Study tips for the Canadian citizenship test
The test has 20 questions and you need at least 15 correct answers to pass. There is a lot to cover, but it all fits in a single guide. Here is how to get organized and arrive ready, without stress. For the exact test format, see how the test works.
Start early
Don't wait for your invitation to get started. It often arrives 1 to 3 months after the acknowledgment of receipt of your application, and you then have only 30 days to take the online test. Starting as soon as you send your application gives you time to study at your own pace, in short sessions.
Start from the official guide
All the questions cover the content of the Discover Canada guide. It's free and comes in several versions: to read online, download or listen to. The audio version is handy for studying on the bus or while walking.
Read it once all the way through, without trying to remember everything, to get the big picture. Then go back over each part in detail.
Study by topic
The test covers citizens' rights and responsibilities, as well as Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols. Rather than rereading the guide in one go, work on one topic at a time, starting with the ones you find hardest.
Our study sheets sum up six major topics: key historical dates, political institutions, provinces and territories, notable figures, the economy and culture. They're made to be printed and reread often.
Practice rather than reread
Rereading makes you feel you know the material; answering questions shows what you really know. Recalling an answer from memory is also what makes it stick best. As soon as you've read a part of the guide, test yourself.
Our free practice test draws 20 random questions from a bank of more than 500, so every attempt is different. Aim for at least 15 correct answers, as in the real test, then keep going until you regularly score above that.
Learn from every mistake
A mistake is valuable information: it shows you exactly what to review. After each practice test, go over the answers and, for every wrong one, go back to the guide page shown. Write down the points that keep coming up (a date, the role of an institution, a capital) and reread that list before your next session.
Space out your sessions
Several short sessions spread over several weeks work better than one long review the night before. For example, 20 to 30 minutes a few times a week: one practice test, then the corrections and the guide passages linked to your mistakes. Also come back now and then to the topics you think you've mastered, so you don't forget them.
Get ready for the real conditions
- Language. Study in the language you'll take the test in, English or French. Our practice test is available in both.
- Time. The online test lasts 45 minutes for 20 questions. Take a few practice tests in one sitting, without breaks, to get used to the pace.
- Equipment. The online test is taken on a computer or tablet with a webcam, in Chrome or Safari, never on a phone. Check your device and Internet connection ahead of time.
- Place. You must be alone, somewhere quiet, with your face visible to the webcam and no study material within reach. Have your photo ID ready.
On test day
Don't try to review everything at the last minute: reread your list of difficult points instead. During the test, read each question to the end and all the options before answering. If you're unsure, first rule out the answers that seem wrong.
And if you don't pass the first time, don't panic: you get up to 3 attempts within the 30-day period. Check our frequently asked questions to find out what happens next.