Australian citizenship test fail rates for 2024 revealed

Aspiring citizens are failing to correctly answer questions about Australia or demonstrate a basic knowledge of English, sparking concerns Labor has “made a mess of immigration”.

Aspiring Australians failed one in three citizenship tests taken last year, shocking new figures show.

As migration and social cohesion shape up to be key battlegrounds at the next election, the Herald Sun can reveal that while more than 183,000 citizenship tests were taken in 2024, only 122,000 people passed.

The Opposition, which has previously accused Labor of neglecting to teach new citizens what it means to be Australian, says the new data is of “deep concern”.

It comes as Liberal leader Peter Dutton this week vowed to force councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, following a controversial Labor decision to allow them to hold events three days either side of January 26.

Figures show one third of all citizenship tests taken last year ended in a fail. Picture: Glenn Campbell

People aged between 18 and 59 years who apply to become citizens are required to sit the test and correctly answer 15 of the 20 multiple choice questions.

The practice test includes questions about the Australian history and laws, who can deliver a Welcome to Country, electoral rights, who is remembered on Anzac Day and what nation’s capital is.

To pass, applicants must answer all five of the Australian values questions about “freedom, respect and equality” correctly and get a mark of at least 75 per cent overall.

However, those that fail are allowed three attempts to pass the test at a maximum of three separate appointments.

Citizenship test pass rates began falling after the Morrison government in 2020 included the questions about Australian values.

Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said the figures were of “deep concern”.

“Building social cohesion has never been more important for our nation. Yet these figures show more and more people failing the citizenship test,” Mr Tehan said.

“Labor spent 12 months on a multicultural framework review and provided $100m to complement it but the only tangible outcome is more and more people failing.

“Why is it that Labor always makes such a mess of immigration?”

Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said the figures were of ‘deep concern’. Picture: Martin Ollman

Home Affairs department data shows the largest cohort of people failing the test were on humanitarian visas, followed by those on family and skilled visas.

The number of citizenship tests taken in 2024 fell by almost 60,000 compared to the previous year, after a spike in post-pandemic migration and a direct pathway for New Zealand citizens.

A Home Affairs department spokesman said over the past six years, more than 80 per cent of applicants passed the citizenship test on their first attempt with overall pass rates around 95 per cent.

“The government is committed to ensuring the Australian citizenship test is fit for purpose, gives clients a “fair go” and does not create unintended barriers to Australian citizenship acquisition,” he said.

A report into the state of Australia’s multicultural society, released publicly in July last year, recommended an “urgent” review of the citizenship test procedures.

This included considering providing the test in languages other than English and in alternative and more accessible formats.

But the government has not revealed if it will overhaul the test.

The Refugee Council of Australia has previously raised concerns that the test penalises people with low English proficiency, such as women in refugee communities with limited literacy opportunities, and divides families between those who pass and those who cannot.

The citizenship test resource booklet is available in at least 40 languages.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Martin Ollman

Meanwhile, Mr Dutton on Tuesday revealed he would not be attending the national citizenship ceremony in Canberra after Anthony Albanese urged him to attend.

“It is not the tradition firstly, I know the Prime Minister carries on with this, but I think frankly the Prime Minister is pretty unhinged in some of his comments,” he said.

“The Australia Day episode and the way in which he has tried to walk both sides of the street is another example of it. “

Mr Dutton said he would also “look at the suggestion” to legislate January 26 as Australia Day.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Australian citizenship test fail rates for 2024 revealed