Government hiring outside contractor to create Canada’s new citizenship test

This is encouraging as it means that the government is serious about maintaining some of the integrity measures introduced by the previous government such as multiple versions of the test to reduce potential cheating. It is also encouraging that the tender requires field testing of questions, one step the previous government largely skipped.

That the tender is out suggests that the revised study guide is close to finalization but that roll-out of the guide and test is unlikely before late 2018 or early 2019:

The federal government is turning to the private sector to help draft the latest version of the Canadian citizenship test.

A request for proposal went out on Tuesday morning, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship​ Canada (IRCC) explaining that it needs help to “develop a pool of (400) multiple choice official questions, a test blueprint, and 15 versions of the Canadian citizenship knowledge test.”

The value of the contract is, as of right now, undetermined. But bidders have until mid-January to submit their proposals and the contract is slated to last one year, likely ending in early 2019.

A spokesperson for IRCC said a rollout date for the new test has not yet been determined.

The Liberal government is also in the process of overhauling the study guide that is used by citizenship hopefuls to prepare for the test. That work is being done internally, however, and isn’t finished yet. It’s unclear how work on the test could begin before the guide is complete.

The request for proposal documents note that “significant revisions” are being made to the guide, and the citizenship test “will need to be updated to reflect the new version.”

“As we have done in the past, we will partner with testing experts to ensure that the test reflects the content presented in the completed study guide,” wrote department spokesperson Remi Larivière in an email.

“This will support the success of our clients while ensuring they obtain and demonstrate the knowledge required for citizenship.”

…The written test is just one of many steps toward citizenship. People hoping to become Canadian citizens must first prove they know about the country’s history, demographics, geography, politics and much more. Right now the test contains 20 multiple-choice questions, and applicants must get at least 15 correct to pass. That’s not expected to change.

via Government hiring outside contractor to create Canada’s new citizenship test – National | Globalnews.ca