Study Guide: Our Common Bond for the Australian Citizenship Test

What is "Our Common Bond"?

"Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond" is the official study resource published by the Department of Home Affairs. It is free to download as a PDF from the Home Affairs website. Every question on the citizenship test — all 20 of them — comes from the content in this book's first four parts. The Department of Home Affairs publishes it specifically for applicants like you.

Part 1: Australia and its people

This section covers the geography, history, and cultural foundations of Australia. You'll learn that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the first peoples of Australia with the world's oldest continuing cultures. The national capital is Canberra. Australia has six states (NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania) and two mainland territories (the ACT and the Northern Territory).

The section includes national symbols: the national colours are green and gold; the national floral emblem is the golden wattle; the Coat of Arms is supported by the kangaroo and the emu. You'll also learn the significance of Australia Day (26 January, marking the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788) and Anzac Day (25 April, honouring the 1915 Gallipoli landing and all who have served in war). The part emphasises Australia's multicultural identity — a society built from many backgrounds.

Part 2: Australia's democratic beliefs, rights and liberties

This part focuses on the principles that underpin Australian democracy. Australia is a parliamentary democracy where citizens elect representatives to make laws. Core freedoms include freedom of speech and expression, freedom of association, and freedom of religion (you may follow any religion or none, within the law). The law guarantees equality before the courts and in public life. Voting happens by secret ballot, protecting your privacy.

This section is important because it introduces ideas you'll meet again in Part 4 (Australian values). The test will ask you to apply these beliefs to real situations.

Part 3: Government and the law in Australia

This section explains how Australian government actually works. Australia has three levels of government: federal (national), state/territory, and local (councils). The federal Parliament has two houses — the House of Representatives and the Senate. Australia's head of state is the King, represented in Australia by the Governor-General. The Prime Minister leads the federal government and is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the House of Representatives.

The courts apply the law independently. The rule of law means everyone — including the government — is subject to the law and equal before it. Understanding this structure is essential because test questions often ask how decisions are made or which level of government is responsible for a particular issue.

Part 4: Australian values (the must-pass section)

This is the most critical section because it contains the five values questions you must answer correctly to pass the test — even if you get 15 of 20 questions right overall, one wrong values question means you do not pass.

The five values are:
1. Respect for the equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individual.
2. Equality of men and women.
3. Freedom of religion (and a secular government) and freedom of speech and association.
4. Equality of opportunity and a "fair go" — peace, and a society based on mutual respect, tolerance, compassion and equality.
5. Peaceful, democratic resolution of disagreements — never violence. Violence against any person, including family members, is against the law and against Australian values.

These values appear throughout Parts 1–3 as well, so understanding them early helps you recognise them in context.

How to study effectively

Start with the official book. Download "Our Common Bond" from Home Affairs. Read through Parts 1–4 once to get familiar with the content and the tone of the material. Don't memorise — focus on understanding key facts and concepts.

Use the free practice test. Home Affairs provides an official online practice test. Take it after you've read the book once. It will show you what the real test feels like and which areas need more review.

Focus on Part 4. The five values are non-negotiable. If you're short on time, make sure you understand Part 4 deeply. Re-read it multiple times. Then re-read it again.

Test yourself. After studying each part, write out the key facts from memory. Can you list the six states? Explain the rule of law? Describe the three levels of government? If you can't, go back and review.

Don't over-prepare. You don't need to memorise every detail. The test questions are multiple choice, so you're recognising correct answers, not recalling information from scratch. A thorough reading of the book plus one run-through of the practice test is usually enough.

Responsibilities and privileges of citizenship

While studying, you'll also encounter the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian citizen. These concepts often appear on the test:

Responsibilities: Obey the law. Vote in federal and state/territory elections and referendums. Defend Australia if needed. Serve on a jury if called.

Privileges: Vote. Apply for an Australian passport. Seek election to parliament. Ask for help from an Australian official overseas. Register children born overseas as citizens.

These tend to be straightforward test questions — they test whether you understand what citizenship actually means in Australia.

What you don't need to study

Part 5 of "Our Common Bond" is not tested. Skip it. You also don't need external textbooks, paid online courses, or YouTube videos from unofficial sources. The Department of Home Affairs has designed the test to be fair and fair to prepare for using only the official materials they provide. If you find a study resource that claims to have "secrets" or "shortcuts," it's almost certainly unnecessary. Your time is better spent on the official book and practice test.

Can I use just the practice test to prepare?

No. The practice test shows you the format and some sample questions, but it's not a complete study resource. You need to read Parts 1–4 of "Our Common Bond" to understand the content. Use the practice test to identify weak areas, then go back to the book to review.

Do I have to memorise exact dates and figures?

Not exactly. You should know that Australia Day is 26 January and Anzac Day is 25 April. You should know that Australia has six states and two mainland territories. But the test is multiple choice — you're recognising correct answers, not filling in blanks. If you understand the general concepts, you'll recognise the right answer when you see it.

What if I don't understand a part of the book?

Read it again. If it's still unclear, check the Department of Home Affairs website for further explanation. Don't skip sections or guess at meanings. If a fact seems important (a date, a principle, a structure), it's probably because it might appear on the test.

Is the practice test the same difficulty as the real test?

The practice test provided by Home Affairs is designed to match the real test in style and difficulty. Use it as your best guide to what you'll face. If you score well on the practice test, you're likely ready for the real one.

How many times should I read the book?

Most people find that reading Parts 1–4 twice, with a focus on Part 4 (values), is enough. A third read of Part 4 is often worthwhile because those five values are your pass/fail threshold.