After the Test

Can You Retake the Citizenship Test If You Fail?

16 February 2026

Yes, you can retake the test. What matters more is what you do differently before you do.

Retaking Is a Normal Part of the Process

Plenty of applicants don't pass on their first sitting, and the process allows for that. You'll need to arrange a new test appointment through the Department of Home Affairs, exact booking windows and any waiting periods can change, so it's worth confirming the current process directly with them when you're ready to rebook.

Don't Just Repeat the Same Preparation

Sitting the test again with the same study approach that didn't work the first time tends to produce the same result. The more useful move is to look at exactly where the first attempt fell short:

If your overall score was under 75%, which topic categories were weakest? A vague sense of "I need to study more" is much less useful than knowing it was specifically government structure or historical dates.
If you missed an Australian Values question, that's worth targeted attention on its own, see our Australian Values Guide, since it's a completely separate pass condition from your overall score.

Practise the Gap, Not Everything Again

Our practice tool lets you drill a single category, so if the first result showed one specific weak spot, you can go straight at it instead of re-covering ground you already know well. If you have an account, your mistake bank automatically collects every question you've gotten wrong, so a second round of preparation can start exactly where the first one left off.

Confirm With a Full Mock Test Before Rebooking

Before you book the real retake, run a full mock test under the same 45-minute, 20-question conditions. If it feels routine rather than close, that's a much better signal that you're ready than just feeling "more prepared" in general.