What score do you need to pass the citizenship test?
The pass rule has two parts, and both must be met in the same sitting:
- 75% overall — at least 15 of the 20 multiple-choice questions correct, and
- all 5 Australian Values questions correct — a single wrong values answer fails the test, even with a high overall score.
Worked examples
- 15 of 20, all 5 values questions right — a pass, exactly on the line.
- 19 of 20, but one values question wrong — a fail, despite scoring 95%.
- 14 of 20, all values questions right — a fail: below the 75% mark.
The second example is the one that surprises people. The values questions are a hurdle of their own, not just part of the average — treat them as a separate section you cannot afford to miss.
The time limit
45 minutes for 20 questions works out to about two and a quarter minutes per question. That is a comfortable budget for questions you know — the risk is stalling on the ones you don't. In practice sittings, build the habit of choosing your best answer and moving on instead of burning minutes on a single question.
How to know you're ready
One good practice score can be luck; readiness is consistency. Aim for mock-exam scores that sit above the pass line again and again — with a clean values section every time — under the real conditions: 20 questions, 45 minutes. Our free practice app scores every mock exam with the real two-part rule, always includes 5 values questions like the real test, and builds a readiness estimate from your recent answers, so you can see the trend rather than guess. Score history beats gut feel: look at your worst recent sitting, not your best — you are ready when even a bad day clears both parts of the rule. Not sure what the questions cover? Start with what is on the test, or follow the six-step study plan.
Common score traps
Two habits produce practice scores that flatter to deceive. The first is drilling only the topics you already like — an overall average built on your strong areas says nothing about the questions the real test will actually mix in. The second is reading your practice results as one number: a sitting that averages 80% but drops a values question is a fail under the real rule, so track the values section separately, every time. Practise against the full two-part rule from the start and the real sitting holds no surprises.
If you don't pass
Arrangements around the official test — bookings, retakes and anything else procedural — are set by the Department of Home Affairs and can change, so check the current details on the official Home Affairs immigration and citizenship site rather than relying on third-party summaries (including this one). For what a fail actually means — and how to regroup before the next attempt — see what happens if you fail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the Australian citizenship test?
75% — at least 15 of 20 questions correct — and you must also answer all 5 Australian Values questions correctly in the same sitting.
Can you fail the citizenship test with a high score?
Yes. The 5 Australian Values questions must all be correct, so 19 of 20 with one values question wrong is a fail, while 15 of 20 with a clean values section is a pass.
How long is the citizenship test?
45 minutes for 20 multiple-choice questions — about two and a quarter minutes per question.
More citizenship test guides
- What is on the citizenship test?
- Australian Values questions
- Free practice questions and answers
- What happens if you fail?
- The test in your language
- How to pass — the study plan
- Our Common Bond — booklet summary
- Cost, eligibility & booking
- Free practice app — 500 source-verified questions, lessons and mock exams
Unofficial study aid — not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Australian Government or the Department of Home Affairs. Every practice question is verified against the official booklet. Always confirm anything important against the official Our Common Bond booklet.