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Australian Citizenship Test questions and answers

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1. 1.Who are Australia’s first inhabitants?

   • AThe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
   • BTraders from Papua New Guinea
   • CThe first free settlers from Ireland
   • DThe convicts of the First Fleet

   Australia's first inhabitants are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

2. 2.What is said about the cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?

   • AThey are the newest in the region
   • BThey are the oldest continuous cultures and traditions in the world
   • CThey began with the arrival of the First Fleet
   • DThey were established after federation

   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the oldest continuous cultures and traditions in the world. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

3. 3.According to the archaeological record, when did Aboriginal peoples arrive in Australia?

   • ABetween 6,000 and 4,000 years ago
   • BBetween 200 and 100 years ago
   • CBetween 1,000 and 500 years ago
   • DBetween 65,000 and 40,000 years ago

   The archaeological record indicates Aboriginal peoples arrived in Australia between 65,000 and 40,000 years ago. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

4. 4.Aboriginal people are historically from which parts of Australia?

   • AOnly the eastern coast
   • BOnly the Torres Strait islands
   • CMainland Australia and Tasmania
   • DOnly the Northern Territory

   Aboriginal people are historically from mainland Australia and Tasmania. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

5. 5.Where are Torres Strait Islander people from?

   • AIslands in the Bass Strait to the south of Victoria
   • BIslands between the northern tip of Queensland and Papua New Guinea
   • CIslands lying off the coast of Western Australia
   • DIslands of the Southern Ocean lying near Tasmania

   Torres Strait Islander people are from islands between the northern tip of Queensland and Papua New Guinea. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

6. 6.How is the deep connection to land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples expressed?

   • AThrough formal land registers
   • BThrough parliamentary petitions
   • CTheir stories, art and dance
   • DThrough written treaties

   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a deep connection with the land, expressed in their stories, art and dance. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

7. 7.Approximately what share of the Australian population is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander?

   • AAbout fifteen per cent
   • BAbout half of one per cent
   • CApproximately three per cent
   • DAbout thirty per cent

   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make up approximately three per cent of the Australian population. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

8. 8.What was the First Fleet?

   • AThe first trading fleet sent to Papua New Guinea
   • BThe first ships to carry free settlers from Ireland
   • CThe first naval squadron of the Royal Australian Navy
   • DThe first 11 convict ships to arrive from Great Britain

   European settlement started when the first 11 convict ships, known as the First Fleet, arrived from Great Britain on 26 January 1788. (Early days of European settlement)

9. 9.On what date did the First Fleet arrive?

   • A26 January 1851
   • B26 January 1788
   • C1 January 1901
   • D25 April 1915

   European settlement started when the first 11 convict ships, known as the First Fleet, arrived from Great Britain on 26 January 1788. (Early days of European settlement)

10. 10.How many convict ships made up the First Fleet?

    • A6
    • B11
    • C76
    • D26

    European settlement started when the first 11 convict ships, known as the First Fleet, arrived from Great Britain on 26 January 1788. (Early days of European settlement)

11. 11.Why did the British Government transport convicts to Australia?

    • ATo establish a naval base against the French fleet
    • BBritish jails could not hold the large number of people imprisoned
    • CTo search for gold in the colony of New South Wales
    • DTo open trade with the islands of the Torres Strait

    The British Government decided to transport convicts to the new colony of New South Wales. (Early days of European settlement)

12. 12.To which new colony were the first convicts transported?

    • ASouth Australia
    • BQueensland
    • CNew South Wales
    • DVictoria

    The British Government decided to transport convicts to the new colony of New South Wales. (Early days of European settlement)

13. 13.Who was the first Governor of the colony of New South Wales?

    • ARobert the Bruce
    • BGovernor Lachlan Macarthur
    • CCaptain James Cook
    • DCaptain Arthur Phillip

    The first Governor of the colony of New South Wales was Captain Arthur Phillip. (Early days of European settlement)

14. 14.Where did Australia’s early free settlers come from?

    • AGreece and Türkiye
    • BGermany and Italy
    • CGreat Britain and Ireland
    • DChina and Vietnam

    Early free settlers came from Great Britain and Ireland. (Early days of European settlement)

15. 15.In which year did the Australian gold rush begin?

