Our Common Bond study plan: 14 days to prepare for the citizenship test
If you have two weeks before your citizenship test appointment — or want a structured way to prepare — this plan covers the full Our Common Bond booklet while building your practice test habits gradually.
Adjust the pace based on your existing knowledge and how long each section takes you. The goal is to know the booklet well, not to rush through it.
Before you start
Download or access Our Common Bond from the Department of Home Affairs website. It's free. Print it if you prefer reading on paper — having physical notes is fine during study, but not during the test.
The booklet has four testable sections. Focus on these; the rest is useful context.
Week 1: read and take notes
Day 1 — Australia and its people (part 1)
Read the first half of the "Australia and its people" section. Cover:
- Geography and states/territories
- Indigenous Australians — the oldest continuous cultures on earth
- Australia's history of migration and settlement
Note down anything unfamiliar. Don't try to memorise — aim to understand.
Day 2 — Australia and its people (part 2)
Finish the "Australia and its people" section. Cover:
- Significant events in Australian history
- Australia's identity and culture
- National symbols
Day 3 — democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
Read this section carefully. Cover:
- How democracy works in Australia
- The rights and freedoms Australians enjoy
- How those rights are protected
Make a short list of each freedom mentioned — this will be useful for the values questions later.
Day 4 — government and the law
This section covers how Australia's government is structured:
- Federal, state, territory, and local government roles
- How laws are made
- The role of courts
Draw a simple diagram if it helps you visualise the structure. Questions from this section often test specific roles, not general knowledge.
Day 5 — Australian values (full read)
Read the Australian values chapter slowly. This is the most important section for the test.
Cover each value:
- What it means
- How it applies in everyday life in Australia
- Examples of it in action
After reading, close the booklet and try to explain each value from memory. If you can't, re-read that value. See Australian citizenship test values questions explained for more on how these questions work.
Day 6 — review and first practice test
Read back through your notes from the week.
Then take a full practice test — 20 questions, 45 minutes, no notes: Practice Test 1
Check your answers. For any you got wrong, go directly to the relevant booklet section and understand why.
Day 7 — values deep dive
Spend today entirely on the values section. For each value:
- Write it out in your own words
- Think of a real-life scenario where it applies
- Think of what the wrong response in that scenario would look like
Values questions often test whether you'd pick the correct response in a realistic situation. Understanding the wrong answers is just as important as knowing the right ones.
Week 2: practice and strengthen
Day 8 — practice test + review
Take another full timed test: Practice Test 2
Track not just how many you got right overall, but specifically how you did on values questions. If you missed any, go back to the Day 5 and 7 material.
Day 9 — government and history focus
Re-read the government and "Australia and its people" sections, focusing on anything that came up wrong in your practice tests. Pay attention to:
- How laws are made and which level of government does what
- The roles of the Governor-General, Prime Minister, and Parliament
- Key dates and events in Australian history
Day 10 — practice test + full review
Take Practice Test 3 or another test from the series.
Review every wrong answer in detail — not just "what's the right answer" but "why is that the right answer according to the booklet?"
Day 11 — weak areas
By now you should have a clear sense of which topics you're weakest on. Spend today reading those sections again. Common weak spots:
- The difference between federal and state responsibilities
- Specific rights and freedoms (especially freedom of religion vs secular government)
- Details about Indigenous Australian history and culture
Day 12 — practice test + values check
Take another full test. After checking results, count your values question score separately. You need 5/5 on test day. If you're still missing any, that's the only thing that matters right now.
Day 13 — light review
Don't cram. Read through your notes lightly. Re-read the values section one more time at a comfortable pace.
Check the logistics for tomorrow:
- What time is your appointment?
- Do you have your photo ID and appointment letter?
- How long does it take to get to the test centre?
Day 14 — test day
Arrive early. Bring your original photo ID and appointment letter.
The test is computer-based. Read each question carefully before answering. You have 45 minutes for 20 questions — there's no need to rush.
A note on practice tests
Practice tests work best under real conditions: timed, no notes, scored honestly. Doing them with the booklet open tells you very little. Use this site's full test series to build up your confidence — start with Practice Test 1 and work through as many as you can before your appointment.
For advice on how many tests to do and what to focus on, see Australian citizenship practice test strategy.
All study material comes from Our Common Bond*, published by the Department of Home Affairs.*