The five values questions: how to practise and review mistakes
To pass the Australian citizenship test, you need all five Values answers correct and at least 15 of 20 overall. Review both results before deciding what to study next.
The two pass requirements apply together. Getting 18 answers right out of 20 does not pass if one of your Values answers is wrong. Conversely, five correct Values answers do not pass if your total is only 14. The standard test has 20 multiple-choice questions and a 45-minute limit, according to Home Affairs.
After a practice test, write down two numbers: your total out of 20, and your Values result out of 5. A high total can hide the specific topic you need to revisit.
Start with the official material
Home Affairs bases test questions on Our Common Bond. Read its testable material, including the Australian values section, and use the Department's free practice resources. The test is in English; translated study material can help you understand an unfamiliar idea before practising the English wording.
An independent practice app provides additional repetition, not advance access to the exam. Home Affairs says the questions on test day differ from its sample practice test. Do not assume that remembering an answer position will be enough.
Turn one wrong answer into a useful next step
- Read the explanation before starting another set. Name the idea you missed in a short phrase, such as equality, freedom of belief or respect for the law.
- Find that idea in the official booklet. Write one sentence in your own words explaining why your choice did not fit it. If a word was unfamiliar, record its meaning as well.
- Separate a reading mistake from a knowledge gap. Did you overlook a word such as not, misunderstand an English phrase, or need to relearn the principle? Each needs a different correction.
- Save the question in My mistakes, or keep a short paper note. In the next session, answer it without opening the explanation first, then explain your reasoning aloud.
- Return to a mixed practice set after the focused review. Keep checking your Values result separately from the overall mark.
For example, if you chose an answer because a phrase sounded familiar, your note might say: I recognised the words but did not check what the answer actually meant. Next time I will restate each option in plain English before choosing. This is a suggested study method, not an official test question or a prediction about the options you will see.
A short review session you can repeat
Choose one idea from your mistake notes, reread the relevant part of the booklet, then try a small practice set. Spend the rest of the session explaining the answers you missed or guessed. If the same misunderstanding returns, revisit the source before adding more questions. A perfect repeat of an already memorised set is a limited check of understanding.
Use Ace for extra practice
Ace Citizenship Test includes two Values lessons, a 50-question Values Bootcamp, timed mocks and My mistakes. All lessons, practice and mock tests in the iPhone and iPad app are free. Its original questions are independent study material; using the app does not guarantee a pass.
The optional browser course is separate: it is free to start and has its own paid full-course unlock. Use the App Store button below if you want the free native app. Ace is not affiliated with or endorsed by Home Affairs; start with the official resources listed here.
Official sources
This piece comes from the team behind Ace Citizenship Test — free australian citizenship test practice.