Calls for changes to Australia’s citizenship test after Thai migrant fails five times

Don’t have comparable Canadian data on test fail rates but did do this long term analysis on the citizenship processing times and overall approval rates, highlighting contrast between previous conservative government’s tightening and then relaxing operational aspects. What citizenship applications tell us about policy implementation. One of the issues in Discover Canada and the related test questions was the overly high language level but current numbers suggest that is less of an issue. Strongly believe that the test must be written in an official language but case can be made for study guide to be available in other languages:

…More people failing test since 2020

In 2020 the government updated the test for the first time in a decade — introducing five questions on Australian values such as freedom of speech and equal opportunity.

To pass the test, applicants must answer the five values questions correctly.

Since then, more applicants have been failing at the first attempt.

Data from the Home Affairs Department indicated in the year prior to the changes, around 94 per cent of applicants passed on their first attempt.

In the 2023–24 calendar year that had dropped to around 84 per cent, equating to more than 25,000 people failing at the first try.

Ultimately, 96 per cent of 2023–24 applicants passed, but those who made multiple attempts sat the test an average of four extra times.

Advocates, including the Refugee Council of Australia, argue the values questions, because of their more complex wording, are unfair to people without formal education, particularly the elderly and women.

In August, an independent review of the state of Australian multiculturalism recommended the federal government consider offering the test in languages other than English.

But in 2020, the then-Coalition government said ensuring new citizens had a strong grasp of English would make it easier for them to get good jobs.

A spokesperson for Assistant Citizenship Minister Julian Hill said the current government had no plans to make the test available in languages other than English.

“People can seek special assistance with the test, and it is regularly reviewed to ensure the language and questions are clear, fair, and accord with the legal standard of basic English,” the spokesperson said.

Source: Calls for changes to Australia’s citizenship test after Thai migrant fails five times