Canadian Citizenship Test 2026: booking, questions, pass mark and free practice
The Canadian citizenship test is the knowledge test that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) gives most adult applicants for citizenship. There is no exam date to look up and nothing to book: after you apply, IRCC emails you an invitation, and most people then take the test online within 30 days. It has 20 questions in 45 minutes, and you pass with 15 right. This guide explains how the invitation works, what is on the test, and how to prepare.
Canadian citizenship test at a glance
| Conducting body | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) |
| What it is for | Canadian citizenship, for applicants aged 18 to 54 on the day they sign the application |
| Mode | Usually online with a webcam; in person or on Microsoft Teams when needed |
| Questions | 20, multiple choice or true or false |
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Marking | 15 right out of 20 to pass; no penalty described for a wrong answer |
| Languages | English or French |
| How often | Three chances |
| Official website | canada.ca |
Test dates and booking
You do not choose a date. IRCC's how the test works page (checked 20 October 2026) says IRCC sends an email invitation after you submit your application, and that the timing varies, usually from a few weeks to a few months. Most applicants take the test online, from anywhere, watched by webcam, and have 30 days to complete it once invited.
If you need an accommodation, IRCC arranges an in-person test (on paper, orally or in another format such as Braille) or an oral test on a Microsoft Teams video call.
So the practical "exam date" is: start studying when you submit your application, and expect the invitation any time after.
How to apply and take the test
- Check that you meet the citizenship requirements and apply to IRCC. Applicants aged 18 to 54 on the day they sign will be invited to the test.
- Watch your email for the test invitation.
- For the online test, use a computer or tablet with a webcam, in Chrome or Safari; a phone cannot be used. Read the online test page before you start.
- Start within the 30 days. The 45-minute clock starts when you start, cannot be paused, and the test is submitted automatically when time is up.
- The result you see straight away is not final: an officer reviews it. Cheating, or failing to confirm your identity, can invalidate the sitting.
Keep ready: your identity document, a quiet room, and a device that meets IRCC's requirements.
Exam pattern
| Part | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20, each multiple choice or true or false |
| Time | 45 minutes on one clock |
| Topics | Rights and responsibilities of citizenship; Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols |
| Pass mark | At least 15 correct |
| Language | English or French; the test does not mark your language |
| Attempts | Three chances in the 30-day window |
Rights and responsibilities are topics within the same test, not a second paper. Language is a separate requirement of the citizenship application.
If you fail three times, IRCC's results page says you are sent to a hearing with an officer. At a knowledge hearing the officer can ask 20 oral questions, again with 15 needed to pass. The hearing runs 30 to 90 minutes.
Syllabus
All questions come from IRCC's study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship:
- Rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and the oath
- Who Canadians are: Indigenous peoples, English and French Canada, diversity
- History, from early settlement to modern Canada
- How Canadians govern themselves: federal state, parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy, elections
- The justice system, symbols, the economy and the regions
Our Canadian citizenship test syllabus lists the topics. Some figures in Discover Canada, such as population numbers, are out of date, so do not memorise them as current facts.
A plan for the weeks before your test
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read Discover Canada once, quickly. Take one practice test to see where you stand. |
| 2 | Rights and responsibilities, and government and elections: re-read and make notes. |
| 3 | History and symbols: dates, people and events, a few pages a day. |
| 4 | Regions, economy and justice. Second practice test. |
| 5 onward | One practice test every two days until you score well above 15 each time. Re-read the chapters behind each wrong answer. |
When the invitation arrives, take the test early in the 30-day window, so that a second or third chance is still possible.
Useful links
- How the citizenship test works (canada.ca)
- Study for the citizenship test (canada.ca)
- Discover Canada study guide (canada.ca)
- Free Canadian citizenship practice tests
- Canadian citizenship test syllabus
- Canadian citizenship test dates
- Australian Citizenship Test 2026: booking and pass mark
- US Citizenship Test 2026: interview and civics questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the Canadian citizenship test?
You need at least 15 correct answers out of 20.
How many questions are on the Canadian citizenship test?
Twenty, each multiple choice or true or false, in 45 minutes.
How long after applying will I get the citizenship test invitation?
IRCC says timing varies, usually a few weeks to a few months after you submit your application. You then have 30 days to take the online test.
Who has to take the Canadian citizenship test?
Applicants aged 18 to 54 on the day they sign the application. Applicants under 18 or 55 and over, and those granted a waiver, do not.
What happens if I fail the citizenship test three times?
You are sent to a hearing with a citizenship officer, where you may be asked 20 oral questions and need 15 right to pass.