Australian Citizenship Test

Starting October 2007, people applying for Australian citizenship by naturalization have to pass a citizenship test. The test's goal is to check an applicant's knowledge of English language and comprehension of Australian moral principles, history, as well as national and aboriginal symbols. Candidates to citizenship are required to study a manual prepared by the Department of Citizenship.

The test is totally computerized and includes 20 multiple choice questions, selected at random from a total of 200 questions that are kept secret. The exam is available in English only. The examinees need to complete the test in 45 minutes. All questions are based on "Becoming an Australian Citizen" distributed by the Australian Government.

Applicants have to reach a minimal score of 60% in order to pass. However, there are three compulsory questions, referring to the topic of Rights and Responsibilities of Australian citizens. All three compulsory questions must be answered correctly in order to pass the test. The test must be passed successfully before an application for citizenship can be lodged.

In early 2008 the government announced that the exam would be reviewed as studies showed that almost a quarter of those who took the test, failed it.

The word Australia comes from the Latin  Australis, which means ‘of the south’. For ages, it was legend that there existed a mysterious great south land – Terra Australis Incognita. This is how the region was described in writings. The name ‘Australia’ became popular after the publication in 1814 of A Voyage to Terra Australis by Matthew Flinders - the report  of his travel around the continent, where he used the name ‘Australia’. After that, Governor Lachlan Macquarie  used it in official documents and recommended it for adoption as name of the country. In 1824, the British Admiralty accepted that the continent's official name become "Australia".

 The first governor was Captain Arthur Phillip. He was responsible for bringing the First Fleet of 11 ships safely to the other side of the globe. He took great care over the feeding and welfare of the convicts and very few died on the voyage. When starvation loomed in the early years of the colony, he put the whole settlement, including himself and the military officers, on the same ration. It was his determination and vision that saw the colony through its perilous first years. Australia’s National Day, 26 January, commemorates of the landing of Phillip at Sydney Cove in 1788.

As every Australian citizen, you can make a difference by electing an appropriate person to represent your interests in Parliament. There is a Commonwealth Parliament and also a parliament in every state and territory. There are also local councils. Your local member is there to represent you in the Parliament. This means that you are able to influence the government, legislation and government policy. Voting is both a right and a duty. If you are 18 or older, and hold Australian citizenship, it is mandatory to enrol to vote. If you don’t cast your vote in an election you will be fined, unless you can provide an acceptable reason for failing to vote. Voting is secret. Voters place their votes into a sealed box (a ballot box), this way nobody can know how they voted. Independent electoral officers control that the election is organized properly and that the vote count is fair. Getting elected for a public function in an Australian parliament is another manner you can take part in the administration of the country. This means you can decide to become a candidate to represent other Australians in any of the three government branches: federal, state and territory Parliaments, or on local councils.