Hi again,
Done and done. The test was really easy; it was, as we all know, a multiple choice kind of test with two types of questions: 1) In the first type, you have to select the right answer out of 4 options (A,B,C,D). 2) In the second type, you select 'Yes' or 'No' (A,B).
Although you may finish really quickly - it took me just a few minutes to get it all done -, don't rush. This is not a race to see who finishes first. You have 30 minutes to answer the test, so take your time. After I was done, and despite the fact that there were people already leaving and going to the interview room, I reviewed my answers twice before turning the test in, which led me to correct one answer. Score: 20 right out of 20.
How did I study? I received the invitation to write the test last Friday, but only found it in my mail box the following day and started to study for it last Sunday. That is only 6 days to memorize the info contained in the book. My recommendation: DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU GET THE LETTER TO START STUDYING. I did apply myself and succeeded, but procrastinating comes at a cost - in my case that meant to sleep very little during the week as I also had lots of university homework. Ouch!
Now, besides reading the book twice, I did use several online free tests everyday, which made all the difference. Here are the main 4 sites I used:
http://www.toptipsclub.com/Citizenship_Test.asp
http://www.yourlibrary.ca/citizenship/index.cfm?province=ON
http://www.apnatoronto.com/canadian-citizenship-test-practice/
http://www.v-soul.com/onlinetest/
Absolutely, go to to those sites and practice. The value of using different sites is that in each one of them there are different questions, or the same questions formulated in a different manner, which keeps you sharp. Also, by using those online free tests not only you get to learn the answers to some of the most common questions, but also you learn the mechanics of the test.
As far as the interview, make sure you have all your paperwork with you, and DO NOT FORGET TO MAKE COPIES OF YOUR PASSPORTS. After the test, you go to the interview room where you wait until they call you up to verify your identity documents. The CIC officer then questions you about different topics, such as trips outside of the country, your current work situation, etc. The interview per se was very casual and quick in my case as I had all my paperwork ready. Also, I was very talkative - my wife says that I can talk people to sleep
-, so it was pretty obvious that my English was good enough, which is really the purpose of the interview.
At the end of the very short interview, I was told that in a few days I would receive a letter in the mail inviting me to the Ceremony Oath, which should take place no later than March in the same facility. The whole thing was easy, breezy, peezy!!
Good luck to all and, once again, use the websites mentioned above to get ready for the test!
S.