If you are applying for citizenship by conferral, the Australian citizenship test is one step you need to plan for. It checks what you know about Australia, its history, and its values. Most adult applicants must sit it and pass before their citizenship can be approved. The good news is that the test is based on a free official booklet, so you can prepare for exactly what is asked.

This guide explains how the Australian citizenship test works in 2026: the format, the pass mark, the five values questions, who is exempt, and how to study. It is written in plain English for people preparing for the test.

How many questions are on the Australian citizenship test?

The Australian citizenship test has twenty multiple-choice questions and a time limit of forty-five minutes. You need to answer at least seventy-five percent correctly, which means fifteen out of twenty. Five questions are about Australian values, and you must answer all five of those correctly to pass.

What the test covers and how it works

The test is taken on a computer, usually at a Department of Home Affairs office, and it is conducted in English. The questions are drawn from an official booklet, so nothing on the test is a surprise if you have studied.

The twenty questions cover Australia and its people, our democratic beliefs, government and the law, and the values Australians share. You answer by choosing the correct option for each question. Once you finish, you usually find out your result on the day.

Two numbers matter most. The first is the overall pass mark of seventy-five percent. The second is the rule on values questions, which is stricter and explained next.

The five Australian values questions

Five of the twenty questions are about Australian values. These are not ordinary questions. You must answer every one of them correctly. If you miss even one values question, you fail the whole test, no matter how well you did on the rest.

This is the part applicants most often overlook. It means the values section deserves extra study. The values cover ideas such as freedom, respect, equality, and the rule of law, and how Australians are expected to treat one another. Read this section of the booklet closely and make sure you understand it, not just memorise it.

Who has to sit the test and who is exempt

Most applicants for citizenship by conferral aged eighteen to fifty-nine must sit the test. If you are in that age range, plan to study and book your test as part of your application.

Some people do not have to sit it. You are generally exempt if you are aged seventeen or younger, or aged sixty or over. People who cannot sit the test because of a permanent or long-term medical condition or disability may also be exempt. A few other special cases exist as well. If you think an exemption may apply to you, confirm it before you apply, because the rules are specific. To see how the test fits the wider process, read our Australian citizenship guide.

How to prepare for the test

You do not need paid courses to pass. The Department of Home Affairs publishes the official booklet, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, and it is free. Every test question is based on it. Reading it carefully is the single best way to prepare.

A simple study plan works well. Read the whole booklet once to get the big picture. Read it a second time and take notes. Then focus on the values section until you are confident, because those questions allow no mistakes. The booklet is available in around forty community languages to help you understand the content, although the test itself is in English. If your English is still building, our guide to the English tests approved for Australian visas may also help you plan, since you need functional English for citizenship.

Practice questions help too. They get you used to the multiple-choice format and the wording, and they show you which topics to revise. Treat practice as a way to find your weak spots, not just to score yourself.

What happens if you fail

Failing the test is not the end of your citizenship hopes. If you do not pass, you can usually book and sit the test again, in most cases without an extra charge. Many people pass on a later attempt after more study.

Do not rush back in. Use the time between attempts to study the booklet again, especially the values section. If you keep finding it hard, get help with your preparation or your English rather than sitting the test unprepared. After you pass, your application continues toward a decision and then the ceremony, which we cover in our PR to citizenship guide.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Australian citizenship test? The test has twenty multiple-choice questions with a forty-five minute time limit. You must answer at least fifteen correctly to reach the seventy-five percent pass mark. Five of the twenty questions are about Australian values, and all five must be correct.

What is the pass mark for the citizenship test? The pass mark is seventy-five percent, which is fifteen correct answers out of twenty. On top of that, you must answer all five Australian values questions correctly, or you fail the test even if your overall score is high enough.

What are the Australian values questions? Five questions on the test cover Australian values, such as freedom, respect, equality, and the rule of law. You must answer every one of them correctly. They are based on the official booklet, so study that section closely.

Can I retake the test if I fail? Yes. If you fail, you can usually rebook and sit the test again, in most cases without an extra charge. Use the time in between to study the booklet again, especially the values section, before your next attempt.

Who is exempt from the citizenship test? You generally do not have to sit the test if you are aged seventeen or younger or aged sixty or over. People with a permanent or long-term medical condition or disability that prevents them from sitting may also be exempt, along with a few other special cases.

Next steps

The Australian citizenship test rewards preparation. Read the official booklet, study the values section until you are sure of it, and practise the format before you book. Most people who prepare properly pass without trouble.

If you want to be confident your whole application is ready, not just the test, speak to a Registered Migration Agent. Manisha Bhutani (Registered Migration Agent, MARN 2217756) checks your eligibility, residence history, and documents against the current rules so nothing is missed. Book a consultation with Desire PTE & Migration to plan your citizenship application with confidence.