Canadian citizenship test and language proof: format, pass mark and accepted documents

Who takes the test

In most cases, if you are between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your citizenship application, you have to take the citizenship test. People outside that age range do not, and neither do people who asked for and received a waiver. Language proof follows the same age range: applicants aged 18 to 54 must show they can speak and listen in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level 4 or higher.

How the test works

The test has 20 multiple-choice or true-or-false questions, is in English or French and lasts 45 minutes. You need at least 15 correct answers (75%) to pass. The online test is taken within a 30-day period after your invitation, and IRCC monitors you through your webcam. In-person, paper, oral and Microsoft Teams formats are for accommodations. The test has no questions that assess your English or French.

Study from the official guide

IRCC bases all test questions on its official study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, and links practice questions from the same page. Study from that guide rather than from unofficial question banks, and keep the date of your invitation so you know when the 30-day window closes.

Practise with free 20-question tests on CitizenNow →

If you do not pass

Within the 30-day test period you have up to three chances to pass, whatever the format. If you fail every attempt, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official, which lasts 30 to 90 minutes. The official may ask 20 oral knowledge questions, of which you must pass 15, and assess your English or French with up to 9 questions, of which you must pass 6. If you fail the hearing, the application is refused and you would need to reapply and pay the fees again.

Language proof IRCC accepts

Send at least one accepted document with your application. Options include a diploma, transcript or certificate from a secondary or post-secondary program taught in English or French, in or outside Canada, and test results you gave IRCC for permanent residence, even expired ones, if the listening and speaking scores are high enough: for example CELPIP-General 4 or higher (tests from April 1, 2014), IELTS General Training with 4.5 in listening and 4.0 in speaking, PTE Core with 28 in listening and 42 in speaking, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada at B1 or higher. IELTS Academic is not accepted. LINC or CLIC training at CLB 4 can also count. Missing or unreadable proof means the application is returned.