Why People Fail the Australian Citizenship Test (When It's Meant to Be Easy)
A lot of people walk in expecting an easy pass, and most of the time it is. The pass rate is high, so when someone fails it is rarely because they did not know the material. It is almost always one of a handful of avoidable mistakes.
First, the format that catches people out
The Australian Citizenship Test is 20 multiple-choice questions, and you need 75% to pass, which is 15 out of 20 correct.
That part sounds forgiving. But there is a second rule layered on top, and it is the single biggest reason capable people fail.
The Values slip (the trap that fails high scorers)
Five of the 20 questions cover Australian Values, and those five are scored as a block. You have to get all 5 of 5 correct, no exceptions.
Here is why it matters: you could answer 18 of 20 questions correctly and still fail if even one of your two wrong answers was a Values question. A strong overall score does not save you. The Values section is effectively pass or fail on its own.
Treat the five Values questions as the hardest part of the test, not the easiest. They feel like common sense, which is exactly why people get careless and lose one.
Careless reading of NOT and except
Many questions are written in the negative: "Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of an Australian citizen?" or "All of these are true except one."
Under mild test pressure, eyes skim. People read the question as a positive, pick the first answer that sounds true, and get it wrong even though they knew the fact.
- Slow down on any question with NOT, except, never, or only.
- Read every option before choosing, not just the first that looks right.
English-comprehension stumbles
The test is in English, and some options are long or use double negatives that twist the meaning. You can know the correct answer and still trip over the wording.
If English is your second language, the content is usually not the obstacle. The sentence structure is. Practising with realistic question wording matters more than re-reading facts you already know.
Under-preparing Parts 1 to 3
Because everyone fixates on Values, the general-knowledge sections get neglected. Those are:
- Part 1: Australia and its people
- Part 2: Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties
- Part 3: Government and the law in Australia
You only get to skip 5 questions total across the whole test. If Values takes none of your margin (it cannot, you need all 5), every wrong answer in Parts 1 to 3 eats into your buffer fast. Do not assume these sections are free marks.
What happens if you fail
A failure is not the end of the road. Free retakes are generally available, and many people pass on a second attempt once they know where they slipped.
That said, repeated failures can eventually mean reapplying rather than simply rebooking. Rules around retake timing and limits do change, so do not rely on a fixed waiting period you read somewhere. Confirm the current retake rules directly with the Department of Home Affairs before you plan around them.
Your pre-test checklist
Each item below neutralises one specific failure mode:
- Drill the five Values questions until they are automatic. All 5 of 5 is non-negotiable, so over-prepare this section.
- Circle the trap words. On every question, watch for NOT, except, never, only · read them twice.
- Read all four options fully before answering, especially when one is long or has a double negative.
- Give Parts 1 to 3 real study time. They decide your 15-out-of-20 buffer.
- Practise under timed conditions so the format does not surprise you on the day.
- Check Home Affairs for the latest rules on retakes, eligibility, and what to bring.
Practise the way you will be tested
Reading the booklet tells you the facts. It does not teach you to spot a negative question, hold your nerve through the Values block, or pace yourself across 20 questions. For that you need a full timed mock with answer review that flags your weak area, so you walk in knowing exactly where you slip.
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