Hi everyone:
I passed my test today with a full mark "20 out of 20". The test was really easy.
This is how it went:
My test was at 1:00 pm at the Scarborough office. I arrived an hour ahead, went up to the third floor and reached the very busy office.
Actually it had so many people in it like a bees nest.
We first hit the main counter where the receptionists were and they instructed on where to go. So many people were there in the main waiting front area.
I spent the entire hour waiting there and observed people being called to an area where they meet with citizenship judges. Heard an officer telling a lady to wait until she is called to see a judge.
Then, I saw other people coming for their ceremonies with their pink oath letters. We were all waiting at the same lobby in the front area. Then they started calling people waiting to write their tests like myself.
They said keep your yellow paper with you, as we will verify the location and date of it at the door before we let you in.
We lined up, went in one by one, checked in and took seats. I noticed what was written on the board at the testing room:
For the interview:
- Prepare your passport photocopies/originals
- PR card
- landing documents
- 2 IDs
- Oath will be sent within 2 to 4 months
- 20 questions, pass mark 15
- Test is 30 minutes time limit
They were actually nice enough to ask before we started the test "who did not bring photocopies of passports". Then they took their passports, photocopied them, and brought them back to the applicants along with the photocopies.
They gave us instructions on how to fill in the answer sheet step by step:
- Write down your case ID number on the top right side. One number only per blank
- Highlight the circle underneath each blank you filled that has the same number you wrote in it
- Write down your family name on the top left side. One letter each blank
- Highlight the circle underneath each blank you filled that has the same letter you wrote in it
- Highlight the circles for the appropriate answers. One circle each question
- Each question has 4 choices from A to D, except the true and false ones which have 2 choices only A or B
- The answer sheet has something like 25 blanks. However, the questions are 20 only, so you will be filling answers from number 1 to number 20 only on the answer sheet
- You will have to write down your full name, test date and time in the provided space
- You will be asked to sign the top left side of the answer sheet
- You will be asked not to write anything on the test booklet at all
- They told us not to worry about which version of the test we have. They said don't fill in the space provided for the veriosn on the top right side. Even though it was showing on the test booklet and there is an available space for it on the answer sheet
There was a lady sitting with us in the testing room who got pulled out of room by one of the officials.
They told her "you are over 55 and not supposed to write the test". I wasn't paying attention how did they find out before we started the test.
What I heard got my attention when they said to her "can you please take all of your stuff and come with us".
I thought she was in trouble first. However, I heard the officer telling her later "you are over 55, you are here only for verification not testing".
They started calling people over 55 first when we were outside the room saying whoever is 55 or over, and here for verification please proceed to a certain room.
Apparently, that lady did not pay attention and lined up with us.
They supplied pencils and asked if anyone would like to write the test in French.
The officer said the following:
You have to pass this test in order to proceed ahead in your application.
To pass, you have to get 15 out of 20. If you get 14 out of 20, you fail the written test and will be scheduled for another test within 4 to 8 months.
She said, you must as well pass the English assessment conversation with the officer during the interview.
She said, when you are asked questions, give full answers and do not keep it short.
She said that is the only way for us to assess your English speaking skills.
She said, if you pass the written test and fail the English assessment during the interview, you will be scheduled to see a citizenship judge, which takes 2 more years to take place.
She said, circle the case ID Number on your yellow letter and write it down on your answer sheet on the provided space.
She gave full instructions on how to fill the answer sheet step by step before we started. Then we proceeded to the test.
It is a 30 minutes time test, but it takes less than 10 minutes to answer.
She said, when you go out, please do not discuss the test questions with anyone here, and if we see that happening, we will take an action against you immediately.
Whoever was done with the test, proceeded to the interview room, which has seats in it for the applicants to wait until their names are called.
The room had around 6 desks in it for the immigration officers who were interviewing people at the same time.
They were walking to one table which has our files on it brought from the testing room, pulling them one by one, calling our names.
I had to wait there around 12 minutes to be called and interviewed.
The officer was very polite and kind. Actually from my observation, all of the officers were very polite, kind and patient with people in general.
My interview took around 7 minutes. Was asked to present the original passports, PR card, landing papers, IDs and passport photocopies.
I even asked the officer if she wanted the photocopies of all of the mentioned documents, she said no, we have them all on file. She said she only needs the passports photocopies.
She checked the passport quickly, asked me if I still work full time, I said yes and kept talking to here about my job, education, and my career goals in the future here in Canada.
She wished me the best of luck, and told me without me asking her that oath will take from 2 to 4 months.
I thanked her and said before I left, "just to confirm, the waiting time is 4 months". She said, not really, it is 2 or even might be way faster than that.
That was it. Then I left the room, and went out again to see the huge line up for ceremony and other tests.
The actual testing and interview time it took since the moment I lined up for the test to the moment I stepped out of the interview room was around an hour "plus/minus"
Some stuff that I have noticed about the Scarborough office:
- It is an extremely busy office "from the number of people I have seen there"
- Officers in general are very polite and patient with people, even the ones who were not paying attention to the instructions
I saw a guy today coming with his test letter to reschedule as he said he was not ready for it. The senior officer told him politely that he has to send them a letter informing them about it, and stating the reasons.
She said, that it is the official way to be done. The guy actually did not seem happy and gave her an attitude kind of yelling saying " you don't understand what I am saying, you are not getting the point".
She was so polite, patient and told him," Sir, this is the way you have to do it. You should send us a letter stating the fact that you need to reschedule your test."
The guy didn't look happy at all and left the office angry.
I have noticed one more thing:
When the officials were asking people to get their yellow or pink paper out to present them during the line up, some people were not listing and kept their letters inside of their envelops.
The officers looked so pissed off as some people were not listing or even paying any attention to what they were told. However, they still dealt with it professionally and politely.
That was my experience for today, and good luck everyone.
