How many questions are on the Canadian citizenship test?

The test has 20 questions, either multiple choice or true or false. You have 45 minutes to answer them and need at least 15 correct (75%) to pass.

What score do you need to pass the citizenship test?

You need 15 out of 20 correct, which is 75%. You can get up to 5 questions wrong and still pass.

How long is the citizenship test?

45 minutes. Once the timer starts it cannot be paused, and the test submits automatically when time runs out. You get a warning when 5 minutes remain.

Is the citizenship test online?

Yes. Most applicants are invited to take the test online from home, monitored through their webcam. In-person, oral, and Microsoft Teams formats exist for people who ask for accommodations.

Who has to take the citizenship test?

In most cases, applicants who are between 18 and 54 years old on the day they sign their citizenship application. You are exempt if you are under 18 or 55 and over, or if you received a waiver.

Can I take the test in French?

Yes. You can take the citizenship test in either English or French — both official languages are available for every format.

Canadian citizenship test: format & pass mark

Last reviewed August 1, 2026 · Reviewed by the MapleTest editorial team

The Canadian citizenship test is 20 questions in 45 minutes, and you need 15 correct (75%) to pass. Most applicants take it online from home, and everyone gets 3 chances to pass within a 30-day window. Every question comes from the official study guide, Discover Canada. Knowing exactly how the test works takes a lot of the worry out of the day, so here is the whole thing in plain English.

At a glance

Questions: 20
Time limit: 45 min
To pass: 15/20
Pass mark: 75%
Chances: 3

Test format

The test has 20 questions and a 45-minute time limit. Since the rules were updated in March 2026, the timer is 45 minutes (it used to be 30) and you get 3 chances instead of 2 — many older articles still quote the old numbers, so always check against Canada.ca.

Every question is based on Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, the official study guide. It is free to read online, download, or listen to as audio, and it is the only source IRCC bases test questions on — so your preparation should come from it, or from practice built on it.

You can take the test in English or French, whichever you are more comfortable with. The test does not assess your language skills — that is a separate requirement with its own rules.

What is the pass mark?

You need to answer at least 15 of the 20 questions correctly, which is 75%. That means you can get up to 5 questions wrong and still pass. When you finish the online test, you see an unofficial result right away; IRCC confirms your official result afterwards.

How the questions work

The 20 questions come in two shapes:

multiple choice — pick the single correct answer from the options, or
true or false — decide whether a statement is correct.

There are no open-ended questions and nothing to write. The most useful habit to build is reading each question slowly and completely before answering — a fact you know well can still lose the mark if you rush the question. Practising in the real timed format is the best way to make the clock feel normal.

What the test covers

IRCC asks about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and about Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws, and symbols. In practice, that means the ten chapters of Discover Canada:

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship: what citizenship asks of you and gives you.
Who We Are: Indigenous peoples, English and French, and Canada's diversity.
Canada's History: from the first peoples through Confederation to today.
Modern Canada: the economy, society, arts, and inventions.
How Canadians Govern Themselves: federalism, Parliament, and the Crown.
Federal Elections: voting, ballots, and the levels of government.
The Justice System: courts, police, and the rule of law.
Canadian Symbols: the flag, the anthem, holidays, and honours.
Canada's Economy: trade and the main types of industries.
Canada's Regions: the provinces, territories, and regions.

History and the regions carry the most names, dates, and places, so plan the most study time for those chapters.

Taking the test online

Most applicants are invited to take the test online, on their own computer. You get 30 days from your invitation to take it, and up to 3 attempts within that window. While you take the test, IRCC monitors you through your webcam and takes photos to confirm your identity.

The timer is strict: once it starts, it cannot be paused. You get a warning when 5 minutes remain, and when the 45 minutes are up the test submits automatically, even if you have not finished. Practising against a real countdown is the best preparation for this.

If you need an accommodation, you can ask to take the test in person (written or oral), by video call on Microsoft Teams, or in another format such as Braille.

Do you have to take it?

In most cases, you take the test if you are between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your citizenship application. You do not take it if you are under 18 or 55 and over, or if you asked for and received a waiver. Requirements are decided by IRCC against your application — always check your own situation on Canada.ca. This guide is general information, not immigration advice.

What if you do not pass?

You have 3 chances to pass within your 30-day test window. If you fail the first attempt, you can retake it — focus your review on the chapters you found hardest before your next try.

If you fail all 3 attempts, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official, where your knowledge of Canada is assessed orally with the same pass standard (15 of 20 questions). If you pass the hearing, your application continues to the citizenship ceremony; if you do not, the application is refused and you would need to apply again.

The quickest way to get ready

The format rewards practice. Two habits make the biggest difference:

Get used to answering 20 questions under a 45-minute countdown, so the timer never surprises you.
Study all ten chapters of Discover Canada, and review every practice question you get wrong until you can answer it from memory.

You can try a free practice test now, with no sign-up needed. Our practice questions are original and based on the official Discover Canada study guide — they are not IRCC's actual test questions, which are never published. Do a few full timed mocks in the week before your test, and you will sign in knowing exactly what to expect.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Canadian citizenship test?: The test has 20 questions, either multiple choice or true or false. You have 45 minutes to answer them and need at least 15 correct (75%) to pass.
What score do you need to pass the citizenship test?: You need 15 out of 20 correct, which is 75%. You can get up to 5 questions wrong and still pass.
How long is the citizenship test?: 45 minutes. Once the timer starts it cannot be paused, and the test submits automatically when time runs out. You get a warning when 5 minutes remain.
Is the citizenship test online?: Yes. Most applicants are invited to take the test online from home, monitored through their webcam. In-person, oral, and Microsoft Teams formats exist for people who ask for accommodations.
What happens if I fail the citizenship test?: You have 3 chances to pass within your 30-day test window. If you fail all 3 attempts, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official, where your knowledge is assessed orally.
Who has to take the citizenship test?: In most cases, applicants who are between 18 and 54 years old on the day they sign their citizenship application. You are exempt if you are under 18 or 55 and over, or if you received a waiver.
Can I take the test in French?: Yes. You can take the citizenship test in either English or French — both official languages are available for every format.

Official sources (Canada.ca)

This page explains how the Canadian citizenship test works and is for study and preparation only. It is general information, not immigration advice, and does not determine your eligibility for citizenship. For official rules and any updates, rely on Canada.ca; official IRCC guidance controls if anything here differs.