Australian values questions in the citizenship test: why you need 5 out of 5

Five of the twenty questions in the Australian citizenship test are about Australian values, and they work differently from the rest. Home Affairs requires all five to be correct, 5/5 or 100%, on top of an overall mark of at least 15 out of 20. You can miss five questions on history, symbols or government and still pass. Miss one on values and you fail, even with 19 out of 20.

You have met these values before. In the declaration on the application form, 1300t, you confirm that you understand what Australian society values, from freedom of speech and religion to a "fair go" and English as the national language, and undertake to live by them. The test checks that you know what those words mean in practice.

Where the values questions come from

Home Affairs says all test questions are based on Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. The values are set out in Part 4 of its testable section, pages 33 to 39. Part 2 covers many of the same freedoms from another angle, so read the two together. Part 4 is short:

Where people slip

Most values questions are close to common sense. The tricky ones sit at the edges, where a right has a limit or a custom meets Australian law.

Freedom of speech is not freedom to break the law. You can criticise the government, write what you think and protest peacefully. Outside that freedom, Our Common Bond lists promoting violence against a person or group, making false allegations and encouraging others to break the law (p. 35). Criticising a law is lawful; urging people to disobey it is not. Protests must not injure anyone or damage property.

Freedom of religion has the same limit. Australia has no official national religion, and the government treats all citizens equally whatever their beliefs. But in the booklet's words, "Religious laws have no legal status in Australia" (p. 35): where they differ, Australian law applies.

Equality of men and women is spelled out. Men and women have equal access to education and employment, can vote, stand for parliament, and join the police and the Australian Defence Force. "In Australia, it is a right for a woman to get a job ahead of a man, if she has better qualifications and skills" (p. 36). Both make their own choices about marriage and religion, and either a husband or a wife may apply to the courts for a divorce, even if the other wants the marriage to continue.

Violence is wider than hitting. "Violence of any kind, including verbal and physical abuse, is illegal" (p. 37). Physical violence against a spouse or partner is a criminal offence. The glossary describes domestic and family violence as behaviour or threats that aim to control a partner by causing fear, and says it is against the law (p. 41).

Marriage and age follow fixed rules. Polygamy and forced marriage are against the law and can lead to severe penalties, including prison (p. 35). Two men or two women can marry (p. 36). The age of sexual consent is 16 or 17, depending on the state or territory (p. 37). Some laws apply to Australians even overseas: sexual activity with a child under 16 is illegal here and abroad (p. 38).

Five values questions from our bank, explained

Our own practice questions, written from the booklet, not questions from the real test. Choose your answer before reading the reasoning.

1. An author encourages readers to disobey an Australian law. Which limit applies to this expression?

• A. Encouraging others to break the law is illegal
• B. Written expression has no legal boundaries
• C. Criticising a law in writing is illegal

Answer: A. Option C is the trap: it sounds strict and safe, but criticising a law is lawful. What the booklet makes illegal is encouraging others to break it.

2. A woman has better qualifications and skills than a man applying for the same job. May she be selected ahead of him?

• A. Yes, if she has better qualifications and skills
• B. No, a man must be offered the position first
• C. No, the applicant who applied first gets the job

Answer: A, almost word for word from page 36. Option C looks neutral, but the booklet says the law supports choosing the person with the best skills and experience, not the first to apply.

3. During an argument, a person uses threats and verbal abuse to frighten their partner. How is this conduct viewed in Australia?

• A. It is domestic violence and is against the law
• B. It is private conduct that the law ignores
• C. It is acceptable when no physical injury occurs

Answer: A. Nobody was hit, and that is what makes option C tempting. The glossary's description of domestic and family violence covers threats meant to control a partner through fear, and Part 4 says verbal abuse is illegal.

4. A married person wants a second simultaneous marriage and says their religion allows it. What applies?

• A. The second marriage is lawful with religious approval
• B. The second marriage is lawful if everyone consents
• C. Polygamy is illegal regardless of religious approval

Answer: C. Both wrong options add a condition, religious approval or everyone's consent, that sounds as if it might matter. Neither does: polygamy is against the law in Australia.

5. A family moves between Australian jurisdictions. What determines the applicable age of sexual consent?

• A. The family chooses an appropriate age
• B. State or territory law sets it at 16 or 17
• C. The older partner decides which age applies

Answer: B. The age is 16 or 17, depending on the state or territory you live in. Remember both numbers, and that the law sets the age, not a family or a partner.

How to get to five out of five

• Read Part 4 in full. It is six pages of text. If it helps, read the official translation first (there are 40 languages), then the English, because the test is in English only.
• Watch for added conditions. Many wrong options in our bank add an exception: "when relatives approve", "when a religious rule permits it", "because no one is watching", "when no physical injury occurs". No rule in Part 4 bends for family approval, religious permission or an empty road. When an option makes the law depend on someone's permission, read it twice.
• Practise values on their own, then mixed. Answer values questions until the mistakes stop, then sit full 20-question mocks, including the free official practice test. Our own free practice test has five values questions among its twenty.
• Use the app if you want more. Our app, Australian Citizenship Coach, has 116 values questions among 424, in English, with the booklet sentence and page under every answer. One session a day and the first topic are free; all topics, unlimited mocks, flashcards and mistake review are in Premium. It is made by X Maximus Labs, S.L., an independent company, not by Home Affairs.

For the format, the appointment and Parts 1 to 3, see our guide to the Australian citizenship test.

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs: Learn about the citizenship test. 5/5 values and at least 15/20 overall.
• Department of Home Affairs: Prepare for the test. English only; all questions based on Our Common Bond.
• Department of Home Affairs: Our Common Bond. Testable section in English and 40 community languages.
• Department of Home Affairs: Australian citizenship practice test. Free, 20 questions, 45 minutes; a sample only.
• Department of Home Affairs: Form 1300t, Application for Australian citizenship, general eligibility, design date 09/26. Declaration on Australian values, question 51.
• Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, testable section, © Commonwealth of Australia 2020, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Part 4, pages 33 to 39; glossary, page 41.

Rules change. Check the Home Affairs website before you apply or attend your appointment. Last checked 9 November 2026.