Frequently asked questions
The questions people actually arrive with, answered plainly.
- Who has to take the Canadian citizenship test?
- Applicants for a citizenship grant who are 18 to 54 years old on the date they sign their application. Under 18 or 55 and over, there is no knowledge or language requirement. Applicants for proof of citizenship — a citizenship certificate rather than a grant — do not take the test at all.
- How many questions are on the test, and what is the pass mark?
- 20 questions in 30 minutes, and 15 correct to pass. The questions are multiple choice or true/false, written in plain language, and you take it in English or French.
- What does the test cover?
- Everything in Discover Canada: the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, Canada's history, geography, economy, government and legal system, and national symbols. Questions about voting procedures and the electoral system come up disproportionately often relative to how much space they take in the guide.
- What happens if I fail?
- IRCC generally offers a second written test, and if that is also unsuccessful, a hearing with a citizenship officer who asks the questions in person. Failing once is not the end of the application.
- How long after my AOR will I get my test?
- There is no fixed interval — it depends on your office and the queue, and IRCC's published processing times are the only figure worth planning against. The useful move is to start studying at AOR rather than waiting for the invitation, which typically arrives only a few weeks before the date.
- Is Discover Canada enough on its own?
- It is the only source the test is drawn from, so yes in principle. In practice, reading it is not the same as being able to answer 20 timed questions about it, which is what practice tests are for.
- Do I need to pay for practice tests?
- No. Ten full mock tests and the questions behind them are free and need no account. The paid tests exist for people who want more material after exhausting those.