More applicants failing Australia's citizenship test: report

The number of applicants failing the Australian citizenship has almost doubled in the last five years, according to data released by Australia's Immigration Department on Wednesday.

During the 2014-15 period, around 2,200, or 1.9 percent, of applicants failed the citizenship test, compared with to 1.1 percent in 2010.

In 2009, the Australian government made it harder for applicants to pass the test, raising the official pass mark from 60 percent up to 73 percent, in an effort to encourage applicants to brush up on their knowledge of Australia.

But since then, the rate of fail has been steadily increasing. In 2011-12, it was at 1.3 percent, the next year it was 1.7 percent before increasing to 1.9 percent last year.

The 2014-15 figure is the highest rate of fail since the pass mark was raised.

Applicants born in India, China, Vietnam, Sudan and Afghanistan were among the worst offenders; however a Department of Immigration and Border Control spokesperson said that applicants from 80 different countries had failed the test.

Questions on the citizenship test include "What colors make up the Australian Aboriginal Flag?" and "What do we remember on Anzac Day?"

The Refugee Council of Australia has raised concerns over the test's approachability, with a spokesperson saying the link between failure and poorer English skills was marginalizing those attempting to permanently resettle their lives in Australia.

When the citizenship test was first introduced in 2007, the fail rate was at 4.5 percent, but a review in 2008 made it easier for applicants to pass. Enditem