What is the Canadian Citizenship test like? Is it difficult?
- The written test is a multiple choice test of twenty questions with four possible answer choices; pencil in the bubble with the correct or best answer (a, b, c or d). The test is timed at 30 minutes. To pass, 15 of the 20 questions must be answered correctly.
- If you are asked to come to an interview with a citizenship officer, the test questions will be asked orally. The oral interview will last 30 to 90 minutes.
Why would you be asked to do an oral interview instead of the written exam? According to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website:“We decide if your test will be written or oral based on a number of things. For example, if you have trouble reading and writing in English or French, you will have an oral test.”
Written test results are given immediately; oral test results are provided by written notification.
Although the test is not difficult, it covers a range of topics and subjects found in the citizenship study guide (access the study guide) and knowledge of that material will be needed in order to pass the exam.
What do I study and what types of questions will the Canadian Citizenship test cover
The questions asked on the written and oral interview are based on the material in Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. They include the following topics:
- The rights, freedoms and responsibilities of Canadian citizens.
- Canada’s democracy and ways to take part in that.
- Canadian political and military history: system of government, branches of government and monarchy).
- Canadian cultural history, symbols and economy.
- Canadian physical geography (visit the site’s map for this information)
- Political geography (who is my representative) (visit the site’s map for this information).
Even though we may not know the exact Canadian citizenship questions that will appear on the exam, these probable questions have been drawn solely from the material found in Discover Canada’s official study guide book and developed with emphasis on their questions. It has been designed expressly to build your knowledge by chapter by chapter of what types of questions you may expect on the Canadian citizenship test.
How do I prepare for the Canadian Citizenship test?
The site offers multiple ways to learn the material:
- The Canadian citizenship study guide (a text reproduction of Discover Canada) with practice test questions at the end of each topic that cover the material from that chapter
- Practice tests—select questions by topic, randomly by all of the questions.
- Flash cards of the questions and answers that will reinforce what you have learned and be a quick review of all the material.
- The Interactive Canada map—learn all the physical and political geography by area in one place.
What happens if I do not pass the Canadian Citizenship test?
If you fail the first test but meet all the other criteria for Canadian citizenship, a second test will be scheduled for you. (As is the case with the first test notification, if you are unable to sit for the exam at the date and time scheduled, you need to notify the CIC within 30 days so that the test can be rescheduled).
If you fail the second written test, a notice will be sent to you advising you to appear for an interview with a citizenship judge or officer. The judge during this interview may determine if you meet all the Canadian citizenship requirements, may test your knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities of citizenship and see if you have adequate knowledge of the testing material (government, history, symbols, geography) and may also ask questions about your residency.
If you do not pass the oral interview, this will cause your Canadian citizenship to be refused.
According to the CIC website the following is the answer to “What can I do if my citizenship application is refused?”
You can apply for Canadian citizenship again. This new application must include all the required forms and documents, including a new application fee. There is no waiting period before you can reapply. However, you should make sure you meet the requirements for Canadian citizenship before you reapply.
If your citizenship application is refused, you may also seek judicial review of the decision by the Federal Court of Canada. This is not an appeal of the decision. You have thirty (30) days from the date on the refusal letter to apply.