A condition of acquiring Canadian citizenship is passing the Canadian citizenship exam. All citizenship applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 must write and pass the Canadian citizenship exam in order to become a Canadian citizen. The citizenship test will measure your comprehension of English or French but it will also measure your understanding of Canada. The exam contains questions regarding Canada’s social, economic, and political structure.

The test is divided into three sections. To pass the exam, you must answer 12 out of 20 questions within 30 minutes. However, you should be aware that questions are not given equal weight. The first section contains 15 general questions about Canada of which you need to get at least 8 correct. The following section consists of only 3 questions about the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens. In this part of the test you must answer each one correctly. If one of these questions is answered incorrectly, you will not pass the Canadian citizenship exam even if you answer the rest of the questions correctly. The third and final section consists of two questions. In this section, you allowed only 1 wrong answer. If you answer both questions incorrectly, you will not pass the exam.

You should not be afraid to write the exam. The exam represent an important step in a person’s life, and chances are you will pass the exam. The exam is an indication that you understand how the country operates. You are expected to know essential elements of Canadian political life, basic elements of Canadian history and geography, the rights and duties of citizens, and basic knowledge of the Canadian economy. It is always a good idea to prepare. It is also advisable that you stay updated. Some questions will ask that you name the current political leaders of the nation or province; reading daily newspapers or magazines can help ensure that you know the information required.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada offers a guide that will give you an idea of what to expect on the exam. You will not be notified if you pass the exam. Instead, you will be notified to attend a Citizenship ceremony where you will become a Canadian citizen. If you did not pass the exam, you will sit before a judge for an oral interview. If you are not allowed to continue then, you have the right to appeal the decision or re-write the exam.