Guide
A study plan for the citizenship test
Two realistic schedules, built around the official guide and free practice.
The best preparation is to read the official guide, Discover Canada, and then test yourself with practice questions until you can explain each answer. Pick the plan that fits the time you have. If you have less than a week, follow the 7-day plan and spend more time on mock exams.
Written by ChowChow Labs. Last reviewed . A passing score on a practice test is feedback on that set of questions, not a guarantee you’ll pass the real test.
7-day study plan
| Day | Read in Discover Canada | Study | Practise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Applying for Citizenship, Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship | Rights & responsibilities | Take Mock Exam 1 timed, before studying, to see where you stand. |
| Day 2 | Who We Are, Canada's History | Who we are, Canadian history | Study the questions on both topic pages. |
| Day 3 | Canada's History, Modern Canada | Canadian history, Modern Canada | Finish the history questions, then Modern Canada. |
| Day 4 | How Canadians Govern Themselves, Federal Elections, The Justice System | Government, Federal elections, Justice system | Read Practice Test 2 with answers. |
| Day 5 | Canadian Symbols, Canada's Economy | Canadian symbols, Canada’s economy | Take Mock Exam 2 timed. |
| Day 6 | Canada's Regions | Regions & geography | Learn all 13 provincial and territorial capitals. |
| Day 7 | Review your weakest chapters | Your missed questions | Take Mock Exam 3 and Mock Exam 4 timed. Re-read the chapters behind every question you missed. |
30-day study plan
About 30 minutes a day. Read a little, practise a little, and review your mistakes every week.
Week 1: Rights, peoples and early history
Read Applying for Citizenship, Rights and Responsibilities, Who We Are and the first half of Canada’s History. Study one topic page a day. End the week with Mock Exam 1.
Topic pages: Rights & responsibilities, Who we are, Canadian history
Week 2: History, modern Canada and government
Finish Canada’s History, then read Modern Canada and How Canadians Govern Themselves. End the week with Mock Exam 2 and review every missed question.
Topic pages: Canadian history, Modern Canada, Government
Week 3: Elections, justice, symbols, economy and regions
Read the remaining chapters, a little each day. Make flashcards for dates, capitals and symbols. End the week with Mock Exam 3.
Topic pages: Federal elections, Justice system, Canadian symbols, Canada’s economy, Regions & geography
Week 4: Review and timed practice
Take a timed mock exam every other day (Mock Exams 4–7). After each one, re-read the chapters behind your mistakes. Read Discover Canada once more from start to finish.
Tips that help
- Take mock exams with the timer on, so 20 questions in 45 minutes feels normal on test day.
- For every wrong answer, find the sentence in Discover Canada that explains it.
- Dates, capitals, symbols and the roles of government come up often. Review them more than once.
- Check how the test works so nothing surprises you.
Independent study aid. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada or IRCC.