History: Canada citizenship test questions
Practice questions for the Canada citizenship test.
Last checked against the official sources:
20 free sample questions
Answer each one in your head, then open the answer to see why it is right.
1.Since the 1970s, where have most immigrants to Canada come from?
- European countries
- South America
- Asian countries
- The United States
Show the answer
Answer: Asian countries
Canada is often called a land of immigrants. Over the past 200 years millions of newcomers have helped to build and defend its way of life.
From the official guide: “Since the 1970s, most immigrants have come from Asian countries.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
2.The majority of Canadians were born in Canada.
- True
- False
Show the answer
Answer: True
Since the 1800s most Canadians have been born in the country. Canada is still often called a land of immigrants because millions of newcomers have come over the past 200 years.
From the official guide: “The majority of Canadians were born in this country” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
3.Which is the only officially bilingual province?
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
- Manitoba
Show the answer
Answer: New Brunswick
New Brunswick is officially bilingual. About one-third of its population lives and works in French.
From the official guide: “New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
4.Which ridge did the Canadian Corps capture in April 1917?
- Vimy Ridge
- The Plains of Abraham
- Juno Beach
- Queenston Heights
Show the answer
Answer: Vimy Ridge
The capture cost 10,000 killed or wounded. It secured the Canadians’ reputation for valour, and April 9 is celebrated as Vimy Day.
From the official guide: “The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge in April 1917” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
5.Demand in Europe for which animal’s pelts drove the fur trade?
- Beaver
- Bison
- Seal
- Fox
Show the answer
Answer: Beaver
The French and Aboriginal people worked together in the vast fur-trade economy. It was driven by European demand for beaver pelts.
From the official guide: “driven by the demand for beaver pelts in Europe” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
6.On what date did the First World War end in the Armistice?
- July 1, 1867
- November 11, 1918
- May 8, 1945
- June 6, 1944
Show the answer
Answer: November 11, 1918
The war ended with the surrender of Germany and Austria. In total 60,000 Canadians were killed and 170,000 wounded.
From the official guide: “the war ended in the Armistice on November 11, 1918” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
7.On which date do Canadians observe Remembrance Day?
- April 9
- December 26
- November 11
- July 1
Show the answer
Answer: November 11
Canadians remember the sacrifices of veterans and the fallen in all wars. They wear the red poppy and observe a moment of silence at the 11th hour.
From the official guide: “each year on November 11: Remembrance Day” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
8.What was Terry Fox’s cross-country run in 1980 called?
- The Grey Cup run
- The Man in Motion tour
- The Marathon of Hope
- The Summit Series
Show the answer
Answer: The Marathon of Hope
Terry Fox lost his right leg to cancer at the age of 18 and ran to raise money for cancer research. Yearly fundraising events in his name continue his legacy.
From the official guide: “began a cross-country run, the “Marathon of Hope,”” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
9.On what date was the Dominion of Canada officially born?
- July 4, 1776
- July 1, 1867
- November 11, 1918
- January 1, 1901
Show the answer
Answer: July 1, 1867
The British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867. July 1 was called Dominion Day until 1982 and is now Canada Day.
From the official guide: “The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
10.What did Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best discover?
- The telephone
- Penicillin
- The pacemaker
- Insulin
Show the answer
Answer: Insulin
Insulin is a hormone used to treat diabetes. The guide says it has saved 16 million lives worldwide.
From the official guide: “discovered insulin, a hormone to treat diabetes” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
11.Who was Canada’s first Prime Minister?
- Sir George-Étienne Cartier
- Sir John A. Macdonald
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier
- Sir Robert Borden
Show the answer
Answer: Sir John A. Macdonald
Macdonald was a Father of Confederation and became Prime Minister in 1867. Parliament has recognized January 11 as a day in his name.
From the official guide: “became Canada’s first Prime Minister” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
12.Who invented basketball in 1891?
- James Naismith
- Terry Fox
- Wayne Gretzky
- Donovan Bailey
Show the answer
Answer: James Naismith
James Naismith was Canadian. Sports have flourished across the provinces and territories, producing star athletes and Olympic medal winners.
