Australia
Australian citizenship test questions and answers
All the questions of our bank, part by part, each with its answer and a short explanation. The page opens on Part 4, Australian values.
1.Can a religious law override Australian law?
- · Yes, if the community agrees
- · Yes, for family matters
- ✓ No, Australian law prevails over a religious practice
- · Only in private homes
There is no official national religion in Australia, and people may follow any religion or none. Australian laws must be obeyed at all times: if an Australian law and a religious practice conflict, the Australian law takes priority.
Where to check: Part 4: Freedom of religion
2.Do women and men have equal rights in Australia?
- ✓ Yes
- · No
- · Only at work
- · Only in courts
Yes. In Australia, women and men have equal rights. Both can access education and jobs on equal terms, vote and stand for parliament, join the police and the Australian Defence Force, and are treated equally in the courts.
Where to check: Part 4: Equality of all people under the law
3.Is it acceptable to promote violence against a group because of its religion?
- · Yes, in a private meeting
- · Yes, if it is true
- ✓ No, never
- · Only online
Promoting violence against another person or group is never acceptable, for example on the grounds of their culture, ethnicity, religion or background. It goes against Australian values and against the law, whatever the setting.
Where to check: Part 4: Freedom of speech
4.Under the Rule of Law, who must obey Australian laws?
- · Only citizens
- ✓ Everyone in Australia
- · Everyone except politicians
- · Only adults born in Australia
Under the Rule of Law, every Australian is equal before the law, and nobody, whether a person or a group, stands above it. Australian laws apply to everyone in Australia, whatever their background or culture.
Where to check: Part 4: Commitment to the Rule of Law
5.Can a person be forced to join or stay in an organisation?
- · Yes, a trade union
- · Yes, a religious group
- ✓ No, joining or leaving is voluntary
- · Only a political party
People in Australia may join or leave any lawful group of their own free will, such as a political party, a trade union, or a religious, cultural or social group. Nobody can be forced to join an organisation or made to leave one.
Where to check: Part 4: Freedom of association
6.Under the Rule of Law, should you obey the law even when no one is watching?
- · No, only when police are present
- ✓ Yes, always
- · Only in public places
- · Only if you agree with the law
Australians see laws as important for a peaceful and orderly society. Everyone should obey the law at all times or face penalties, and people should keep to the law even when nobody is watching.
Where to check: Part 4: Commitment to the Rule of Law
7.Do newspapers, television and radio in Australia have freedom of speech?
- · No, the government decides what they publish
- · Only newspapers do
- ✓ Yes, they have the same freedom as people, within the law
- · Only during elections
In Australia people may speak and write their opinions on any subject, within the law. Newspapers, television and radio enjoy the same freedom, which is an important part of Australia's democracy.
Where to check: Part 4: Freedom of speech
8.Which of these is illegal in Australia, even though freedom of speech is valued?
- · Disagreeing with a government policy
- · Writing a letter to a newspaper
- · Discussing politics with friends
- ✓ Making false allegations or encouraging others to break the law
Freedom of speech in Australia has limits set by law. It is illegal to make false allegations or to encourage others to break the law, and other people's lawful freedom of speech and expression must always be respected.
Where to check: Part 4: Freedom of speech
9.Is polygamy (having more than one husband or wife at the same time) legal in Australia?
- ✓ No, it is against the law
- · Yes, if all partners agree
- · Yes, if a religion allows it
- · Yes, if the marriages took place overseas and are kept private
Some religious or cultural practices are illegal in Australia. Polygamy, meaning having more than one husband or wife at the same time, is against the law and can lead to severe penalties, including prison.
Where to check: Part 4: Freedom of religion
10.A family wants to arrange their daughter's marriage without her free consent. What does Australian law say?
- · It is allowed if the family's culture accepts it
- ✓ Forced marriage is against the law and can lead to imprisonment
- · It is allowed if a religious leader agrees
- · It is a private family matter
Forced marriage, where one or both people do not freely choose to marry, is illegal in Australia. As with polygamy, it can lead to severe penalties, including prison, whatever the family's cultural or religious views.
Where to check: Part 4: Freedom of religion
11.Is religious intolerance acceptable in Australian society?
- · Yes, towards minority religions
- · Yes, if expressed privately
- ✓ No, it is not acceptable
- · Only between neighbours
Religious intolerance has no place in Australian society. Everyone should have an equal chance to pursue their own goals and interests, whatever their ethnicity or religion, provided they obey Australian law.
Where to check: Part 4: Freedom of religion
12.How does Australian law treat people of different faiths, such as Buddhists and Christians?
- · Christians receive preferential treatment
- · Buddhists receive preferential treatment
- · Only the largest religion is protected
- ✓ They receive the same treatment
In Australia the law is applied so that nobody receives preferential treatment or suffers discrimination because of their background. For example, Buddhists and followers of every other faith are treated exactly as Christians are.
