Australian Citizenship Test: Recent Changes

 For the first time in over a decade, the government has decided and announced some new plans to revamp the test of Australian citizenship. From November 15, on the Australian values, there would be updated test questions to address.

So before applying for Australian citizenship application, properly you should understand the values of the country more deeply. Actually, the recent changes in the test are not about the vital bit, instead they feel highly connected to society. 

How to become a citizen?

According to the act of Australian citizenship 2007, you can become an Australian citizen conferral in the following ways. 

• With at least one member as a permanent resident, you should be a resident for 4 years. 

• You should possess some Basic English knowledge. 

• You should have adequate knowledge about the country and the privileges and responsibilities of the country’s citizenship. 

• You should be likely to reside in Australia or maintain and continue a close relationship with Australia. 

• You should be of good character. 

How does the test take place?

From 2007, the knowledge about Australia and the English language requirements have been established in the citizenship test. This is held according to the department of home affairs. The applicants of the test can be between 18 to 59 years. The test would contain 20 multiple choice questions in English. The applicant should score 75 % to pass. 

It is based on the booklet which includes the details of Australia and its citizens. It also states about the Australian democratic rights, beliefs, liberties, law and a crash course on government. Now the updated book includes the section about the values of Australia. 

The change in the test

The test requires the potential citizens to know well about the values of Australian citizenship like mutual respect, freedom of speech, the importance of democracy, equality of opportunity, the laws of the government and their responsibility. 

This large amount of focus needs the applicants to score all sets of test questions on the correct value. Still in this, the applicants want to score at least the overall score of 75%. 

Reason for the test

The flavour of the citizenship test argues the burden of getting a pass in the test provides the citizenship to be greater gravitas. It states that not everyone acquires through long term residence and it also promotes the privilege of citizenship. The recent phenomenon in Australia is the idea that citizenship should be difficult to acquire. 

The values of the test

The ministry says that the new test would have more meaningful questions than before. So the required potential citizens can easily understand and commit to the value of the country and its citizenship.

The booklet provides the information in six pages about the values. It also includes statements like Australian mateship value. It also explains the laws and actions of it. It also denotes the importance of learning English. 

There are some significant reasons to suspect the use by such questions as a value of the criteria for citizenship. Identifying the right answer cannot say something about a person completely. 

But most of the people tend to spot examples of equality and freedom, regardless of what they are meant to. Some people may get wrong answers; this would likely say more about their comprehensive English language than their values. 

Final words

Thus, from the above-mentioned information, you would know some details about the recent changes in citizenship test, reasons for it and its values.