Australian Immigration minister, Kevin Andrews, has said potential new Australian citizens will be able to sit the Australian citizenship test until they pass.

In order to become an Australian citizen, candidates must score 60%, answering at least 12 of the 20 questions correctly.

"What's important is not 'pass you're in, fail you're out'," Mr Andrews told ABC Radio in Brisbane.

"What's important we think is that we encourage people coming to Australia, who come from many different countries and cultures around the world, to understand what it is to be an Australian.

"So the encouragement is that if you don't get it the first time, go away, look at the material, learn some more about Australia and come back and do it again."

Migrants applying for citizenship will probably have to know about Aboriginal occupation and the colours of the flag to pass the controversial new test.

The questions will be selected from a pool of about 200 and will be based on the content of an Australian Way of Life resource booklet developed by the Australia immigration department.

Immigrants are able to sit the test after four years "lawful residence", including at least 12 months' permanent residence, an increase from the previous two year "lawful residence" requirement.

The test will coincide with the new English language test which has been developed to ensure migrants are proficient in the language before they are approved as permanent residents.

Citizenship tests are also conducted in Canada, the US and UK.

Take this sample Australian citizenship test to see if you are dinky di.