Where to check: Part 4: Equality of all people under the law
13.Under Australian law, can two women marry each other?
- ✓ Yes
- · No
- · Only in one state
- · Only if they were married overseas
Australian society values equal rights for everyone, whatever their gender or sexual orientation. Under Australian law, any two people may marry, including two women or two men.
Where to check: Part 4: Equality of all people under the law
14.A woman and a man apply for the same job. The woman has better qualifications and skills. Is it her right to get the job ahead of the man?
- · No, men must be chosen first
- ✓ Yes
- · Only if no man applies
- · Only in the public service
Discriminating against someone because of their gender is illegal. In Australia, a woman who has better qualifications and skills than a man has the right to be given the job ahead of him.
Where to check: Part 4: Equality of all people under the law
15.Who has the right to make their own choices about personal matters like religion and marriage?
- · Only men
- · Only the head of the family
- ✓ Both men and women
- · Only parents
In Australia, women and men alike have the right to make their own choices about personal matters such as religion and marriage. The law protects them from intimidation or violence linked to those choices.
Where to check: Part 4: Equality of all people under the law
16.Can a wife apply to the courts for a divorce even if her husband wishes to continue the marriage?
- · No, both must agree
- · Only the husband can apply
- · Only with a religious leader's permission
- ✓ Yes, either spouse may apply
Divorce is accepted in Australia. A wife or a husband can ask the courts for a divorce, even when the other spouse wants the marriage to continue. Both spouses have equal rights.
Where to check: Part 4: Equality of all people under the law
17.When an organisation is filling a job, whom does the law support it in choosing?
- ✓ The applicant whose skills and experience best fit the job
- · A member of the owner's family
- · The applicant with the most money
- · Someone of the same ethnicity as the manager
What someone achieves should come from hard work and talent. Jobs should go to people on the basis of skills and experience, not gender, wealth or ethnicity, and the law supports organisations in choosing the person best suited to the role.
Where to check: Part 4: Equality of opportunity and a 'fair go'
18.A neighbour has opinions and lifestyle choices very different from your own. What do Australian values expect of you?
- · To avoid them completely
- ✓ To listen and respect their views, being tolerant where you disagree
- · To try to make them change
- · To complain about them to the police
Australia values mutual respect and tolerance. This means respecting the freedom, dignity, opinions and choices of others, listening to them and respecting their views even when they differ from your own.
Where to check: Part 4: Mutual respect and tolerance for others
19.Is verbal abuse of another person acceptable in Australia?
- · Yes, if no one is physically hurt
- · Yes, within the family
- ✓ No, violence of any kind, including verbal abuse, is illegal
- · Only if the person deserves it
Being violent towards another person is against the law. All violence, verbal and physical abuse included, is illegal. Australians believe people can disagree peacefully and have the right to be safe from violence and intimidation.
Where to check: Part 4: Mutual respect and tolerance for others
20.What is the age of sexual consent in Australia?
- · 14 in all states
- · 15 in all states
- ✓ 16 or 17, depending on the state or territory
- · 21 in all states
Australia's laws on the age of sexual consent are very strict. The age is 16 or 17, depending on the state or territory. For example, it is illegal everywhere in Australia for a man aged 20 to have sex with a girl aged 15.
Where to check: Part 4: Mutual respect and tolerance for others
21.A police officer makes a lawful request of you. What should you do?
- · Ignore it if you are busy
- · Obey only if the officer is senior
- · Ask a friend to respond for you
- ✓ Obey the lawful request
Australians should support the police when they act lawfully. You should comply with any lawful police request, because all Australians commit to obeying the law. The police protect life and property.
Where to check: Part 4: Mutual respect and tolerance for others
22.Which of these is an example of racism that has no place in Australia?
- ✓ Making racially abusive comments at a sporting event
- · Cheering for your national team
- · Learning about another culture
- · Celebrating a cultural festival
There is no place for racism in Australia. That includes making or sharing racially offensive material online or in other publications, and making racially abusive remarks in public or at a sporting event.
Where to check: Part 4: Mutual respect and tolerance for others
23.What responsibility does everyone in Australia have, when they are able to?
- · To rely entirely on government payments
- ✓ To try to support themselves and their families
- · To work only for the government
- · To leave their family's support to others
Australians expect everyone who lives in Australia to take part in society and contribute to the community. Everyone has a responsibility to try to provide for themselves and their families if they are able to.
Where to check: Part 4: Making a contribution
24.What does the Australian value of 'mateship' mean?
- · Choosing friends from the same background only
- · Supporting the same sporting team
- ✓ Helping each other, especially in times of need
- · Avoiding contact with neighbours
Australians value 'mateship', which means helping one another in hard times. Examples include bringing a meal to an elderly neighbour, giving a friend a lift to see a doctor, or calling in on someone who is lonely, frail or unwell.
