Need Some Help Preparing for Citizenship Test

[Frank Thomas]

Hello Everyone,

I haven’t yet submitted an application for citizenship, but I am currently reading the document to prepare to take the test. I was wondering if any of you could give me a few tips to help me better prepare for the test and to get the maximum out of my reading and what I should focus more on.

I’m honestly quite overwhelmed because the PDF document is 68 pages and contains too many dates with regards to Canadian history. At a certain age, a person’s memory is no longer as sharp. When I read, I feel as if I’m retaining everything and memorizing the dates of most of the historical events, but the moment I decide to take a break, it feels as if almost everything I read has slid right out of my brain and the memories come back only after I start revising once again.

Also, I thought the test is multiple choice where you pick the right answer out of a series of options, but I hear it’s written…which makes things even more complicated.

 

[akbardxb]

Unfortunately, there is no easy way out of this. What helped me was that in the lead up to your application, I read frequently about history of Canada, culture and government not just from the pdf guide in the last few days before my test.
It always helps to stay abreast of what’s going on. I don’t recall the test having which year did……’ type of questions, but that was two years ago and multiple choice.

 

[Frank Thomas]

Thanks for your response, akbardxb. If at least the test could still be multiple choice, that would at least be one positive thing, because remembering all of those innumerable dates is not an easy task. I’m in my mid 40s, and my memory and brain are no longer that sharp.

 

[CaBeaver]

Hello Everyone,

I haven’t yet submitted an application for citizenship, but I am currently reading the document to prepare to take the test. I was wondering if any of you could give me a few tips to help me better prepare for the test and to get the maximum out of my reading and what I should focus more on.

I’m honestly quite overwhelmed because the PDF document is 68 pages and contains too many dates with regards to Canadian history. At a certain age, a person’s memory is no longer as sharp. When I read, I feel as if I’m retaining everything and memorizing the dates of most of the historical events, but the moment I decide to take a break, it feels as if almost everything I read has slid right out of my brain and the memories come back only after I start revising once again.

Also, I thought the test is multiple choice where you pick the right answer out of a series of options, but I hear it’s written…which makes things even more complicated. Also, practice online tests to see a sample of questions. Search google.

The test is multiple choice, or true or false questions. Also, if you read the booklet once, the dates and details won't stick. I read the booklet maybe 8 times over months, 2 times after I got the test invite within the 3 weeks eligibility period.

 

[Frank Thomas]

Thanks a lot for your input, CaBeaver. It was helpful. So the test is multiple choice or true/false and taken on a computer, I believe? How many questions are there in total on average? Either way, I will look up some practice questions online.


I hear it’s possible to now do the citizenship application online rather than just on paper. Hopefully the processing time is faster for online applications? I’m trying to see if I can apply for myself and my five-year-old daughter. If anyone might have the most recent, up to date link for the online version of the Canadian citizenship application and share it with me here, I’ll be very grateful. I just want to make sure

 

[Seym]

There are exactly 20 multiple choice questions in the test (which used to take place in a IRCC office but now happens online), and you need 15 correct answers.
Also, there isn't that much emphasis on dates and numbers VS generic common sense questions, and in general, there are enough "easy" questions to score at least the minimal 15/20 if you prepare well enough.

Also, regarding the citizenship application itself, yes, there's now an online one, but it's currently specific for single adult applicants. If you want a family application, you'll need to do the paper based one. It may (will?) change at some point in the future, but the update hasn't been done yet and we have no idea when that could happen.

 

[Frank Thomas]

Thank you very much for your input, Seym. That means if I do the paper-based citizenship application, it may take at least a year for them to get back to me with regards to the next steps due to the pandemic and all.

I’m a bit worried because I may have to travel to my country of origin in the beginning of the summer and be there for quite a while- and the requirement is to take the citizenship test in person here in Canada. Quite a tough one.

There are exactly 20 multiple choice questions in the test (which used to take place in a IRCC office but now happens online), and you need 15 correct answers.
Also, there isn't that much emphasis on dates and numbers VS generic common sense questions, and in general, there are enough "easy" questions to score at least the minimal 15/20 if you prepare well enough.

Also, regarding the citizenship application itself, yes, there's now an online one, but it's currently specific for single adult applicants. If you want a family application, you'll need to do the paper based one. It may (will?) change at some point in the future, but the update hasn't been done yet and we have no idea when that could happen.

 

[akbardxb]

Thank you very much for your input, Seym. That means if I do the paper-based citizenship application, it may take at least a year for them to get back to me with regards to the next steps due to the pandemic and all.

I’m a bit worried because I may have to travel to my country of origin in the beginning of the summer and be there for quite a while- and the requirement is to take the citizenship test in person here in Canada. Quite a tough one.

if you are applying now, I am guessing it would be over optimistic to expect citizenship grant, oath, certificate, passport, visa (if applicable), by summer of 2022. You may want to check out other threads where test / oath outside Canada have been discussed.

 

[QueenPeaches]

Thank you very much for your input, Seym. That means if I do the paper-based citizenship application, it may take at least a year for them to get back to me with regards to the next steps due to the pandemic and all.

I’m a bit worried because I may have to travel to my country of origin in the beginning of the summer and be there for quite a while- and the requirement is to take the citizenship test in person here in Canada. Quite a tough one.

For now, it is possible to take the citizenship test outside of Canada.

 

[Frank Thomas]

Thank you guys so much. If the citizenship test can be taken outside Canada, then that is a very good thing.

I have one question, please. For me to be able to include my five-year-old daughter in my citizenship application, would she need to have had her PR card already (that is, will I need her PR card information for the citizenship application)? My wife and daughter became landed immigrants in mid September of last year, and upon arrival at the airport in Montreal, they were told to expect to receive their PR cards within two months. I haven’t received their PR cards to this day.

 

[Frank Thomas]

I also wonder if a parent trying to apply for citizenship can include a minor child who just became a permanent resident and hasn’t done a minimum of two years in the country. Wondering if the application for my daughter could be rejected in case perhaps minor children are also held by the two-year minimum physical presence requirement for permanent residents.

 

[rami3332]

Hello,
Can I apply for the citizenship test now? I can apply for citizenship only in June 2023. (Now I am unemployed, and thinking to take it now, will it be valid).
Please advise,
Thank you!

 

[akbardxb]

Hello,
Can I apply for the citizenship test now? I can apply for citizenship only in June 2023. (Now I am unemployed, and thinking to take it now, will it be valid).
Please advise,
Thank you!

You can apply for citizenship once you have completed the physical presence requirement. Your employment status is not the deciding factor, however it helps to prove physical presence.