Free study guide
Everything on the Australian citizenship test, explained
38 topics across the four parts of the test, in plain English, with 500 practice questions. Every answer shows the page of Our Common Bond it comes from.
About 2 hours to read it all · no account needed
How the test works
- 20
- questions
- 45 min
- to finish
- 15 / 20
- to pass overall
- 5 / 5
- values questions right
Miss a single values question and it is a fail, even with a high score.
- 1
Read a topic
A plain-English summary, what the booklet says, and the mistakes people make.
- 2
Test yourself
Each topic ends with questions. Pick an answer before you see the right one.
- 3
Take a mock test
When a part feels solid, check yourself under real test conditions.
The four parts of the test
Part 1
Australia and its people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, how modern Australia was settled, migration, the states and territories, and Australian society today.
12 topics · 125 questions · about 35 min
Part 2
Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
Parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, living peacefully, respect for each other, and the freedoms Australians share.
9 topics · 125 questions · about 34 min
Part 3
Government and the law in Australia
Federation and the Constitution, how parliament and government share power, voting, referendums, and how to raise an issue with your representatives.
11 topics · 125 questions · about 34 min
Part 4
Australian values
The values every Australian citizen commits to: freedom, respect, fairness and equality of opportunity, and what they mean in daily life.
All 5 values questions on the test must be right to pass. Values guide and drill
6 topics · 125 questions · about 33 min
Part 1 · Australia and its people
Open Part 1 →- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples4 minAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australia's first inhabitants.
- Aboriginal peoples3 minAboriginal people are historically from mainland Australia and Tasmania.
- Australian society1 minAustralia's population has grown steadily more diverse over the last two centuries.
- Citizenship ceremony1 minThe citizenship ceremony is where a person formally becomes an Australian citizen.
- Early European settlement6 minEuropean settlement began on 26 January 1788 when the First Fleet — the first 11 convict ships — arrived from Great Britain.
- Gold rush4 minA gold rush began in 1851 when gold was discovered in the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria.
- Indigenous cultures1 minIndigenous cultures in Australia are diverse — there is wide variety in language, custom and Country.
- Language3 minAustralia's national language is English, and English is part of the national identity.
- Migration5 minMigration levels rose and fell through the first half of the 20th century, with programs actively encouraging British migrants to settle here.
- States and territories1 minThe Commonwealth of Australia is a federation of states and territories.
- The nation of Australia5 minIn 1901 the separate colonies were united into a federation of states called the Commonwealth of Australia.
- Torres Strait Islander peoples1 minTorres Strait Islander people are from the islands between the northern tip of Queensland and Papua New Guinea.
Part 2 · Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
Open Part 2 →- Citizenship pledge2 minThe citizenship pledge is made at the ceremony.Also covered in Part 3, Government and the law
- Freedom of association7 minFreedom of association is the right to form or join associations to pursue common goals — a political party, a trade union, a religious, cultural or social group — provided the organisation is legal.Also covered in Part 4, Australian values
- Freedom of expression5 minFreedom of expression means people can express their views through art, film, music and literature.
- Freedom of religion3 minAustralia has a Judaeo-Christian heritage and is home to people from all the large religions.Also covered in Part 4, Australian values
- Freedom of speech5 minFreedom of speech is a core Australian value that underpins the democratic system.Also covered in Part 4, Australian values
- Living peacefully3 minAustralians are proud to live in a peaceful country with a stable system of government.
- Parliamentary democracy3 minAustralia's system of government is a parliamentary democracy in which the power of the government comes from the Australian people.Also covered in Part 4, Australian values
- Respect for individuals2 minAustralia's democratic system is based on the principle that every individual has rights, and equality, under Australian law regardless of background.
- Rule of Law4 minUnder the Rule of Law, all Australians are equal under the law and no person, group or religious rule is above it.Also covered in Part 4, Australian values
Part 3 · Government and the law in Australia
Open Part 3 →- Australian Constitution8 minThe Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, also called the Australian Constitution, is the legal document that sets out the basic rules for the government of Australia.
- Australian Electoral Commission4 minThe Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent Commonwealth agency.
- Citizenship pledge1 minAt the citizenship ceremony, part of the pledge is a commitment to uphold and obey the laws of Australia.Also covered in Part 2, Democratic beliefs and rights
- Executive power1 minExecutive power is the power to put laws into practice once they exist.
- Federation3 minBefore 1901, Australia was made up of six separate self-governing British colonies, each with its own constitution and its own laws on matters such as defence, immigration, postage, trade and transport.
- Legislative power3 minLegislative power is the power to make laws.
- Raising matters with representatives2 minAustralian citizens can contact their elected representative to raise concerns about government policy.
- Referenda3 minA referendum is how the Australian people vote to change the Constitution.
- Separation of powers1 minThe Australian Constitution divides the power of government between legislative power (making laws), executive power (putting them into practice) and judicial power (applying and interpreting them).
- System of government1 minAustralia's system of government is a parliamentary democracy.
- Voting7 minAustralian citizens aged 18 or over must enrol to vote in federal, state and territory elections and in referenda on constitutional change.
Part 4 · Australian values
Open Part 4 →- Freedom of association5 minAs an Australian value, freedom of association means people are free to join or leave any legal group voluntarily, and cannot be forced to join or to leave one.Also covered in Part 2, Democratic beliefs and rights
- Freedom of religion4 minAustralia has no official national religion, and people are free to follow any religion they choose — or none.Also covered in Part 2, Democratic beliefs and rights
- Freedom of speech11 minAs an Australian value, people should be able to express their ideas freely within the law — in speech, in writing, in the media, and by meeting for social or political discussion in public or private.Also covered in Part 2, Democratic beliefs and rights
- Overview of Australian values5 minAustralian values are based on freedom, respect, fairness and equality of opportunity.
- Parliamentary democracy4 minAs an Australian value, parliamentary democracy means Australia's laws are made by parliaments elected by the people, and the power of the government comes from the Australian people.Also covered in Part 2, Democratic beliefs and rights
- Rule of Law4 minAs an Australian value, the Rule of Law means all Australians are equal in relation to the law and no person or group is above it.Also covered in Part 2, Democratic beliefs and rights