This is our second set of 20 practice questions for the Canadian citizenship test. If you have not done the first set yet, start with our 20 sample questions with answers. That page also explains the test format and how our questions are written. This set uses different questions and tests different facts, so you can do both sets and see if your score stays the same.
Please note: we wrote these practice questions ourselves, using facts from the official study guide, Discover Canada. They are not questions from the real test. The real test checks the same facts, but the wording and the options will be different. So learn the fact behind each question, not the exact words.
Before you start
- The real test has 20 questions and 45 minutes, and you need 15 correct answers (75%) to pass. Try to finish this page in the same time.
- Cover each answer and choose your own answer first. Write it down.
- All 20 questions in this set are multiple choice with four options. For the other question type, see our 20 true or false practice statements.
- When you get a question wrong, read the explanation. It often tells you which wrong option people choose, and why.
The questions follow the ten chapters of Discover Canada, two from each chapter, in the same order as the guide.
Chapter 1: Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
This chapter lists the freedoms every person in Canada has, and the duties that come with citizenship. Know the difference between a freedom and a duty. Study the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship chapter primer.
1. Which of these is one of Canada’s fundamental freedoms?
- A. Freedom from paying taxes
- B. Freedom from jury duty
- C. Freedom to choose which laws to obey
- D. Freedom of association
Answer: D. Freedom of association Freedom of association is one of the fundamental freedoms. Paying taxes, serving on a jury and obeying the law are obligations, not freedoms you can opt out of.
2. If you are called to serve on a jury, what must you do?
- A. Pay a fee to be excused
- B. Ask your MP for permission
- C. Serve, because it is a legal obligation
- D. Ignore it if you are busy
Answer: C. Serve, because it is a legal obligation Serving on a jury when called is a legal obligation for citizens. It is a duty, not an optional favour.
Chapter 2: Who We Are
Learn the three founding peoples of Canada and the words used for language groups, such as Francophone and Anglophone. Study the Who We Are chapter primer.
3. Who are the three founding peoples of Canada?
- A. Aboriginal, French and British
- B. French, British and American
- C. Aboriginal, Spanish and French
- D. English, Irish and Scottish
Answer: A. Aboriginal, French and British Canada grew from three founding peoples: Aboriginal, French and British. Americans, Spanish, Irish and Scots all played a role, but they are not the three founding peoples.
4. What is a Francophone?
- A. A person who was born in France
- B. A person who speaks only English
- C. A person who lives in Quebec City
- D. A person whose first language is French
Answer: D. A person whose first language is French A Francophone is someone whose first language is French, wherever they live. Someone whose first language is English is an Anglophone.
Chapter 3: Canada’s History
History questions often ask “who” or “which”. Link each explorer and leader to the right place and time. Study the Canada’s History chapter primer.
5. Who was the first European to explore the St. Lawrence River?
- A. Samuel de Champlain
- B. John Cabot
- C. Pierre de Monts
- D. Jacques Cartier
Answer: D. Jacques Cartier Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River on his voyages of 1534–1542. Champlain came later and founded Quebec City in 1608.
6. Who led the Métis uprising at Red River in 1869?
- A. Louis Riel
- B. Sir George-Étienne Cartier
- C. Sam Steele
- D. Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Answer: A. Louis Riel Louis Riel led the Métis of Red River when their land was taken over without their being consulted. Cartier was a Father of Confederation, and Sam Steele was a famous Mountie.
Chapter 4: Modern Canada
This chapter covers Canada after 1945. Quebec, the arts and famous Canadians are common topics. Study the Modern Canada chapter primer.
7. In which decade did Quebec’s Quiet Revolution take place?
- A. The 1960s
- B. The 1920s
- C. The 1940s
- D. The 1980s
Answer: A. The 1960s The Quiet Revolution happened in the 1960s. The 1980s are linked to Quebec’s first sovereignty referendum and the 1982 Constitution.
8. What did the Group of Seven mainly paint?
- A. Portraits of royalty
- B. Rugged wilderness landscapes
- C. Abstract city scenes
- D. Battle scenes
Answer: B. Rugged wilderness landscapes The Group of Seven painted Canada’s rugged wilderness. Abstract art is linked instead to Les Automatistes of Quebec.
Chapter 5: How Canadians Govern Themselves
Know which level of government does what, and the steps a bill takes before it becomes law. Study the How Canadians Govern Themselves chapter primer.
9. Under the Constitution, which level of government is responsible for education?
- A. Federal
- B. Provincial
- C. Municipal
- D. Shared by federal and provincial governments
Answer: B. Provincial Education is a provincial responsibility, so school systems differ from province to province. Many people guess federal, but Ottawa does not run the schools.
