New citizenship test released for people applying for Australian visas

October 20 2009 by Liam Clifford

New citizenship test is unveiled by the Australian Government

The new citizenship test, taken by Australian visa holders who wish to apply for citizenship, has been launched from today.

The new test is fairer than the previous test, according to Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). Mandatory questions have been removed and all questions have been given equal weight in terms of marks.

The test is designed to test Australian visa holders and prospective citizens on their knowledge of Australian civics and the privileges and responsibilities of becoming an Australian citizen. The questions cover subjects like government, laws and democratic beliefs.

Examples of the multi-choice questions published on the DIAC website include:

1. Which of these is a responsibility of Australian citizens aged 18 years or over?
a) To attend local council meetings
b) To vote in elections
c) To have a current Australian passport

2. What is the name of the legal document that sets out the rules for the government of Australia?
a) The Australian Federation
b) The Australian Commonwealth
c) The Australian Constitution

All the test questions are drawn from the revised citizenship test resource book, which is called Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond. People who have emigrated to Australia and wish to apply for citizenship can use this book to revise for their test.