Australian Values questions

Since 2020, every citizenship test includes 5 questions on Australian values — and unlike the rest of the test, you must answer all 5 correctly to pass, regardless of your overall score.

The must-pass rule

The values questions are 5 of the test's 20 questions, but they carry a rule of their own: one wrong values answer fails the whole test, even at 19 of 20 overall. That makes them worth more preparation per question than anything else on the test — see how the pass mark works for worked examples.

What the values cover

Australian values are shared commitments — freedom, respect, fairness, equality of opportunity and the rule of law. Becoming a citizen means committing to live them out, not just agreeing with them, and the questions are written from that angle. The values section of Our Common Bond covers the commitments every citizen makes, including:

freedom of speech and expression
freedom of religion
equality of men and women
equality of opportunity
mutual respect and tolerance
respect for the rule of law

The depth the questions expect

The values questions reward understanding the commitments, not memorising slogans. The booklet's own framing shows the level expected:

Rule of law — everyone is equal under the law and no person or group is above it, including community leaders and the police.
Freedoms, within the law — freedom of speech, expression, religion and association are protected, but always exercised lawfully. Australia is a secular country: where a religious practice conflicts with Australian law, Australian law prevails.
Equality and a 'fair go' — success should come from talent, effort and hard work, not gender, wealth or background. Men and women have equal rights. A fair go means equality of opportunity, not guaranteed equal outcomes.
Mutual respect and tolerance — respect others even when you disagree with them. Violence is never acceptable, and racism has no place in Australia.

The mistakes that cost the sitting

Three misreadings account for most values-section errors: treating a value as optional (values questions expect a firm commitment — an answer that makes a value sound optional is almost always wrong); thinking freedom of religion lets a practice override Australian law (it does not — the law prevails); and confusing equality of opportunity with guaranteed equal outcomes.

How to prepare

Because one wrong values answer fails the whole test, practise the values section until it is second nature — not just until you scrape a pass. Read the values section of the booklet slowly, then drill it. In our free practice app every mock exam includes 5 values questions, mirroring the real test, and you can also practise the values topic on its own until a clean 5-for-5 is your normal result. A simple check while practising: if an answer choice makes a value sound optional or negotiable, it is almost always the wrong choice. For the full picture of the exam, start with what is on the test, see where the values sit in the booklet summary, or try a free sample of questions and answers.

Frequently asked questions

How many Australian Values questions are on the citizenship test?

Five. Every test includes 5 Australian Values questions, and all 5 must be answered correctly to pass.

What happens if I get one values question wrong?

You fail that sitting of the test, whatever your overall score. The values questions are a must-pass section of their own.

What values does the citizenship test cover?

The values section of Our Common Bond includes freedom of speech and expression, freedom of religion, equality of men and women, equality of opportunity, mutual respect and tolerance, and respect for the rule of law.

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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.