From today persons wishing to become Australian citizens will need to successfully pass Australia's new Citizenship Test.

A total of 33 people will sit the test today at Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) offices in Queensland and Victoria.

The computer-based test comprises 20 multiple choice questions drawn from information in the Citizenship Test Resource Book, Becoming an Australian Citizen.

‘We believe that it is important for new citizens to demonstrate that they have at least basic English and they understand the responsibilities and privileges of being an Australian citizen,’ said Kevin Andrews, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

‘Australian Citizenship provides for an overriding commitment to Australia, our laws, our values and our community.

‘A Citizenship Test provides the means of ensuring that prospective citizens have such an understanding.

‘The pass mark for the test is 60 per cent, including answering correctly the three mandatory questions about the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.

‘For those who have not passed the test, a print out of their results will give them information about their test results. This will help them to prepare to sit the test again. People can sit the test as many times as they need to in order to pass.

‘Applicants younger than 18 years or 60 years or older will not be required to sit the test, nor will those suffering from a permanent mental or physical incapacity that means they cannot understand the nature of their application,’ said Minister Andrews.

A further 74 people will sit the test tomorrow across Australia when DIAC offices in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth open after the public holiday.

Test sites will be located in all capital cities and in major regional centres to meet demand. Beyond the 13 DIAC offices, test sites will be rolled out at 30 Medicare Australia and four Centrelink offices by the end of the year. All tests will be administered by DIAC staff.