THE federal government faces calls to scrap Australia's written citizenship test because it is too hard for thousands of migrants who cannot understand the questions.
New Australians are refusing the test for fear of failing and being deported, with just 9043 migrants applying from October to December last year when there should have been about 30,000, The Daily Telegraph reported.

A submission to the Inquiry into Multiculturalism said almost 23 per cent of Sudanese migrants, 17.5 per cent of Afghanis and 16 per cent of Iraqis fail to pass the test on first or subsequent attempts.

The NSW Teachers' Federation demanded the government drop the written questions and return to a "basic spoken English test" as used in the past.



"The citizenship test requires near native-speaker competence in English," the federation's submission says.

"The test ... is particularly disadvantaging certain migrant and refugee groups and lowering their uptake of citizenship. Many refugee groups have reported that due to a fear of failure and a perception of being deported if unsuccessful ... they are far less likely to sit the test at all."

The test is of 20 questions drawn at random from a pool of questions. To pass, applicants must answer 15 correctly. UK migrants top the list of successes, then India, China, South Africa, Philippines, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Korea and Malaysia.
Some Sudanese migrants said yesterday they knew many who had not become citizens because of the test.



Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/new-aussie-citizens-test-too-hard/story-e6frfkvr-1226103082543#ixzz1TME56qFJ

NEW requirements for immigrants to speak basic English before joining their spouse in the UK were deemed racist last night.

It is claimed the language test discriminates against British-Indian families and their traditions, and breaches their human rights.

The Home Office now requires such people to speak a minimum level of English.

But three couples are challenging the rule, introduced by Home Secretary Theresa May in November.

They claim it contravenes their rights to a family life, their right to marry and constitutes discrimination. One case is that of British citizen Rashida Chapti, 54, and husband Vali Chapti, 57, who wants to join her in the UK.

They have been married for 37 years and have six children together. Mr Chapti is an Indian national and does not speak, read or write English.

Mrs Chapti has reportedly been travelling between India and Leicester for around 15 years but has now applied for her husband to join her.

It is a privilege to come to the UK and that is why I am committed to raising the bar for migrants. 

The immigration rules require Mr Chapti to show a basic knowledge of English before he can be given permission to stay. At the High Court in Birmingham yesterday, Manjit Gill QC, for the couple, said the requirement was a breach of their human rights.

It contravened several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights.

He said: “The rule is particularly striking in that it prevents mere residence even though one of the parties is fully entitled to live in this country.”

Home Secretary Theresa May said last year: “It is a privilege to come to the UK and that is why I am committed to raising the bar for migrants.”


http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/261315/Bid-to-overturn-racist-English-test-

UK migrants top the list of successes, then India, China, South Africa, Philippines, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Korea and Malaysia.

Has anybody ever failed the citizenship test?

It's not a test to gain entry into the country. It's just a silly quiz so people understand what australia is about.

What is wrong with that the candidate use their native language to understand what is Australia? Why not can they be Australia citizen if they are not good at English?