Australian Values Questions 2026 — The 5 You Must Get Right
The Australian Values section is the highest-stakes part of the citizenship test. Of the 20 questions, 5 are Values questions — and you must answer every single one correctly. You can score 19 out of 20 overall and still fail if the question you missed was a Values question. Most people who fail the test fail here.
Values questions test whether you understand the principles in Part 4 of the official “Our Common Bond”booklet: freedom of speech and religion, equality of all people under the law, “a fair go”, mutual respect, and the rule of law. They sound easy — but the wrong answers are deliberately written to feel almost right, which is exactly how they catch people out.
Below are 20 free Values practice questions in the real test format. Decide your answer before revealing each explanation.
20 free Australian Values practice questions
Question 1Is it acceptable in Australia to discriminate against someone because they are not religious?
- AYes — religious communities have the right to prefer those who share their beliefs in all contexts
- BNo — anti-discrimination laws protect people regardless of whether they hold religious beliefs
- CYes — as long as it occurs in a private context
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: B — No — anti-discrimination laws protect people regardless of whether they hold religious beliefs
Anti-discrimination laws protect both religious people and those with no religion. Everyone must be treated equally.
Question 2Which of the following is a lawful religious practice in Australia?
- AForcing children to marry according to religious tradition
- BPractising polygamy in accordance with religious law
- CAttending weekly services at a place of worship
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: C — Attending weekly services at a place of worship
Attending religious services is a lawful and protected practice under freedom of religion.
Question 3How does Australian law handle the relationship between religious belief and national law?
- AAustralian law applies to everyone; religious belief does not create legal exemptions
- BReligious courts can make rulings that override Australian law in personal matters
- CPeople can choose to follow religious law instead of Australian law
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: A — Australian law applies to everyone; religious belief does not create legal exemptions
Australian law applies to all people. Religious belief does not provide an exemption from obeying the law.
Question 4Can a student in Australia be forced to participate in religious education at school?
- AYes — all students must attend religious education
- BNo — participation in religious instruction must be voluntary
- COnly if the religion is the same as the student's family background
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: B — No — participation in religious instruction must be voluntary
Participation in religious instruction in Australian schools is generally voluntary. No student can be compelled to attend.
Question 5Which of the following best describes Australia's approach to religious diversity?
- AThe government promotes Christianity as the preferred religion
- BMinority religions must seek government approval before practising
- CAll religions are welcome and may be practised freely within the law
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: C — All religions are welcome and may be practised freely within the law
Australia welcomes religious diversity and does not favour any religion. All faiths may be practised freely within Australian law.
Question 6Is it legal to respectfully debate or question religious ideas in Australia?
- AYes — respectful debate of religious ideas is generally protected speech
- BNo — all forms of religious criticism are illegal in Australia
- COnly academics and journalists are permitted to discuss religious ideas critically
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: A — Yes — respectful debate of religious ideas is generally protected speech
Respectful debate and criticism of religious ideas is generally protected free speech. Vilifying or inciting hatred against religious groups is illegal.
Question 7Can religious leaders make laws in Australia?
- AYes — religious leaders play a formal role in shaping Australian law
- BNo — laws are made only by Australia's elected Parliament
- CYes — in matters relating to their own congregation
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: B — No — laws are made only by Australia's elected Parliament
Only the elected Parliament of Australia can make laws. Religious leaders have no formal law-making power.
Question 8What is the correct relationship between religious freedom and the rights of others?
- AReligious freedom is absolute and overrides all other rights
- BReligious freedom only applies to members of a registered religion
- CReligious freedom is protected but may not be used to harm or discriminate against others
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: C — Religious freedom is protected but may not be used to harm or discriminate against others
Freedom of religion is a protected right, but it cannot be used to justify harming others or discriminating against them.
Question 9Which of the following groups is welcome to practise their religion in Australia?
- AAll religious groups, provided their practices are within Australian law
- BOnly those whose religion predates European settlement
- COnly those whose religion has more than 1 million members worldwide
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: A — All religious groups, provided their practices are within Australian law
Any religion may be practised in Australia, as long as its practices comply with Australian law.
Question 10What must religious communities in Australia ensure about their practices?
- AThat their practices match the beliefs of the most popular religion in Australia
- BThat their practices do not break Australian law
- CThat they register their practices with the Australian government
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: B — That their practices do not break Australian law
All religious communities in Australia are free to practise their faith, but all practices must comply with Australian law.
Question 11Which of the following is true about women's rights in Australia?
