Test Format

How Long Does the Citizenship Test Take?

2 February 2026

The official time limit is 45 minutes, but that number tells you less than you'd think about how long you'll actually be sitting there.

The 45-Minute Limit

You're given 45 minutes to answer all 20 questions, computer-based, at your local Department of Home Affairs office. The clock starts when the test begins and the system submits automatically if time runs out, so unanswered questions at that point are marked incorrect.

How Long It Actually Takes Most People

In practice, most well-prepared applicants finish in well under half the allotted time, often 10 to 15 minutes. The questions are multiple-choice with four options each, and if you know the material, there's no reason to linger, there's no essay writing or long-form reasoning involved. The 45-minute window exists mainly as a safety margin for reading carefully, not because the test is designed to take that long.

What Actually Uses Up Time

The two things that eat into your 45 minutes aren't usually the "easy" factual questions, they're second-guessing yourself on the Australian Values questions, and re-reading questions you're unsure about. Neither of those is a time-management problem, they're a preparation gap. The fix is the same either way: more reps before test day, not a faster reading pace on the day itself.

Practising Under the Same Time Pressure

Our mock test uses the exact same 45-minute countdown and 20-question format as the real thing, so you get a genuine read on your pace before it matters. If you'd rather build up without the clock first, practice mode lets you work through questions untimed, with an explanation after every answer.