Which language must you know to become a Canadian citizen?

Discover Canada records this in one direct sentence. The guide writes: English and French are the two official languages and are important symbols of identity. English speakers (Anglophones) and French speakers (Francophones) have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years. You must have adequate knowledge of English or French to become a Canadian citizen. Adult applicants 55 years of age or over are exempted from this requirement. The requirement the test wants is therefore either French or English.

The two official languages give applicants a choice. Discover Canada commits to "English or French" — not both. So a citizenship applicant proves competence in just one of the two official languages, not both. This reflects Canada's structure as a country where two official languages have "equal status in Parliament and throughout the government," with new citizens able to integrate through either one.

Adequate knowledge is the standard. Discover Canada uses the phrase "adequate knowledge," meaning the standard is functional competence — enough to engage with civic life — rather than fluency. The Office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada administers the requirement, and applicants typically demonstrate competence through approved language tests.

Older adult applicants are exempted. Discover Canada notes that "adult applicants 55 years of age or over are exempted from this requirement." So while the rule is universal for younger adult applicants, the country recognises that learning a new language at older ages is more difficult. Even with the exemption, citizenship requires general knowledge of Canada — but the formal language-test requirement falls away for the 55-and-over group. The principle balances accessibility with the importance of having Anglophone or Francophone competence as a working standard for new citizens.

The question is testing whether new citizens know which language is required for citizenship. Discover Canada commits to one phrase: English or French. The right test answer matches that.

The wrong answer choices each get the rule slightly wrong. "Only English" or "only French" misses the bilingual choice. "Both French and English" overstates the rule — applicants need only one of the two, not both. Only the either-or formulation matches the source.