An English expat sitting the Australian citizenship test was left stumped after coming across a question with three incorrect answers.
The woman, who requested not to be named, had been studying thoroughly the Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond booklet in anticipation for the quiz.
She was just a few minutes into the exam when she noticed a puzzling question about the country’s population size.
An English expat who was sitting the Australian citizenship test found a mistake
The woman had studied the Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond booklet
‘The three options were ’18 million’, ’22 million’ and ’30 million’,’ she told SBS.
‘It made me think, ”well, I know 22 million is wrong, I know 18 million is wrong, should I just put 30 million?”’
‘I told the examiner, ”I think there’s a mistake in the exam”… He said ”22 million is the right one”.’
But 22 million is not the right answer – Australia’s population surpassed 22 million people in 2011.
So what is the correct answer?
Which is correct? According to the home affairs ‘Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond’ resource online, the population is 22 million
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates the country will reach the 25 million milestone in June or July, with one person added every one minute and 24 seconds.
With 20 questions and a requirement of 15 correct answers to pass, the applicant is now curious as to how many people may have been stumped by the question.
In several versions of the research resource, the Australian population is still listed as ‘about 22 million’.
However a more up to date version correctly reflects the Australian Bureau of Statistics accurate data stating about 24 million
In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia the Department of Home Affairs said: ‘To maintain the integrity of the citizenship test, all questions and answers are confidential. It would be inappropriate for the Department of Home Affairs to comment further on the contents of the citizenship test.
‘The Common Bond Booklet contains 20 sample test questions to assist applicants in preparing for the test.
‘For clients who sat the citizenship test from 1 July 2017 to 30 April 2018, the failure rate was 2.9 per cent.
‘A person is allowed to attempt to pass the test on three occasions on the one day. They may attempt the test a number of times.’