The Assisted Citizenship Test: 90 Minutes and Who Qualifies

Most applicants sit the Standard Test, which allows 45 minutes. If reading English or a disability makes that hard, Home Affairs offers an Assisted Test with twice the time. Here is who can ask for it and what support is available on the day.

Twice the time

The citizenship test has 20 multiple choice questions, is taken in English on a computer or tablet, and is based on Our Common Bond. To pass, you need at least 75% overall and all 5 Australian values questions correct. The Standard Test allows 45 minutes. The Assisted Test allows 90 minutes.

Who qualifies because of low literacy

You can request the Assisted Test if you have low literacy skills and have completed at least 400 hours of English language tuition under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). The request has to be made; the longer test is not given automatically.

Who qualifies because of an impairment

People with a permanent or temporary physical or cognitive impairment that prevents them from sitting the Standard Test, even with support from the Test Facilitator, can also request the Assisted Test. You need evidence of the impairment to support your request. Home Affairs refers to an Assisted Test and Additional Accommodations Request Form for this.

Listening instead of reading

Support is not limited to the Assisted Test. The Test Facilitator can give you headphones so you can listen to the questions, and can read the questions aloud. If you cannot read English, you can choose to listen to the questions rather than read them.

How long 400 AMEP hours take

Home Affairs gives a guide: full-time AMEP learners typically study 15 to 20 hours per week and take about 6 to 9 months to complete 400 hours, while part-time learners with up to 15 hours per week may need more than a year. You do not need to ask your AMEP provider to confirm your hours, because Home Affairs verifies your participation after you apply.

Additional accommodations

If you are eligible for the Assisted Test because of a physical or cognitive impairment, you may also get additional accommodations. This requires that you requested the Assisted Test and the accommodations in your application, that you provide evidence from your registered health practitioner, and the Department approves the request. Examples include sitting the test in a quiet room, a paper print-out with a different background or text colour, extra test attempts and a rest break between attempts. Some test centres may not be able to provide every accommodation.

How to prepare either way

The extra time helps, but the content is the same, so study all four testable parts of Our Common Bond and practise the values questions until you get every one right. The Citizenpro Australia app lets you practise the questions at your own pace before you move on to timed exams.