10. What must happen before a bill can become law in Canada?
- A. It must be approved by the Supreme Court
- B. It must be approved by voters in a referendum
- C. It must be passed by the House of Commons only
- D. It must pass both the House of Commons and the Senate and receive Royal Assent
Answer: D. It must pass both the House of Commons and the Senate and receive Royal Assent No bill becomes law until both chambers pass it and it receives Royal Assent. Courts and referendums are not part of the normal law-making steps.
Chapter 6: Federal Elections
Learn the words used in elections, such as riding, and how often federal elections take place. Study the Federal Elections chapter primer.
11. How often are federal elections normally held under Canadian law?
- A. Every two years
- B. Every three years
- C. Every four years
- D. Every six years
Answer: C. Every four years Federal law sets an election every four years, on a fixed date after the last general election. An earlier election can still be called, so the gap is sometimes shorter.
12. What is another name for a federal electoral district?
- A. A riding
- B. A county
- C. A township
- D. A colony
Answer: A. A riding Canada is divided into electoral districts, also called ridings or constituencies. The voters in each riding elect one person to the House of Commons.
Chapter 7: The Justice System
Know the role of the courts, the police and lawyers, and which court is the highest. Study the The Justice System chapter primer.
13. What is the highest court in Canada?
- A. The Federal Court
- B. The Ontario Court of Appeal
- C. The Supreme Court of Canada
- D. The provincial court
Answer: C. The Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada sits at the top of the court system. Do not confuse it with the Federal Court, which handles cases involving the federal government.
14. In Canada’s justice system, what is the main role of the courts?
- A. To make new laws
- B. To collect taxes
- C. To patrol the streets
- D. To settle disputes
Answer: D. To settle disputes Courts settle disputes, while police enforce the law. Laws themselves are made by elected representatives, not by courts.
Chapter 8: Canadian Symbols
Dates of symbols are easy to mix up. Know the year of the flag and Canada’s main honours. Study the Canadian Symbols chapter primer.
15. In what year was Canada’s red-and-white maple leaf flag first raised?
- A. 1867
- B. 1931
- C. 1965
- D. 1980
Answer: C. 1965 The maple leaf flag was first raised in 1965. A common mix-up: 1980 is when O Canada was proclaimed the national anthem, and 1867 is Confederation.
16. What is the highest honour available to Canadians, given for outstanding bravery in the presence of the enemy?
- A. The Victoria Cross
- B. The Order of Canada
- C. The Stanley Cup
- D. The Clarkson Cup
Answer: A. The Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest honour, awarded for exceptional bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement and service, not battlefield courage.
Chapter 9: Canada’s Economy
Know which type of industry gives the most jobs, and why trade matters so much to Canada. Study the Canada’s Economy chapter primer.
17. Which type of industry employs the most working Canadians?
- A. Natural resource industries
- B. Manufacturing industries
- C. Service industries
- D. Fishing industries
Answer: C. Service industries Service industries provide most jobs in Canada, more than three-quarters of them. Many people guess natural resources because they are so important to exports, but they employ far fewer people.
18. What has always been central to the growth of Canada’s economy?
- A. Avoiding contact with other countries
- B. Trade with other countries
- C. Importing all of its food
- D. Government ownership of every business
Answer: B. Trade with other countries Canada has always been a trading nation, and buying and selling with other countries is a key driver of its economic growth.
Chapter 10: Canada’s Regions
Learn the oceans around Canada and the capital of each province. The capital is often not the biggest city. Study the Canada’s Regions chapter primer.
19. Which three oceans border Canada?
- A. Pacific, Indian and Arctic
- B. Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic
- C. Atlantic, Indian and Southern
- D. Arctic, Atlantic and Southern
Answer: B. Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Canada touches the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Atlantic in the east and the Arctic in the north. The Indian and Southern oceans are nowhere near Canada.
20. What is the capital of British Columbia?
- A. Vancouver
- B. Victoria
- C. Edmonton
- D. Whitehorse
Answer: B. Victoria Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. Vancouver is the province’s biggest city and port, which is why people often choose it.
How did you do?
| Your score | What to do next |
|---|---|
| 18–20 | Very good. Take a full mock exam with a timer to check that you can keep this level. |
| 15–17 | A pass, but only just. Go back to the chapters where you lost points. |
| Below 15 | Not a pass yet. Read the explanations again, study the chapter primers, and try this set again in a few days. |
Compare this score with your score on the first set. If the same chapter causes problems in both sets, spend extra time on that chapter before the test. Remember that the real test can ask about any part of the guide, so a good score on 20 questions is a start, not a guarantee.
Ready for more? Take Practice Test 1, or try a mock exam with 20 mixed questions and a 45-minute timer, just like the real test.
هذا الدليل موجز بلغة بسيطة، وليس مشورة قانونية. القواعد والرسوم قد تتغير - دائما التأكد من الموقع الرسمي للجنة اللاجئين العراقيين قبل تقديم طلب أو دفع.