Australian Values Test: Why All Five Values Questions Must Be Correct

Passing the citizenship test requires all five Australian-values questions to be correct, plus at least 15 of 20 overall. Here is what that rule means and how to study for it from Our Common Bond.

The passing rule in short

Official Home Affairs test information says passing requires all five Australian-values questions to be correct and at least 15 of the 20 questions overall. The two conditions work separately. A total of 15 or more does not make up for a missed values question.

Consider a hypothetical candidate who answers 18 of 20 questions correctly but misses one of the five values questions. The total clears 15, but the values condition is not met. For that reason, study the values material with the same care as the rest of the test.

The five values questions are not the site’s five themes

Australian Values is an independent editorial site. It groups its learning material into five editorial themes. Those themes are a teaching structure. They are not a list of the five official values, and they are not the five values questions on the test.

The official Australian Values Statement is longer than five points. Its visible list has seven top-level points, and the four fair-go elements sit under one of them. The statement also covers freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of association, the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, equality of opportunity, and English as the national language. Readers should work from the official statement and from Our Common Bond, not from the site’s grouping.

What the official statement covers

The Department of Home Affairs publishes the Australian Values Statement on its official Immigration and Citizenship website. The statement says Australian society values respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual.

It names freedom of religion, including the freedom not to follow a particular religion, along with freedom of speech and freedom of association. It names a commitment to the rule of law, which means all people are subject to the law and should obey it.

It also names parliamentary democracy. Under this principle, laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people, and those laws take precedence over inconsistent religious or secular laws. The statement names equality of opportunity regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, or national or ethnic origin. It describes a fair go for all as mutual respect, tolerance, compassion for people in need, and equality of opportunity. Finally, it calls English the national language and an important unifying element of Australian society.

How to study concepts from Our Common Bond

Our Common Bond is the official resource booklet for the citizenship test. All test questions are based on it, and the test is in English only. Use the booklet as the main source, and use the official statement as the wording reference for values.

Start by finding the parts of the booklet that cover rights, liberties, democratic beliefs, and values. Official preparation guidance lists four study areas: Australia and its people; Australia’s democratic beliefs, rights and liberties; government and the law; and understanding and commitment to Australian values based on freedom, respect and equality.

Then work through the material in this order:

Write each value in your own words.

Compare each note with the wording of the official statement.

Mark any term you do not understand, such as rule of law or parliamentary democracy.

Write a short explanation of each marked term.

Test yourself by explaining one value to someone who has not read the booklet.

Why sample and site questions do not predict the test

The official practice test is a sample only. The official practice page says actual questions are different. The practice test has 20 multiple-choice questions and a 45-minute time limit. Use it to check how you handle the question format, not to learn specific answers.

Site questions are original practice written by the site. They are not official test-bank originals, and they do not reproduce or predict the official question bank. A high score on site practice shows understanding of the material. It does not show which questions will appear.

Candidates may answer the questions in any order. They may skip a question and return to it later. Mark uncertain questions during the test, so you can review them before the time runs out. Do not spend too long on one item, because the values condition applies to specific questions.

Limits to keep in mind

Australian Values is an independent editorial site. It is not a government or political-party voice, and it does not claim to be an official citizenship test bank. Where the site’s explanations and an official source differ, the site’s editorial policy is to use the official wording as the reference. That policy is the site’s own. It is not a statement by Home Affairs.

The Department does not endorse or recommend external test-preparation courses. Illustrative scenarios on this site are hypothetical. They are not legal advice and do not guarantee any outcome. For questions about a specific application, check official Home Affairs information or speak with a qualified adviser.