Canadian citizenship practice test
A free Canadian citizenship practice test in the real format: 20 multiple-choice questions, 15 to pass, 30 minutes. Every question was written to the themes of Discover Canada, IRCC's official study guide, and every answer is explained so you know which chapter to reread. Take a fresh set as many times as you like.
Practice test: 20 questions, 15 to pass
Same format as the real test. Give yourself 30 minutes. Explanations appear when you submit.
1 of 20 · Justice
What is the highest court in Canada?
2 of 20 · History
Who founded Quebec City in 1608?
3 of 20 · History
Which First World War battle in April 1917 is remembered as a defining moment for Canada?
4 of 20 · History
Louis Riel led two uprisings in defence of which people's rights?
5 of 20 · History
Who were the United Empire Loyalists?
6 of 20 · Regions
Which three provinces are known as the Prairie provinces?
7 of 20 · Who we are
Which group of people live mainly in Canada's Arctic and have a name meaning "the people" in their own language?
8 of 20 · Rights and responsibilities
Which document, adopted in 1982, guarantees fundamental freedoms such as freedom of conscience and religion?
9 of 20 · History
On what day do Canadians wear a poppy and observe a moment of silence for those who served in wars?
10 of 20 · History
What does "responsible government" mean?
11 of 20 · Elections
What is the name for the party with the second-largest number of seats in the House of Commons?
12 of 20 · Government
Who is Canada's head of state?
13 of 20 · Modern Canada
In what year did Canada get its own citizenship, separate from British subject status?
14 of 20 · Symbols
When was the current Canadian flag with the red maple leaf first raised?
15 of 20 · Government
Which level of government is responsible for areas such as education, health care and highways?
16 of 20 · Who we are
What are Canada's two official languages?
17 of 20 · Symbols
What is Canada's national anthem?
18 of 20 · Modern Canada
What did the Constitution Act, 1982 achieve?
19 of 20 · Government
Who represents the King in each province?
20 of 20 · History
Which war between 1812 and 1814 helped confirm that Canada would remain separate from the United States?
0 of 20 answered
These practice questions were written by Wild Mountain Immigration to the themes of IRCC's study guide, Discover Canada. They are not the questions on the official test, which IRCC does not publish.
Key takeaways
The citizenship test is 20 multiple-choice questions, 15 to pass, 30 minutes, taken online by applicants aged 18 to 54. Discover Canada is the only official source. This practice test uses the same format with explained answers.
- 20 questions, 15 to pass (75 percent), 30 minutes, multiple choice and true or false.
- Ages 18 to 54 take it; under 18 and 55 and over are exempt.
- Every real question comes from Discover Canada; nothing else is examinable.
- Fail once and you get a second attempt; fail twice and you are called to a short hearing with an officer.
- The test is normally online, on your own device, inside a 30-day window IRCC gives you.
What is on the Canadian citizenship test?
Everything comes from Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. The guide has a chapter for each theme below, and IRCC draws its questions across all of them, so a study plan that skips the history chapter because it is long will cost you marks.
| Theme | What to know | Guide chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Rights and responsibilities | The Charter's fundamental freedoms, mobility and equality rights, and the six responsibilities of citizenship | Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship |
| Who we are | The three founding peoples, First Nations, Inuit and Métis, the two official languages, Acadians, multiculturalism | Who We Are |
| History | Cartier and Champlain, the fall of New France, Loyalists, the War of 1812, responsible government, Confederation, the railway, Riel, the world wars | Canada's History |
| Modern Canada | Citizenship in 1947, the Quiet Revolution, the Charter in 1982, Nunavut, Terry Fox and other figures | Modern Canada |
| Government | Constitutional monarchy, the three levels of government, the parts of Parliament, the roles of the King, Governor General, Prime Minister and Premiers | How Canadians Govern Themselves |
| Elections | Who may vote, how often elections are held, the secret ballot, the Official Opposition, your own MP and Premier | Federal Elections |
| Justice | The rule of law, presumption of innocence, the courts, the police, jury duty | The Justice System |
| Symbols | The flag (1965), the anthem, the Crown, the maple leaf, the beaver, the Victoria Cross, national holidays | Canadian Symbols |
| Economy | Service, manufacturing and natural resources; trade with the United States | Canada's Economy |
| Regions | The five regions, the provinces and territories, their capitals and key facts | Canada's Regions |
Ten sample citizenship test questions with answers
These ten are drawn from the practice bank above so you can see the style. The real questions are worded differently, but they test the same facts.
- Which document, adopted in 1982, guarantees fundamental freedoms such as freedom of conscience and religion?
Answer: The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of the Constitution Act, 1982, and sets out the fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights and legal rights of everyone in Canada. - Who are the three founding peoples of Canada described in Discover Canada?
Answer: Aboriginal, French and British. Discover Canada describes Canadian society as built by Aboriginal peoples, the French and the British. - The name "Canada" comes from "kanata", a word in an Iroquoian language meaning what?
Answer: Village or settlement. Jacques Cartier heard the word kanata, meaning village, from two Aboriginal guides in the 1530s and it came to be used for the whole country. - On what date did Confederation take effect, creating the Dominion of Canada?
Answer: 1 July 1867. The British North America Act came into force on 1 July 1867, uniting Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We celebrate it as Canada Day. - What are the three parts of Canada's Parliament?
Answer: The Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons. Parliament consists of the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the appointed Senate and the elected House of Commons. - How often, at most, must a federal election be held under the law?
