Australian citizenship test
The Australian citizenship test is a test applicants for Australian citizenship who also meet the basic requirements for citizenship are required to take. It was introduced in 2007 to assess the applicants' adequate knowledge of Australia, the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship and basic knowledge of the English language. The format of the test was amended in 2009.
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[edit] History
In December 2006, it was announced that applicants for Australian citizenship who are over 18 and under 60 years old will need to pass an Australian citizenship test. The objective of the test is to prove an applicant's grasp of English language and understanding of Australia’s "values", history, traditional and national symbols. Citizenship applicants are required to study a booklet produced by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
On 2 January 2008, it was announced that the test would be reviewed when statistics showed that over 20% of those sitting the test failed on their first attempts.[1] On 28 April 2008 the Minster for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, announced the appointment of an independent committee to conduct a review of the Australian citizenship test since its implementation on 1 October 2007. [2] This review was commissioned to examine the operation of the citizenship test after six months experience and whether there were ways to improve its operation and effectiveness as the pathway for residents to become Australian citizens. On 22 November 2008, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Evans, released the Citizenship Test Review Report Moving Forward … Improving Pathways to Citizenship and the Government’s response.[3] The report and the Governments response are located online.[4]
On 19 October 2009, changes to the citizenship test came into effect. Under the new rules, a mark of 75% (15 out of 20 questions correct) is required to pass.[4] Previously, a mark of 60% plus answering three mandatory questions correctly was required. Applicants will need to pass the test before they can submit their citizenship application.
[edit] Test format
The computer based test consists of 20 multiple choice questions drawn randomly from a pool of 200 confidential questions. The test is only available in English. Applicants have 45 minutes to complete the test. The material is drawn from the official guide "Becoming an Australian Citizen" published by the Australian Government department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Scheduling a time to take the test can be done by the Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC). Wait times vary widely, and applicants may need to wait a considerable amount of time. As of 17 February 2009, one would need to wait almost four months to secure an appointment in central Sydney and over three months in Parramatta. In less congested areas, wait times are considerably less, if any; in Adelaide, for instance, one did not need make an appointment at all and simply could go to the Adelaide DIAC office anytime. [5]
[edit] Questions and answers
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Although the following are not necessarily correct answers, they are correct in the context of the test.
- Which one of these is a responsibility for every Australian citizen? (Join with Australians to defend Australia and its way of life, should the need arise)
- Which one of these values is important in modern Australia? (Everyone has equality of opportunity)
- What is Australia's national floral emblem? (The golden wattle)
- Which one of these Australians is famous for playing cricket? (Sir Donald Bradman)
- What is a Bill? (A proposed law that has not yet passed through parliament)
- In what year did Federation take place? (1901)
- Which day of the year is Australia Day? (26 January)
- Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia? (Edmund Barton)
- What is the first line of Australia's national anthem? ("Australians all let us rejoice")
- What is the population of Australia? (approx 21 million)
- In what city is the Parliament House of the Commonwealth Parliament located? (Canberra)
- Who is the Queen's representative in Australia? (the governor-general)
- How are Members of Parliament chosen? (by election)
- Who do Members of Parliament represent? (the people of their electorate)
- After a federal election, who forms the new government? (the political party or coalition of parties which wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives)
- What are the colours on the Australian flag? (red, white and blue)
- Who is the head of the Australian Government? (the prime minister)
- What are the three levels of government in Australia? (Commonwealth, State or Territory and local)
- In what year did the European settlement of Australia start? (1788)
- Serving on a jury if required is a responsibility of Australian citizenship: true or false? (true)
- In Australia, everyone is free to practise the religion of their choice, or practise no religion: true or false? (true)
- To be elected to the Commonwealth Parliament you must be an Australian citizen: true or false? (true)
- As an Australian citizen, I have the right to register my baby born overseas as an Australian citizen: true or false? (true)
- Australian citizens aged 18 years or over are required to enrol on the electoral register: true or false? (true)
- What is the name of the Australian remote inland areas? (outback)
[edit] Notes
- ^ Article highlighting failure rates
- ^ [1] Independent committee to review citizenship test
- ^ [2] New Citizenship test to focus on responsibilities and privileges
- ^ [3] Australian Citizenship Practice Test ]
- ^ Department of Immigration & Citizenship website detailing how to make an appointment
[edit] External links
- Citizenship Test - Official website for Citizenship Test
