How to prepare for the Australian citizenship test

The citizenship test isn't designed to catch you out. It checks that you understand the basics of Australian life, history, and values — all of which come from one official booklet. Prepare from that booklet properly and you'll be in good shape.

Know what you're preparing for

The citizenship test is 20 multiple-choice questions on a computer, in English, with a 45-minute time limit. To pass:

• You need at least 15 correct answers (75%)
• You must get all five Australian values questions right — this is a separate requirement, not just part of the 75%

That second condition is where many applicants get caught. A score of 19 out of 20 still means a fail if the one wrong answer was a values question. Understanding this from the start changes how you allocate your study time.

See how the Australian citizenship test is scored for the full breakdown.

Start with the official resource

Everything in the test comes from Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, published by the Department of Home Affairs: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/test-and-interview/our-common-bond

It's free to download. Don't skip this and try to rely on summaries — the questions are drawn directly from its content.

The booklet has four testable sections:

• Australia and its people — history, Indigenous peoples, migration, national identity
• Democratic beliefs, rights, and liberties — how democracy works, your rights and freedoms
• Government and the law — federal and state governments, how laws are made
• Australian values — the principles that underpin Australian society

The values section deserves the most attention. While there are only five values questions in the test, you must get all five right to pass.

For a structured walkthrough of the booklet, see The Australian citizenship resource book: Our Common Bond.

A week-by-week study plan

You don't need months of preparation, but consistency matters more than cramming.

Week 1: read and take notes

Day	Task
Day 1–2	Read "Australia and its people" — note key dates and events
Day 3	Read "Democratic beliefs, rights, and liberties" — list each right mentioned
Day 4	Read "Government and the law" — draw a simple diagram of the three levels
Day 5–6	Read "Australian values" — twice; explain each value in your own words
Day 7	First full timed practice test; check every answer against the booklet

Week 2: practise and fix gaps

Day	Task
Day 8	Re-read your weakest section from Week 1
Day 9	Second full timed practice test; track values score separately
Day 10	Re-read values chapter; focus on any value you're still missing
Day 11–12	Two more full timed practice tests; review wrong answers each time
Day 13	Light review of notes; confirm you're consistently hitting 15+ with all values correct
Day 14	Test day — arrive early, bring ID and appointment letter

Start with Practice Test 1 and work through the series.

Use practice tests properly

A practice test done with the booklet open tells you almost nothing. One done timed, without notes, in a quiet spot tells you where you actually stand.

After each practice test:

• Note every wrong answer
• Look them up in Our Common Bond
• Understand why the correct answer is right, not just what it is

This matters especially for values questions, which use scenarios that require genuine understanding rather than simple recall.

For strategy on how many tests to do and how to track progress, see Australian citizenship practice test strategy.

If English isn't your first language

The booklet is available in many community languages through the Department's website. Reading it in your language first, then reviewing the English version, can help you understand the concepts before engaging with the test language.

The test itself is in English only, so your reading comprehension needs to be strong enough to understand 20 multiple-choice questions within 45 minutes. If this is a concern, start earlier and read the booklet in English regularly.

In the final days before your test

Avoid heavy cramming the night before — it usually does more harm than good. A light review of the values section and your notes is enough. Get a good night's sleep and arrive at the test centre 15–20 minutes early with your appointment letter and original photo ID.

For the complete test-day checklist, see things to do on the day of your citizenship test.

Are you ready?

Before your appointment, you should be able to say yes to all of these:

• I've read the full Our Common Bond booklet, including all testable sections
• I've completed multiple practice tests under timed conditions with no notes
• I'm consistently scoring 15 or more correct answers in practice
• I'm getting all five values questions right every time
• I know what to bring on test day and how to get there

Use the citizenship test self-assessment to check your readiness honestly.

Related guides

• The Australian citizenship resource book: Our Common Bond
• How the Australian citizenship test is scored
• Australian citizenship practice test strategy
• Things to do on the day of your citizenship test
• Practice Test 1

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Study from the latest version of Our Common Bond published by the Department of Home Affairs.