Answer: Every four years. Federal elections must be held on the third Monday of October every four years after the last one, though one can be called earlier if the government loses the confidence of the House. - What is the highest court in Canada?
Answer: The Supreme Court of Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa is the final court of appeal. Below it are the Federal Court, provincial courts of appeal, superior courts and provincial courts. - When was the current Canadian flag with the red maple leaf first raised?
Answer: 1965. The maple leaf flag was raised for the first time on 15 February 1965, now marked as National Flag of Canada Day. - Which provinces make up the Atlantic region?
Answer: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The four Atlantic provinces are Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. - What is the capital city of Canada?
Answer: Ottawa. Ottawa, on the Ottawa River in Ontario, was chosen as the capital by Queen Victoria in 1857.
How to study for the citizenship test in two weeks
- 01
Read Discover Canada once, start to finish
About three hours. Use the free audio version on canada.ca while commuting if reading is hard to fit in. Do not skip the history chapter.
- 02
Take the practice test cold
Your first score tells you which themes to focus on. Most people miss history dates and the government structure first time round.
- 03
Reread the chapters you missed
The explanation under each question names the fact; find it in the guide and read the surrounding page, because the real test asks about neighbouring facts too.
- 04
Look up your own representatives
The guide does not print the names of the current Prime Minister, your Premier or your MP, but the test can ask. Check them the week before you sit.
- 05
Pass three fresh sets in a row
Use the new-set button. When you are passing comfortably with different questions each time, you are ready.
Ages 55 and over: no test, but the application still has to be right
How the real test day works
After IRCC has checked your application it emails an invitation to take the test online, with a window, currently 30 days, to complete it. You need a computer or tablet with a camera, a quiet room and your identity document. The test is 20 questions in 30 minutes; you can go back and change answers before you submit. You see your result immediately. IRCC then invites you to an interview if it needs to verify documents or language, and finally to the citizenship ceremony, where you take the oath, now including the affirmation to respect the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Language is assessed separately. Applicants aged 18 to 54 must show CLB 4 in English or French, usually through the evidence filed with the application, and an officer may confirm it in the interview.
What happens if you fail the citizenship test?
A first failure means a second written test, typically a few weeks later. A second failure leads to a hearing with a citizenship officer, who tests your knowledge orally. Failing does not refuse your application, but each step adds months to a process whose published total is already about 12 months. Practising until the 15-correct mark is routine is the cheapest time-saver in the whole citizenship process.
Before the test: are you actually eligible to apply?
The test is the last hurdle, not the first. Files stall far more often on the eligibility requirements: 1,095 days of physical presence in the five years before you apply, tax filing for three of those years, and permanent resident status in good standing with no unmet conditions. If your day count is close, or you have spent long periods abroad, have it checked before you pay the fee. Our guide to how to apply for Canadian citizenship walks through the forms, and if you were born abroad to a Canadian parent you may already be a citizen by descent and need a citizenship certificate rather than a grant.
Compliance note. Wild Mountain Immigration is a licensed RCIC practice (CICC R706497). This practice test is an educational tool. Passing it is not a guarantee of passing the official test or of any application outcome; only IRCC decides.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Canadian citizenship test and how many do you need to pass?
The official test has 20 multiple-choice or true-or-false questions and you need at least 15 correct, 75 percent, to pass. You have 30 minutes. Our practice test uses the same format so you get used to the pace: 20 questions, a 15-correct pass mark, and a timer you set yourself.
Are these the real citizenship test questions?
No. IRCC does not publish the questions it uses, and any site claiming to have them is guessing or copying old material. Every question here was written by Wild Mountain Immigration to the themes of Discover Canada, the official study guide: rights and responsibilities, history, government, elections, justice, symbols, the economy and the regions. If you can answer these, you understand the material the real test draws from.
Who has to take the citizenship test?
Applicants aged 18 to 54 on the day they sign their application must take the test and meet the language requirement. Applicants under 18 and those 55 or older are exempt. IRCC can also waive the test on compassionate grounds for someone with a medical condition that prevents them from meeting the requirement.
Is the citizenship test online or in person?
Since 2020 the test has been offered online. IRCC sends an invitation with a window, currently 30 days, in which you must complete it. You take it on your own device, with identity checks and a webcam. In-person sittings still exist for people who cannot take it online. Either way, the content and the pass mark are the same.
What happens if I fail the citizenship test?
You get a second attempt. If you fail twice, IRCC schedules a short hearing with a citizenship officer, who assesses your knowledge orally along with your language ability. Failing does not cancel your application, but it does add months, which is why we recommend practising until you pass this test comfortably three times in a row.
Which study guide should I use?
Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, published by IRCC, is the only official guide and every real question is based on it. It is free on canada.ca in text, PDF, audio and e-book formats. Read it once in full, then use practice tests like this one to find the sections you need to reread.
Do I need to know the names of current politicians?
You should know who the head of state is (the King), who represents the King in Canada (the Governor General) and in your province (the Lieutenant Governor), who your Prime Minister is, and the name of your provincial Premier and your Member of Parliament. Discover Canada tells you to find those out for your own area, because they are not printed in the guide.
How long after the test do I get the citizenship ceremony?
It varies with IRCC's workload. Once you pass the test and any interview, IRCC finalises the decision and invites you to a ceremony, which is often held by video. IRCC's overall published processing time for a citizenship grant is about 12 months from a complete application, and the test usually falls a few months before the ceremony. Our citizenship processing time page tracks the current figure.
Ready for the test, unsure about the application?
A licensed RCIC can check your physical-presence count and your file before you submit, so the test is the only thing left to pass.