What you need to know about the citizenship test

Congratulations, you’ve been invited to take the citizenship test - you’re on your way to becoming a Canadian citizen! Here is everything you will need to know before, on the day of, and after the test. This video will tell you about study materials, everything you’ll need to bring on the day of your test, and more. Learn more about the citizenship test.

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Transcript: “What you need to know about the citizenship test”

Video length: 5:07 minutes

Light music throughout. A Female narrator speaks.

Text displays: “Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – Canadian citizenship knowledge test simulation”.

Canada wordmark is shown.

A male narrator speaks.

A group of people sit in a conference room and write on clipboards. Montage shows various people taking the test and writing on their clipboards.

NARRATOR:  Congratulations! You’ve been invited to take the Canadian citizenship knowledge test. You’re on your way to becoming a Canadian citizen.

A Canadian flag and coat of arms is shown.

NARRATOR:  The test shows how much you know about Canada and the privileges and responsibilities that come with being a Canadian citizen.

People take the test, read their booklets and write on their clipboards.

NARRATOR: This short video will show you what to expect before, during and after the test.

A Female narrator reads the text displayed on the screen.

Text displays over the image of an open book: “BEFORE THE TEST”.

A male narrator speaks.

A man sits at a kitchen table with a laptop. He writes in a notebook. Discover Canada booklet is shown. He then uses the laptop to view the IRCC web site.

NARRATOR: You’ve been studying Canada’s official citizenship study guide. Everything you need to know to pass the test can be found in the study guide. You can find the guide online or ask that a copy be mailed to you. Braille, large print and audio versions are also available.

The man reviews some documents with a woman in a residential kitchen. She then writes “Citizenship Test – 20 Sept. on a chalkboard.

NARRATOR: You will receive an invitation letter approximately two weeks before the test date. The invitation will include the time and the address where the test is to be held and what documents you must bring. You should plan two hours for this activity.

The man is shown dialing on a smartphone, speaking to someone then putting it down on the counter.

NARRATOR: You will need to make arrangements to get to and from the test. If you have children, you need to make arrangements for someone to look after them during the test.

The man and a woman converse in a kitchen while looking at the documents.

NARRATOR: If you are taking the test with other members of your family, please know that you will not be sitting together during the test.

A doctor shows information on a tablet to a patient lying in a hospital bed. A man in a wheelchair moves across a parking lot.

NARRATOR: If you can’t attend the test on the day you’re invited, or if you have special needs that require accommodations of any kind to take the test, please contact your local Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office as soon as you receive your invitation. Examples of accommodation are wheelchair access, Braille and large print.

Text displays: “CONTACT YOUR LOCAL IRCC OFFICE – if you have special needs that require accommodation”.

Three icons depicting: Braille, wheelchair accessibility, and large print appear under the text.

A minor automobile collision is shown. A woman is shown wearing an arm cast and sling.

NARRATOR: If you are prevented from attending the test on the day of the event due to an emergency, you must contact the local office within 30 days to provide a reasonable explanation.

A female narrator reads the text as displayed on the screen.

Text displays: “THE DAY OF THE TEST”.

An image of a calendar appears under the text.

A male narrator speaks.

NARRATOR:  Before you leave home, on the day of the test, review your invitation carefully to make sure you bring everything you need. Be sure to bring the originals of the same documents that you provided with your application.

Text displays against the background of a man collecting items from a table: “THE DAY OF THE TEST YOU MUST BRING:

• The notice to appear
• 2 pieces of personal id (with photograph and signature)
• Documents that support your citizenship application
• Permanent resident card
• Any passports and travel documents in your possession

A man walks up some stairs to a government office with a sign that reads: “Exam Room”. He enters a room where a group of people sit in chairs with clipboards. He takes a seat.

NARRATOR: Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before the time shown on your invitation. When you arrive, there will be other people waiting to register for the test. Don’t worry. Testing won’t begin until everyone is registered.

A woman sits at a table, checks some documents, and hands them back to the man.

NARRATOR: When your name is called, your documents are checked one last time before you take the test.

A female narrator reads the text displayed on the screen.

Text displays: “THE TEST”

An image of a pencil appears under the text.

A woman addresses a group of people from a podium. A man with a clipboard takes a seat with the group.

A male narrator speaks.

NARRATOR: You will have 30 minutes to write the test in one of the official language of your choice

A Discover Canada Study guide booklet is shown on a table.

NARRATOR: The questions are based on the official study guide.

A woman hands papers out to a group of people sitting in a conference type room. She then addresses them from a podium at the front of the room.

NARRATOR: There are 20 questions on the test. You need 15 correct answers to pass.

The group is shown reading their test papers and answering the questions.

NARRATOR: Some questions are multiple choice. Each of these questions will have four possible answers. Only one of the answers is correct. You need to circle the correct answer on the answer sheet. Some questions give you a choice of True or False. Again, you will need to circle the correct answer on the answer sheet. Some answer sheets may look different. In these cases you need to black out the correct answer.

A woman hands her test to another woman. Test takers meet with IRCC officials at individual kiosks.

NARRATOR: You will receive your test results in person right away, at the end of the test session

A female narrator reads the text as it is displayed.

Text displays: “AFTER THE TEST”.

An image of a document is shown under the text.

Two men sit opposite each other at a desk. One man looks relieved and thanks the other.

A male narrator speaks.

NARRATOR: If you pass the test and meet all other requirements for citizenship, as the great majority of candidates do, you should receive an invitation to take the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony in four to six weeks.

A woman hands a piece of mail to a man who is sitting in a chair in a living room. He opens and reads the mail. They converse.

NARRATOR: It will also include all the information you will need to know about the citizenship ceremony.

A group of people sit in a conference room and write on clipboards.

NARRATOR: Unfortunately, some people do not pass the test on their first try. If you do not pass the test the first time, you will get a chance to try again. You will receive another invitation in four to eight weeks.

A man opens and reads a piece of mail.

NARRATOR: If you still aren’t successful, you will be asked to attend an interview with a citizenship officer.

A man and a woman sit opposite each other at a table. The man writes on a paper. They converse.

NARRATOR: Remember, the citizenship knowledge test shows how much you know about Canada and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship.

A man shows a document to a woman in a kitchen. The man is then shown writing his test while seated with a clipboard in a conference room, taking notes at a kitchen table in front of a laptop, collecting documents from the table and leaving the room.

NARRATOR: Most people pass the test on their first try. Prepare yourself well in advance. Make sure you bring all the necessary documents. Do your best.

A wall display reads: “Our Citizenship – Notre citoyenneté” and is surrounded by Canadian provincial flags.

NARRATOR: Good luck!

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature, ISBN: 978-0-660-06718-6 and the copyright message “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2017” are displayed followed by the Canada wordmark.