From the official guide: “Basketball was invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
13.Who are the three founding peoples of Canada?
- Inuit, Métis and Viking
- British, American and French
- Aboriginal, French and British
- French, Irish and Scottish
Show the answer
Answer: Aboriginal, French and British
The guide says that understanding these three peoples is important to understanding what it means to be Canadian. Each is described in the chapter “Who We Are”.
From the official guide: “our three founding peoples” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
14.English and French are the official languages of Canada.
- True
- False
Show the answer
Answer: True
English and French define day-to-day life for most people. The federal government is required by law to provide services throughout Canada in both.
From the official guide: “are the country’s official languages” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
15.On D-Day, June 6, 1944, which beach did Canadian troops storm and capture?
- Vimy
- Omaha Beach
- Juno Beach
- Dieppe
Show the answer
Answer: Juno Beach
About 15,000 Canadian troops took part in the invasion of Normandy. Approximately one in ten Allied soldiers on D-Day was Canadian.
From the official guide: “15,000 Canadian troops stormed and captured Juno Beach” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
16.Who led the armed uprising of the Métis at Red River in 1869?
- Gabriel Dumont
- Louis Riel
- Chief Tecumseh
- Sir Sam Steele
Show the answer
Answer: Louis Riel
The 12,000 Métis of the Red River were not consulted when Canada took over the northwest. Riel is seen by many as a defender of Métis rights and the father of Manitoba.
From the official guide: “Louis Riel led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
17.The discovery of what in Alberta in 1947 began Canada’s modern energy industry?
- Oil
- Gold
- Uranium
- Coal
Show the answer
Answer: Oil
Postwar Canada enjoyed record prosperity and material progress. The discovery of oil in Alberta was part of that growth.
From the official guide: “The discovery of oil in Alberta in 1947 began Canada’s modern energy industry.” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
18.Who were the United Empire Loyalists?
- Fur traders who travelled by canoe
- French settlers deported from Acadia
- British soldiers who fought at Vimy Ridge
- People loyal to the Crown who fled the American Revolution to settle in Nova Scotia and Quebec
Show the answer
Answer: People loyal to the Crown who fled the American Revolution to settle in Nova Scotia and Quebec
More than 40,000 people loyal to the Crown came north. They were of many origins and religious backgrounds.
From the official guide: “fled the oppression of the American Revolution to settle in Nova Scotia and Quebec” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
19.What does the word “Inuit” mean in the Inuktitut language?
- The north
- The people
- Village
- Our land
Show the answer
Answer: The people
The Inuit live in small, scattered communities across the Arctic. Their knowledge of the land, sea and wildlife let them adapt to one of the harshest environments on earth.
From the official guide: “which means “the people” in the Inuktitut language” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
20.Which territory was created in 1999?
- Labrador
- Nunavut
- Yukon
- The Northwest Territories
Show the answer
Answer: Nunavut
Nunavut is the newest of the three territories. It was established from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories.
From the official guide: “1999 – Nunavut” Official source, checked October 14, 2026
48 more History questions, with explanations and spaced review, are waiting in Swornly.
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Citizenship test
20 questions, 15 to pass, 45 minutes
Common questions
- How can I practice History questions for the Canada citizenship test?
- Swornly has 68 checked practice questions on History. The sample on this page is free, with the answers explained; the rest are in the app.
- How many questions are on the Canada citizenship test?
- The Citizenship test has 20 questions.
- What score do you need to pass the Canada citizenship test?
- To pass the Citizenship test you need 15 correct answers out of 20 (75%).
- How long does the Canada citizenship test take?
- You have 45 minutes for the Citizenship test.
- What language is the Canada citizenship test in?
- The test is taken in English or French.
- Where do these practice questions come from?
- Each question is written from the official study material, checked against it by a reviewer, and linked to its source. They are for practice: the questions you are asked on the day may be worded differently.
- Is Swornly an official government website?
- No. Swornly is an independent study app and is not affiliated with any government. To book the test or check the rules that apply to you, use the official website. Official source
To book the test or check the rules that apply to you, use the official website linked above. Swornly is an independent study app and is not affiliated with any government.