    • A1901
    • B1915
    • C1788
    • D1851

    In 1851 a gold rush began when gold was discovered in the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria. (The gold rush)

16. 16.In which two colonies was gold discovered?

    • AQueensland and Tasmania
    • BVictoria and Western Australia
    • CNew South Wales and Victoria
    • DWestern Australia and South Australia

    In 1851 a gold rush began when gold was discovered in the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria. (The gold rush)

17. 17.Which group were the first large group of migrants not from Europe?

    • AIndian people
    • BVietnamese people
    • CChinese people
    • DLebanese people

    Chinese people arriving during the gold rush were the first large group of migrants not from Europe. (The gold rush)

18. 18.What happened to Australia’s population in the 10 years after the gold rush began?

    • AIt more than doubled
    • BIt fell by a third
    • CIt grew by about one per cent
    • DIt stayed almost the same

    In 10 years the gold rush more than doubled Australia's population. (The gold rush)

19. 19.In which year were the colonies united into the Commonwealth of Australia?

    • A1901
    • B1788
    • C1851
    • D1967

    In 1901 the separate colonies were united into a federation of states called the Commonwealth of Australia. (The nation of Australia)

20. 20.What was Australia called after the colonies united?

    • AThe Federation of New South Wales
    • BThe United Colonies of Australia
    • CThe Dominion of Australia
    • DThe Commonwealth of Australia

    In 1901 the separate colonies were united into a federation of states called the Commonwealth of Australia. (The nation of Australia)

21. 21.Which institutions were established in 1901 under the new Constitution?

    • AThe state parliaments and local councils
    • BThe Australian Electoral Commission and the Reserve Bank
    • CThe Australian Federal Police and the ATO
    • DThe national parliament, the government and the High Court

    The national parliament, government and High Court were established in 1901 under the new Australian Constitution. (The nation of Australia)

22. 22.About how large was Australia’s population in 1901?

    • AAbout twenty million
    • BAbout ten million
    • CAbout four million
    • DAbout one million

    In 1901 Australia's population was about four million. (The nation of Australia)

23. 23.What did the 1967 Referendum change?

    • AVoting was made compulsory at federal, state and local elections
    • BAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were included in official population estimates
    • CAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages became official languages
    • DThe Northern Territory was admitted as a state of the federation

    It was not until after a Referendum in 1967 that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were included in official estimates of the population. (The nation of Australia)

24. 24.When did a wave of non-British migration come to Australia?

    • ABefore the arrival of the First Fleet
    • BDuring the gold rush of 1851
    • CAfter World War II
    • DImmediately after federation in 1901

    A wave of non-British migration came after World War II, when millions of people in Europe had to leave their homelands. (The nation of Australia)

25. 25.What is Australia’s national language?

    • AEnglish and French
    • BThere is no national language
    • CEnglish and an Aboriginal language
    • DEnglish

    Australia's national language is English. (Language and diversity)

26. 26.Why should migrants learn and use English?

    • ABecause it is required to hold a driver’s licence
    • BBecause English is the only language spoken in Australia
    • CBecause other languages are banned
    • DTo help them participate in Australian society

    Migrants should learn and use English to help them participate in Australian society. (Language and diversity)

27. 27.How many distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages does Australia value?

    • AExactly 12
    • BAbout 30
    • CFewer than 10
    • DMore than 100

    Australia values other languages, including more than 100 distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. (Language and diversity)

28. 28.How many states and mainland territories does Australia have?

    • ASix states and six territories
    • BFive states and three mainland territories
    • CSix states and two mainland territories
    • DEight states and no territories

    Australia is a federation of six states and two mainland territories. (States, territories and capital cities)

29. 29.What is Australia’s capital city?

    • ACanberra
    • BSydney
    • CMelbourne
    • DBrisbane

    Canberra is Australia's capital city. (States, territories and capital cities)

30. 30.What is the capital city of New South Wales?

    • ANewcastle
    • BMelbourne
    • CCanberra
    • DSydney

    Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales. (States, territories and capital cities)

31. 31.What is the capital city of Victoria?

