How to study for the Canadian citizenship test in 30 days
If you are wondering how to study for the Canadian citizenship test, keep it steady and simple: read Discover Canada chapter by chapter, practise questions one topic at a time, then sit full timed exams and learn from every mistake. A 30-day plan with a short session every day is realistic for busy people. Here is one that fits around work and family.
Start with what the test asks of you
The test has 20 questions, you have 45 minutes, and you need 15 correct answers to pass, according to IRCC's study page. Every question draws on the official guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. IRCC states that it is the only official study guide and that using other material is at your own risk, so the guide sits at the centre of this plan.
You can read the guide online, as a PDF, in a large-print PDF, or as audio, all free from canada.ca. If you learn better by listening, the audio is available as one MP3 or section by section, which suits a commute.
For more detail on the format, see our article on the Canadian citizenship test format.
Day 1: find your starting point
Before you read anything, take a short diagnostic. It tells you which topics you already know and which ones need the most time. Without it, it is easy to spend too long on the parts you find interesting and too little on the parts you find dry.
igotcitizenship has a free diagnostic for exactly this. Note your weakest two topics and give them extra time in the weeks ahead.
Days 2 to 14: read the guide, chapter by chapter
Read one or two sections of Discover Canada a day. Keep the sessions short, around 30 to 45 minutes, and stop while you still feel fresh.
A workable order:
| Days | Sections to read |
|---|---|
| 2 | The Oath of Citizenship; Applying for Citizenship |
| 3 | Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship |
| 4 | Who We Are |
| 5 to 7 | Canada's History (a long section, so split it) |
| 8 | Modern Canada |
| 9 | How Canadians Govern Themselves |
| 10 | Federal Elections; The Justice System |
| 11 | Canadian Symbols |
| 12 | Canada's Economy |
| 13 | Canada's Regions |
| 14 | Catch-up day, then the guide's own study questions |
The guide includes a set of official study questions. Day 14 is a good time to work through them.
How to read so it sticks
- Read with a question in mind. Before each section, ask yourself what a test question about it might look like.
- Write three facts in your own words at the end of every session. Writing beats highlighting.
- Keep a list of dates and names. The history sections are full of them, such as Confederation in 1867.
- Learn the provinces and capitals early. They are a self-contained set of facts you can master in a few days. Our provinces and capitals guide has the full table and memory tips.
Study chapters alongside the guide
igotcitizenship's study chapters follow the same order as Discover Canada, so you can read our plain-language notes next to each official section. They are a revision aid, not a replacement: the guide remains the source.
Days 15 to 21: practise by topic
Now switch from reading to answering. Work through practice questions one topic at a time:
- Rights and responsibilities
- Government and elections
- History
- Regions and economy
- Symbols and identity
- Who we are
When you get a question wrong, read the explanation, then go back to the matching section of the guide. In igotcitizenship's self-learn mode, every question comes with an explanation, so you learn why the right answer is right instead of just memorising a letter.
Spend extra days on the two weak topics from your diagnostic.
Know what has changed
The guide carries a 2012 copyright line, and a few of its facts have changed since. It refers to the Queen, for instance, while the Sovereign is now King Charles III. Learn the current fact, but recognise the guide's version if you see it. Our list of what has changed since Discover Canada covers each one with a government source.
Days 22 to 28: full timed exams
Sit a full exam every day or every other day: 20 questions, 45 minutes, and 15 to pass. Treat it like the real thing. Sit somewhere quiet, put your phone away, and do not look anything up.
After each exam:
- Mark every question you got wrong and every question you guessed right.
- Return to the guide for each one.
- Add the fact to your recall deck (see below).
Aim to pass comfortably, not just scrape 15. A margin of a few questions gives you room for nerves on the day.
Every day: a short recall deck
Recall is how facts move from "I have read this" to "I know this". Spend five to ten minutes a day producing facts from memory, without looking at the answer first. igotcitizenship's recall deck turns each study note into a card with the key part blanked out, a date, a number or a name, so the answer has to come from your own head. Pay extra attention to the facts behind questions you have missed.
Days 29 and 30: light review
Do not cram. Skim your notes, run through your recall deck once, and sit one last timed exam if it calms you. Then rest.
Practise the test window too
Your invitation gives you a 30-day window with up to three attempts, as set out on IRCC's results page. That window is separate from this study plan, so it makes sense to be well prepared before the invitation arrives rather than studying inside the window. Our test window simulator walks through the days and attempts so nothing surprises you. If you are worried about a retake, read what happens if you fail the citizenship test.
What is free and what a package adds
You can start with igotcitizenship for free. The diagnostic and self-learn questions with explanations are included, and you can try full exams, the first study chapters and a recall deck. A package adds more full exams (up to unlimited) and everything else in the app. The account page shows exactly what each plan includes.
igotcitizenship is independent and is not affiliated with IRCC.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I study for the citizenship test?
There is no official figure. Thirty days of short daily sessions works well for many people, but study until you pass full timed exams with some margin.
Is Discover Canada enough?
It is the only official study guide, and every question draws on it. Practice questions help you check that you have actually learned it.
How many hours a day should I study?
Thirty to 45 minutes of focused reading or practice a day is more effective than a long session once a week.
Should I memorise answers to practice questions?
No. Learn the fact behind the question. The test may ask about the same fact in a different way.
What should I do the day before the test?
Review lightly, check the details in your invitation, and get a good night's sleep.
Ready to begin? Take the free diagnostic and see which topics need you most.