The official Canadian citizenship test has 20 questions, and you need to answer at least 15 correctly (75%) to pass. Here's the exact format, what the questions cover, and what happens if you don't pass on your first try.
Most applicants take the test online through IRCC's portal, though some are scheduled for an in-person test. Questions are presented as multiple choice or true/false, drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. There's no penalty for guessing beyond an unanswered question simply counting as incorrect, so it's worth answering every question even if you're unsure.
Questions are pulled from the same ten broad topic areas covered in the official guide: Canadian history, rights and responsibilities, how government works, elections, the justice system, national symbols, the economy, and Canada's regions and geography. Some questions also touch on your specific province, such as who your local elected representatives are.
The knowledge test applies to applicants aged 18 to 54. If you're under 18 or 54 and older, you're generally exempt from both the knowledge test and the formal language test, though you still need to meet the other citizenship requirements.
Failing isn't the end of the process, and it doesn't put your application at risk on its own. IRCC generally schedules a second attempt automatically, typically within a few weeks, at no additional cost, and your application stays open the entire time — there's no need to reapply. If a second attempt also doesn't go well, the next step is usually an interview with a citizenship official rather than an automatic refusal, giving you another opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge.
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Start studying free →This article reflects the general test process as of July 2026 and is provided for informational purposes only. Requirements and procedures can change — always confirm current details directly at canada.ca before your test.