Test Results and Next Steps
After the test, IRCC records your result and continues processing. If you pass, you are not yet a citizen - the next steps typically include a citizenship interview or hearing (where an officer may verify your documents and language ability) and then the citizenship ceremony, where you take the oath of citizenship and receive your certificate. A frequent trap is thinking a passing test score completes the process; the oath at the ceremony is what makes you a citizen.
If you do not pass the test, the usual rule is that you are offered one retake, often scheduled later, and you may be given a study period first. The retake covers the same material. If you fail the retake, your application may be referred to a citizenship officer for a hearing to assess your knowledge, rather than being refused outright in every case. Exact procedures can change, so confirm details in your IRCC correspondence.
Results are communicated through your IRCC account or by mail. Keep your documents valid and watch for ceremony instructions, including what to bring and whether guests are allowed.
Worked example: You score 14 out of 20 - one short of the 15 needed. The correct expectation is a retake opportunity, not immediate refusal. You should review Discover Canada, focusing on the chapters where you were weakest, and wait for the new invitation.
Rule of thumb: pass → interview and ceremony; fail → study and retake, with a hearing possible if the retake is also unsuccessful.