Is the Australian citizenship test hard?
There's no official pass-rate published, so rather than guess at a percentage, here's exactly how the test is scored — so you can judge your own readiness instead of relying on a rumour.
Last reviewed against the Department of Home Affairs citizenship test guidance.
How the test is scored
Multiple choice, drawn from Our Common Bond.
More than two minutes per question on average.
At least 15 of the 20 questions correct.
Every Australian Values question must be correct.
The part that trips people up: the values questions
You could answer 19 of the 20 questions correctly and still not pass, if the one you got wrong was an Australian Values question. The overall 75% bar and the values rule are separate and both apply — 15 or more correct overall and all 5 values questions correct. That's the single detail that makes the test feel harder than a straight 75% cut-off suggests.
The fix is straightforward: give the values chapter extra attention, since it's the one part of the test with zero margin for error.
What makes the rest more manageable
45 minutes for 20 questions is generous — more than two minutes each, so most people finish with time to spare.
It's multiple choice on a computer, not an open-response or spoken exam.
Every question is drawn from one fixed, published booklet — Our Common Bond — not general knowledge.
The content is entirely knowable in advance: five chapters, no surprises on test day.
The best way to know if you're ready
Sit a free practice test using the same scoring rules — 20 questions, 45 minutes, 75% pass mark, all 5 values questions required — and see where you land. Each answer is revealed with an explanation as you go, so it's a study session, not a blind exam simulation.
Common questions
Is the whole test about Australian values?
No. The values questions are 5 of the 20 — the other 15 are drawn from the site's other four topics: Australia and its people, democratic beliefs, government and the law, and rights and responsibilities. Values just carry a stricter rule: all 5 must be correct.
Where can I check the official scoring rule myself?
This page mirrors the scoring rule as published by the Department of Home Affairs. Always confirm the current rules directly on homeaffairs.gov.au before your test, since official guidance can change.
Source and accuracy
This page restates the scoring rule already published in our home FAQ. The pass mark and format come from the Department of Home Affairs' own test guidance; the 20 questions themselves are drawn from Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. CitizenshipPractice is an independent study aid, not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs or the Australian Government.
Confirm the current rules on the official Home Affairs test guidance