# How Many Times Can I Fail the Canadian Citizenship Test?
If you have just failed the Canadian citizenship test, the most important thing to know is: failing once does not end your application. IRCC builds two retry stages into the process before any refusal becomes possible.
The three-stage rule
Every applicant who is required to take the knowledge test gets up to three chances to demonstrate knowledge of Canada:
- First written or online test — the standard 20-question, 30- or 45-minute test
- Second written or online test — same format, scheduled if you fail the first
- Oral hearing — verbal questioning by a citizenship officer or citizenship judge, scheduled if you fail the second
You cannot skip stages. You also cannot fail twice and be sent for a third *written* test — the third stage is always oral.
What "failing" means in practice
You fail by scoring fewer than 15 correct answers out of 20. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so unanswered questions count as wrong. You see a preliminary pass/fail result on screen at the end of the online test. IRCC confirms by letter or by message in your IRCC online account within 7–14 days.
If the letter says "you did not meet the knowledge requirement", you have failed. The same letter usually invites you to the second attempt or, after the second fail, to an oral hearing.
Stage 1 → Stage 2: the second written attempt
After a first fail, IRCC schedules a second attempt — usually 4 to 8 weeks later. You receive a new invitation by email or in your account. You do not pay a new fee. You can choose to take it online or in person, depending on what is available in your region.
Most candidates who fail the first attempt fail because they ran out of time, panicked, or had only studied a few chapters. The second attempt is winnable if you focus the next 4–8 weeks on the chapters you got wrong. Use a [free Canadian citizenship practice test](/practice-test) under timed conditions before the retry — most who pass on attempt 2 had taken at least 3 timed mock tests in between.
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Stage 2 → Stage 3: the oral hearing
If you fail again, IRCC stops scheduling written tests. Instead you receive a "Notice to Appear" for an oral hearing — usually 4 to 6 months later. The hearing happens by video call (most common in 2026) or in person at an IRCC office.
A citizenship officer or, in some files, a citizenship judge will ask you questions verbally. The questions still come from the Discover Canada guide. There is no fixed number of questions, but most hearings last 30–45 minutes. The officer is allowed to rephrase questions, give hints, and assess your overall knowledge — so the hearing is more conversational than the written test.
In some cases the officer also re-checks your language requirement (CLB Level 4 in English or French). If your spoken English or French is weak, the officer may ask you to demonstrate it during the hearing, regardless of your written language proof.
What happens if you fail the oral hearing
The officer or judge writes a recommendation. IRCC then issues one of:
- Approval — you are scheduled for the oath ceremony despite the earlier fails
- Refusal — your citizenship application is rejected. You can re-apply later (after more study) but you must pay the fee again
- Request for further information — sometimes used when the officer is uncertain
If you are refused, you do not lose your PR status. You stay a permanent resident with all the same rights, and you can submit a new citizenship application after improving your knowledge or addressing the issue raised in the refusal letter. There is no minimum waiting period set in law, but practically most candidates wait until they feel confident on the test before re-applying.
Practical advice between attempts
- Read the wrong-answer feedback from your IRCC account or letter — it usually identifies the chapter(s) you scored lowest on
- Re-read those Discover Canada chapters twice before scheduling the next attempt
- Take 3–5 full timed mock tests before the next attempt — score 17/20 or higher on the last two to be ready
- If language is the issue, take a CLB-level English or French class before the oral hearing
For more on what comes after a fail, read [What Happens After You Fail the Canadian Citizenship Test](/blog/failed-canadian-citizenship-test-what-happens-next).
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Frequently Asked Questions
1What happens if I fail the citizenship test the first time?
IRCC schedules a second attempt — usually 4 to 8 weeks later. The second attempt covers the same material from the Discover Canada guide. You do not pay a new fee. The format (online or in-person) is the same as the first attempt unless IRCC explicitly changes it.
2What happens if I fail the test twice?
After two failed attempts, IRCC will not give you a third written test. Instead you are summoned to an oral hearing — usually 4 to 6 months later — with a citizenship officer or, in some files, a citizenship judge. The hearing covers the same Discover Canada material asked verbally rather than on a screen.
3Can I lose my permanent residency for failing the citizenship test?
No. Failing the citizenship knowledge test or the oral hearing only affects your citizenship application — it has no effect on your PR status. Your PR card and PR rights remain intact and you can re-apply for citizenship later, after more study.
4Do I have to pay again to retake the test?
No. The application fee covers all stages of the same application — first test, second test, and oral hearing. You only pay again if you withdraw and re-apply.
5What is the pass rate for citizenship test retakes?
IRCC does not publish exact retake pass rates, but lawyers who handle citizenship files report that around 60–70% of candidates pass on the second attempt, especially if they review their weak chapters. The oral hearing pass rate drops further because nerves and English/French listening comprehension play a bigger role.