What is Our Common Bond? The Official Citizenship Test Study Guide Explained

There's only one document you need to study for the Australian citizenship test: Our Common Bond. Every single question comes from it. Not some of them. All of them.

What is Our Common Bond?

Our Common Bond is published by the Department of Home Affairs. It covers what Australian citizenship actually means: the history, values, rights, and democratic traditions that come with it.

There are two versions. The full version is broader reading about Australian life and citizenship, but it is longer than you need for the test. The testable content version is the shorter PDF containing only the sections the test draws from, and that is the one to study. Both are free. You can get straight to the testable PDF from our Study Guide page without hunting around the Home Affairs site.

What's actually in it?

The document covers five topic areas and the test draws from all five. The first is Australia and its people, covering First Nations history, European settlement, the gold rush, federation, migration waves, national symbols, and public holidays. The second covers Australian values: freedom, equality, a fair go, the role of English as the national language, and multiculturalism. The third section addresses democratic beliefs, rights and liberties, including the Constitution, the rule of law, freedom of speech and religion, how referendums work, and compulsory voting. The fourth covers government and the law, including Parliament, the three tiers of government, the Governor-General, the High Court, and tax obligations. The fifth section is about becoming an Australian citizen: the application process, the citizenship pledge, and what citizenship requires of you.

How to study it properly

Reading it once is a good start, but it won't stick on its own. Start by reading one chapter of the testable version, then take a practice test straight after. Being tested right after reading is what locks in the material. After that, put the audio lessons on during your commute or workout. Hearing it a second time after reading makes a real difference. Once you have been through all five sections, keep doing full practice tests until you are consistently above 80%. The real pass mark is 75%, so practising above it gives you a proper buffer.

Facts that come up constantly

Some things get tested more than others. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples arrived 65,000 to 40,000 years ago as Australia's first inhabitants. The First Fleet arrived on 26 January 1788, marking the start of European settlement. The colonies federated into the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901. Australia Day falls on 26 January and Anzac Day on 25 April. The national anthem is Advance Australia Fair and the national colours are green and gold. A referendum is how Australians vote to change the Constitution, and voting in federal elections is compulsory for all citizens aged 18 and over.