- AWomen need permission from a male guardian to apply for certain jobs
- BWomen can work but cannot hold political office
- CWomen have the same legal rights as men in all areas of life
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: C — Women have the same legal rights as men in all areas of life
Women have the same legal rights as men in Australia. Women can work in any role, vote, and participate fully in all areas of life.
Question 12Is it legal for an employer to pay a woman less than a man for the same job?
- ANo — paying women less than men for the same work is unlawful discrimination
- BYes — if it is company policy
- CYes — if it is disclosed in the employment contract
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: A — No — paying women less than men for the same work is unlawful discrimination
Equal pay for equal work is a legal requirement in Australia. Paying someone less based on their gender is unlawful discrimination.
Question 13Which of the following is true about men and women in Australian politics?
- AOnly men may stand for election to Parliament
- BWomen and men have equal rights to vote and stand for election
- CWomen may vote but cannot hold ministerial positions
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: B — Women and men have equal rights to vote and stand for election
Men and women have equal political rights in Australia. Women can vote, stand for election, and hold any political office.
Question 14Which of the following is an example of unlawful discrimination?
- ASelecting the best-qualified candidate regardless of gender
- BChoosing a candidate with better language skills for an overseas role
- CRefusing to promote an employee because she is pregnant
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: C — Refusing to promote an employee because she is pregnant
Refusing to promote a pregnant employee is pregnancy discrimination — a form of gender discrimination that is unlawful in Australia.
Question 15What does equal opportunity mean in Australia?
- AAll people can compete for jobs and education based on their merits
- BEveryone receives the same salary regardless of effort
- CEmployers must hire equal numbers of men and women
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: A — All people can compete for jobs and education based on their merits
Equal opportunity means all people can compete for roles in employment and education on the basis of their skills and merits.
Question 16Which of the following best reflects gender equality in Australian workplaces?
- AJobs in the police force are reserved for men
- BWomen and men are considered for any position based on their qualifications
- CWomen may only work part-time to balance family responsibilities
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: B — Women and men are considered for any position based on their qualifications
Gender equality in the workplace means all positions are open to both men and women, based on qualifications.
Question 17Which of the following is true about domestic violence in Australia?
- APhysical discipline of a spouse is a private family matter
- BDomestic violence is only illegal if it results in serious physical injury
- CDomestic violence is a criminal offence regardless of the relationship
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: C — Domestic violence is a criminal offence regardless of the relationship
Domestic violence is a criminal offence in Australia, regardless of the relationship or cultural background.
Question 18What protection do LGBTQ+ Australians have under the law?
- AThey are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and services
- BThey have no formal legal protection from discrimination
- CThey are only protected if they hold Australian citizenship
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: A — They are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and services
Anti-discrimination laws in Australia protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in employment, housing, and services.
Question 19Is it lawful to refuse to hire someone because the employer assumes they will take parental leave?
- AYes — employers can consider likely absences when making hiring decisions
- BNo — discriminating on the basis of pregnancy or potential parental leave is illegal
- CYes — as long as the employer does not state this as the reason
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: B — No — discriminating on the basis of pregnancy or potential parental leave is illegal
Discriminating against a person because of pregnancy or potential parental leave is unlawful. Employers must assess applicants on their ability to do the job.
Question 20Which of the following is an example of racial discrimination?
- AAsking a job applicant about their relevant prior experience
- BSelecting an employee with better language skills for an overseas role
- CRefusing to serve a customer because of their ethnicity
Reveal answer ↓
✓ Correct answer: C — Refusing to serve a customer because of their ethnicity
Refusing to serve a customer based on their ethnicity is racial discrimination — a serious breach of anti-discrimination law.
Frequently asked questions
How many Australian Values questions are on the real test?
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5 of the 20 questions are Australian Values questions. You must answer all 5 correctly to pass, regardless of your overall score. This rule was introduced in November 2020.
What happens if I get one Values question wrong?
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You fail the test automatically — even with a perfect score on the other 15 questions. That's why drilling the Values section until it's automatic matters more than any other preparation.
What topics do the Values questions cover?
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They come from Part 4 of 'Our Common Bond': freedom of speech, association and religion; equality of men and women; equality of opportunity and 'a fair go'; English as the national language; the rule of law; and mutual respect and tolerance.
Where can I practise more Values questions?
Show answer ↓
Our Premium course includes all 200 Australian Values questions from our verified bank, drilled across 40 full-length simulated tests, for a one-time $14.99 with a money-back guarantee.
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