    • AGeelong
    • BMelbourne
    • CSydney
    • DAdelaide

    Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria. (States, territories and capital cities)

32. 32.What is the capital city of Queensland?

    • ABrisbane
    • BCairns
    • CDarwin
    • DTownsville

    Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland. (States, territories and capital cities)

33. 33.What is the capital city of Western Australia?

    • AFremantle
    • BAdelaide
    • CPerth
    • DDarwin

    Perth is the capital city of Western Australia. (States, territories and capital cities)

34. 34.What is the capital city of South Australia?

    • AHobart
    • BPerth
    • CMelbourne
    • DAdelaide

    Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia. (States, territories and capital cities)

35. 35.What is the capital city of Tasmania?

    • ALaunceston
    • BDevonport
    • CHobart
    • DCanberra

    Hobart is the capital city of Tasmania. (States, territories and capital cities)

36. 36.What is the capital city of the Northern Territory?

    • AKatherine
    • BDarwin
    • CAlice Springs
    • DBrisbane

    Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory. (States, territories and capital cities)

37. 37.Which was the first colony established by the British?

    • AVictoria
    • BWestern Australia
    • CTasmania
    • DNew South Wales

    New South Wales was the first colony established by the British. (The states)

38. 38.Which is the nation’s largest city?

    • AMelbourne
    • BPerth
    • CSydney
    • DCanberra

    Sydney is the nation's largest city. (The states)

39. 39.Which is Australia’s largest state?

    • ANew South Wales
    • BWestern Australia
    • CSouth Australia
    • DQueensland

    Western Australia is the largest state. (The states)

40. 40.Which is Australia’s second largest state?

    • AVictoria
    • BNew South Wales
    • CTasmania
    • DQueensland

    Queensland is the second largest state. (The states)

41. 41.Which is the smallest of the mainland states?

    • AVictoria
    • BNew South Wales
    • CTasmania
    • DSouth Australia

    Victoria is the smallest of the mainland states. (The states)

42. 42.Which is Australia’s smallest state?

    • AVictoria
    • Bthe Australian Capital Territory
    • CTasmania
    • DSouth Australia

    Tasmania is the smallest state, separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. (The states)

43. 43.What separates Tasmania from the mainland?

    • AThe Great Australian Bight
    • BThe Bass Strait
    • CThe Torres Strait
    • DThe Southern Ocean

    Tasmania is the smallest state, separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. (The states)

44. 44.Along which state’s eastern coast does the Great Barrier Reef run?

    • AWestern Australia
    • BQueensland
    • CNew South Wales
    • Dthe Northern Territory

    Queensland is the second largest state. (The states)

45. 45.Which state is home to the Kimberley region and Margaret River?

    • AQueensland
    • BWestern Australia
    • CSouth Australia
    • DVictoria

    Western Australia is the largest state. (The states)

46. 46.The Barossa Valley and Flinders Ranges are icons of which state?

    • ASouth Australia
    • BWestern Australia
    • CTasmania
    • DVictoria

    South Australia's icons include the Barossa Valley and the Flinders Ranges. (The states)

47. 47.Cradle Mountain and Port Arthur are icons of which state?

    • AVictoria
    • BNew South Wales
    • CTasmania
    • DQueensland

    Tasmania is the smallest state, separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. (The states)

48. 48.The Melbourne Cricket Ground and the 12 Apostles are icons of which state?

    • AVictoria
    • BSouth Australia
    • CNew South Wales
    • DQueensland

    Victoria is the smallest of the mainland states. (The states)

49. 49.Where is the Australian Capital Territory located?

    • ABetween Sydney and Melbourne
    • BInland to the east of Perth in Western Australia
    • COn the coast to the north of Brisbane
    • DAcross the Bass Strait to the south of Hobart

    The Australian Capital Territory is located between Sydney and Melbourne. (The territories)

50. 50.Which national institutions are located in Canberra?

    • AThe Australian Electoral Commission and the ATO
    • BThe Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge
    • CParliament House and the High Court of Australia
    • DThe Australian Federal Police and the Reserve Bank

    Parliament House and the High Court of Australia are located in Canberra. (The territories)