Canadian Citizenship Test Format: Questions, Time Limit & Pass Mark
The exact shape of the current test, how the online sitting works, and what happens after — based on IRCC's published rules.
| How many questions | 20 questions |
|---|---|
| Question types | Multiple choice (four options) and true/false |
| Time limit | 45 minutes — the timer cannot be paused once started |
| Pass mark | 15 of 20 (75%) |
| Attempts | Up to 3 attempts within your 30-day online test period |
| Languages | English or French |
| Question source | All questions are based on Discover Canada |
How many questions are on the Canadian citizenship test?
Twenty. You will find older material — including some apps and books — describing 30 questions and 30 minutes; that was the older in-person written format. IRCC's current test is 20 questions in 45 minutes with a 75% pass mark (15/20). Always prepare for the format IRCC currently publishes, and re-check your invitation letter, which states the final details for your sitting.
How the online test works
Most applicants now take the test online. IRCC emails an invitation with a link and a start date; you then have a 30-day period in which to take the test, with up to three chances to pass. The test runs in your browser, and the system takes periodic webcam snapshots to confirm it is really you taking it — you must show valid photo identification at the start, and a blurry or unclear ID image can invalidate the attempt. Once the 45-minute timer starts it cannot be stopped, and the test auto-submits when time expires. Choose a quiet, well-lit room, a stable internet connection, and the language (English or French) you are most confident in.
What kinds of questions are asked?
Questions are factual and comprehension-based, drawn from the ten chapters of Discover Canada: rights and responsibilities, history, geography, government, elections, symbols, laws and the economy. A typical test mixes dates and names (Confederation 1867, the Charter 1982), places (capitals, regions), concepts (what a minority government is; what habeas corpus means) and symbols (the poppy, the beaver). Our practice bank mirrors that mix across all chapters.
What if you fail?
You normally get up to three attempts in your test period. If all three attempts fail, IRCC schedules a hearing with a citizenship official (usually 30–90 minutes) who asks knowledge questions orally — again up to 20 questions with 15 to pass — and may also review your residence and language. A failed test does not cancel your application, but a hearing adds months, so it is worth preparing to pass the first time.
Is the test online or in person?
Online is the standard route for most applicants today. IRCC may schedule some applicants in person — for example when accommodations are requested or a file needs review — and your invitation always governs. Either way, the question count, pass mark and source guide are the same.
True/false questions — how to handle them
Part of the test is true/false. These reward careful reading rather than deep knowledge: a statement that is mostly right but wrong in one detail — a date, a province, a name — is false. Read every word before answering, and be suspicious of absolutes like 'always' and 'never'. In our practice bank we phrase many questions so that one option contains a subtle error, training exactly this habit.
Taking the test in person
Some applicants are scheduled for an in-person sitting instead of the online test — for example when an accommodation is arranged or a file is selected for review. The content is identical: 20 questions from Discover Canada, 75% to pass. Bring the identification listed in your notice, arrive early, and remember that officials cannot help with answers. If you need accommodation — extra time for a medical reason, a paper or large-print version, or another adjustment — request it from IRCC as early as possible; accommodations exist so that the test measures knowledge, not barriers.
Test-day checklist
- Invitation notice (printed or on your device) and the photo ID it specifies — make sure the ID is valid and the photo clear.
- For the online test: a computer with a working webcam, a quiet private room, good lighting facing you, and a stable connection.
- Close other applications and browser tabs; put your phone away and out of reach.
- Use the full time if you need it: about two minutes per question is available. Answer everything — unanswered questions score zero, and there is no penalty for a wrong answer beyond not earning the mark.
- Mark questions you are unsure about, finish the rest, then return with fresh eyes.
Results and what comes next
Online, you see a temporary score immediately; IRCC confirms the result after reviewing the sitting. A confirmed pass moves your file toward a decision and the ceremony invitation. If you did not pass, you will be offered another attempt within the rules described above — use the gap to restudy the chapters your review pointed to, rather than retaking blindly. Nothing about a failed attempt appears on any public record.
A final clarification that confuses many candidates: the 45 minutes is the length of one sitting, not a limit on your whole process. You choose when inside your 30-day window to sit the test, and between attempts you may study as much as you like. What you cannot do is pause mid-test, have another person present, or consult materials during a sitting — the webcam snapshots and identity check exist to enforce exactly that. Treat a sitting like a formal exam room that happens to be in your home, and the rules will never surprise you.
Reading your invitation correctly
Your invitation is the single authoritative document for your sitting: it states the start date of your 30-day window, the link and sign-in details for the online test, the ID you must present, and the deadline. Read it the day it arrives — windows are measured in days, not in 'when I feel ready'. If the window clashes with travel or a family emergency, contact IRCC through the channel the invitation gives rather than simply letting it lapse. And keep the email: your test access details and any reschedule instructions travel with it.
Rehearse the exact format
Our mock test copies the real numbers — 20 questions across all chapters, a live 45:00 countdown, automatic submission at zero, and the 15/20 pass mark — with a full review afterwards. When you can pass it twice in a row, you are ready for the real sitting.