values questions right?
Yes. You must answer all five Australian values questions correctly, even if your total score is otherwise high enough to pass.
What happens if you get one values question wrong?
You fail the test because the values requirement is separate from the overall 75% pass mark.
How should you study Australian values questions?
Read the values section of Our Common Bond carefully and focus on how the values apply in real situations, not just on memorising terms.