Toronto, ON -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/18/2011 -- Previous failure rates for the test ranged between four and eight per cent. However, these rates reached thirty per cent when the new test was introduced. Officials reworked the test since this high rate would slow down the whole process since would-be Canadians who failed the test had to plead their case before the citizenship judges. This reworked test has cut down the failure rate to around twenty per cent, which is still relatively high. To further avoid swamping the system, officials are allowing applicants who flunked the first time to try a second time.

The new citizenship test was introduced in March last year and reworked in October of the same year. It is based on a bulky citizenship guide, Discover Canada, released to give immigrants a better picture of Canada’s history, culture, law and politics. It is available in French and English. Essentially, the test evaluates the applicant’s knowledge of Canada and his or her language abilities. The citizenship test can be taken by persons between the age of eighteen and fifty-four who meet the basic requirements for citizenship or for persons applying to retain their already existing citizenship. The test consists of twenty multiple choice questions to be answered within thirty minutes. The pass-mark for the new test was increased to seventy-five per cent from the original sixty per cent.

Unlike with the old test, questions are now reshuffled from time to time to prevent cheating and prohibiting the applicants from purchasing answers from unofficial sources. Most applicants are preparing through practice tests in order to better prepare for the actual day. Applicants can find various sample tests online which help them memorize information which is found in the Discover Canada booklet.