Canadian citizenship test, answered plainly.
Format, pass mark, who must take it, what happens if you fail, and how to prepare — drawn from IRCC's official guidance on Canada.ca. Always check your own invitation letter: it governs your sitting.
How many questions are on the Canadian citizenship test?
20 questions. You need at least 15 correct answers to pass. Questions are multiple-choice or true-or-false.
How long is the test?
45 minutes. Some in-person sittings have used 30 minutes in the past, so CitizenReady also offers a 30-minute strict timer for practice.
What is the test based on?
Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, the official IRCC study guide. Every test question is based on that guide — history, geography, economy, government, laws, symbols, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Who has to take the test?
Applicants aged 18 to 54. Applicants 55 and older do not need to write the test, but still attend the citizenship ceremony.
What happens if I fail?
You have up to 3 chances to pass within your test period. If you do not pass after 3 attempts, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official, who may ask oral knowledge questions (20 questions, 15 to pass) and language questions.
Is the test online or in person?
IRCC assigns the format in your invitation. Most applicants now take a self-administered online test with webcam identity checks; some take it in person or on Microsoft Teams. The 20-question format and 15-to-pass standard are the same either way.
What language is the test in?
English or French — the language you chose in your application, the same language you will use for the oath.
Do I need to memorise the oath?
You take the oath at your ceremony. Learn the current wording, which names His Majesty King Charles the Third. Older printings of Discover Canada name Queen Elizabeth II.
How should I prepare?
Read Discover Canada cover to cover, practise questions on every chapter, take timed mock tests, and fix weak chapters until your scores are consistently strong. CitizenReady's readiness standard is three mock tests at 16/20 or better, with every chapter at 70% or better.
Are CitizenReady practice questions real test questions?
No. IRCC does not publish its test questions. CitizenReady questions are original practice questions written from Discover Canada, plus clearly labelled AI-generated questions grounded in the same guide. No practice app can guarantee a pass.