Where to check: Part 4: Compassion for those in need
25.What must applicants for Australian citizenship whose native language is not English undertake to do?
- · Speak only English at home
- · Give up their first language
- · Pass a university English degree
- ✓ Make reasonable efforts to learn English
English is valued as Australia's national language and something that unites society. People applying for Australian citizenship must commit to making reasonable efforts to learn English if it is not their first language.
Where to check: Part 4: English as the national language
26.You think a neighbour might be planning a serious crime. What should you do?
- ✓ Tell the Australian government authorities without delay
- · Ignore it as none of your business
- · Warn the neighbour only
- · Wait until the crime happens
Everyone in Australia shares responsibility for helping to protect society. Anyone who suspects that a friend or neighbour may be planning a serious crime should tell the Australian government authorities without delay.
Where to check: Part 4: Helping to keep our society safe
27.If a person in Australia sees or knows about a child being abused, what should they do?
- · Keep it within the family
- ✓ Report it to the police to investigate
- · Discuss it only with friends
- · Do nothing unless asked
Keeping society safe includes protecting children. Anyone in Australia who sees a child being abused, or knows that it is happening, should tell the police so that it can be investigated.
Where to check: Part 4: Helping to keep our society safe
28.Which of these is an example of cyber abuse, many forms of which are illegal in Australia?
- · Posting a holiday photo of yourself
- · Sending a birthday message to a friend
- ✓ Sharing sexual photos of someone online without their consent
- · Joining an online book club
Online abuse, also called cyber abuse, is not accepted in Australia. Examples include posting sexual images or videos of someone online without their consent, stalking someone online, and posting racially abusive comments about a person on the internet.
Where to check: Part 4: Helping to keep our society safe
29.An Australian citizen is also a citizen of another country. While in Australia, which laws must they follow?
- · Only the laws of their other country
- · Whichever laws they prefer
- · Only Australian traffic laws
- ✓ All Australian laws at all times
Australian citizens may hold dual or multiple citizenship where the other countries' laws permit it. However, while in Australia an Australian citizen must obey every Australian law at all times, even if they are a citizen of another country too.
Where to check: Part 4: Loyalty to Australia
30.Which of these would undermine Australia's interests and security?
- ✓ Posting official government secrets on social media
- · Voting in a federal election
- · Joining a local sports club
- · Volunteering at a bushfire relief centre
Australian society rests on a shared duty not to harm Australia's interests and security. For example, posting official government secrets on social media would damage Australia's interests and could put other people at risk.
Where to check: Part 4: Loyalty to Australia
Part 4: Australian values
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30 questions in this chapter, 120 in the bank
Australian questions adapted from Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0, adapted by Radif Partners.
This page lists the 120 questions of our Australian bank, 30 to 30 per part, each with its right answer and a one-line explanation. It opens on Part 4, Australian values, because those questions decide the result on their own: the official rule requires all 5 values questions to be answered correctly, in addition to a mark of at least 75% over the 20 questions. The values the booklet sets out include parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, living peacefully, respect for all individuals regardless of background, freedom of speech and of association, freedom of religion and secular government, equality of opportunity and equality between men and women. The questions are not the real ones, which are not published; we wrote each from the testable section of Our Common Bond. Choose another part in the list to see its questions, open a question to read its answer, then test yourself with the practice mode.
Did I pass the Australian citizenship test?
Result
Pass
| Pass mark | 75% (15 of 20) |
| Values questions | 5 of 5 (all needed) |
| Why | Both rules met |
Questions, dates and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the questions and dates are built
Questions per part
| Part | Questions |
|---|---|
| Part 1: Australia and its people | 30 |
| Part 2: Democratic beliefs, rights and liberties | 30 |
| Part 3: Government and the law in Australia | 30 |
| Part 4: Australian values | 30 |
An example from Part 4
Can a religious law override Australian law? The right answer is "No, Australian law prevails over a religious practice". There is no official national religion in Australia, and people may follow any religion or none. Australian laws must be obeyed at all times: if an Australian law and a religious practice conflict, the Australian law takes priority.
How to use the list
Read the questions of one part with the answers hidden, answer in your head, then open each one to check. Mark the ones you got wrong and read the paragraph of Our Common Bond they come from. When a part feels easy, test yourself on it in the practice mode, where the answer choices are shuffled so you cannot rely on their position.
Where the facts come from
Every answer comes from the testable section of Our Common Bond, the booklet Home Affairs says is all you need to prepare. The department does not endorse any external course or paid app, and neither are we endorsed by it: this site is independent. When Home Affairs publishes a new edition of the booklet, the questions are checked against it.