Everything You Need to Know About the Australian Citizenship Test

If you want to become an Australian citizen by registration, you must pass the Australian citizenship test; although you must meet some basic requirements. The purpose of the citizenship test is to assess your knowledge of English, the responsibilities of a citizen and whether you know the history of Australia.

However, there is so much more to the Australian citizenship test that you ought to know if you want to pass. Let’s have a look.

Eligibility Criteria

To start the test application process, you must meet these requirements:

• Be 18 years or above.
• You are residing in Australia permanently.
• You have lived in Australia for not less than four years.
• Your character should be in good standing with no criminal record.
• Be a permanent Australian resident for at least 12 months before making the test application process.

The Citizenship Test

Statistics show that the pass rate for skilled migrants is 99.7 percent, while that of humanitarian migrants is 91.2 percent. This shows that it’s relatively easy to acquire citizenship if you meet the standard procedure. Those who are exempted from the Australian citizenship test include persons aged below 18 years or above 60 years.

Applicants with notarized medical documents to prove that they suffer from a significant impairment (hearing disabilities, speech deficiency, or loss of sight) are also not required to sit for the citizenship test.

Test rules

Like a typical exam session, there are rules and regulations to be observed during the citizenship test. While sitting for the test, you must:

• Stay quiet and don’t talk to other people in the exam room.
• Switch off your mobile phone keep it far from reach.
• Be in the exam room at least 30 minutes before the test starts.
• Do not consult for answers from other candidates.
• Only inquire from the staff members if you need assistance with using the computer.
• Finish the test within 45 minutes.

If you breach these rules, your test will be nullified and this reduces your chances to legally acquire the Australian citizenship status. Before writing the test, you must present your photograph and provide proper documentation that you’ve been an Australian permanent resident for the last 12 months.

Cost

There are no extra costs required to sit for the exam. Instead, the citizenship application fee covers the eligibility test.

Before the Test

The applicant needs to polish on all the key areas that are highly likely to be included in the exam. If you want to pass the citizenship test, you must:

• Prove that you have a basic understanding of English.
• Read and understand the Common Bond guide book.
• Have adequate knowledge of the Australian culture, history, and values.

It’s also important to have basic computer knowledge. If you do not have sufficient computer skills, you can always seek assistance from a staff member. You’re allowed to listen to the questions if you cannot entirely read English.

Applicants are not allowed to bring someone to help them complete the test. Instead, they need to make a prior request in the application to get in-house assistance if they don’t have the basic fluency in English. If you’re approved for an assisted test, you’re allowed to complete it in 90 minutes, as opposed to the standard exam.

After the Test

Your application process moves to the next stage if you pass the citizenship test. The pass mark for the citizenship test is 75%. You need to answer 15 out of 20 questions correctly within 45 minutes to proceed with the application process.

If you pass the test, the Department of Home Affairs will send you a formal notification with all the necessary steps required for the citizenship ceremony. This is made through a letter of invitation which is to be sent to your address by the department of your local council.

If you fail the citizenship test, you’re allowed to do a retake at no cost. Depending on your availability, you can choose to take the test again on the same day or schedule it for another day.                                                                                                                                                     

Citizenship ceremony

This is the last step before you become an Australian citizen. A citizenship ceremony is usually held within 6 months from the date when your application is formally approved. The invitation spells out the date, time, and venue of the ceremony. You need to give out credible reason if you’re not able to attend the citizenship ceremony at the specified date.

After you’ve pledged, you’ll be awarded a citizenship certificate. Your citizenship certificate is a legal document which bears the name you gave during the application process. You can use the certificate to apply for an Australian passport or identity verification document while applying for a job.

You may be required to bring a valid document that will be used for photo identification. Documents such as your driver’s license or those that bear your address, like bank statements and utility bills, can be used for identity verification.