The Canadian Coat of Arms and motto is "A Mari Usque Ad Mare." This means:
Quick answer: From sea to sea. In our practice tests 82% of 89 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “From the sea to the ends of the earth”.
Why is this the correct answer?
"A Mari Usque Ad Mare" is Latin for "From sea to sea," reflecting Canada's geography stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This motto appears on the Canadian Coat of Arms.
Study Tip
The motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" is Latin and refers to a specific geographical feature of Canada. Think about the country's location and its relationship with the ocean.
What should you know about this topic?
Canada's motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare, is Latin for "from sea to sea." It appears on the Canadian coat of arms. The phrase comes from a verse in the Bible, Psalm 72:8, and it was chosen by the Fathers of Confederation, who were inspired by the idea of a country stretching across the continent.
When Confederation took place in 1867, Canada was only four provinces in the east. The dream was to build a nation reaching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. That goal was achieved when British Columbia joined in 1871 after being promised a railway, and the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in 1885. Today, Canada actually borders three oceans: the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Arctic, which is why some people informally talk about "from sea to sea to sea." The motto reminds Canadians of the effort it took to unite such a large land.
The coat of arms itself contains symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland, along with red maple leaves, reflecting the country's history. It is used on government documents, money and buildings. For the test, connect this motto with questions about national symbols, the expansion of Canada after Confederation, and the building of the transcontinental railway that united the country from east to west.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- From the ocean to the sea: The motto uses the same word twice (mare, meaning sea), not two different bodies of water.
- From the water to the earth: This is not a translation of the Latin; mare means sea, not earth.
- From the sea to the ends of the earth: This adds words that are not in the motto; the full Bible verse continues further, but Canada's motto stops at sea to sea.
What is the most common mistake?
The options use similar watery words. Remember the motto repeats the same word: "sea" to "sea," not "ocean" to "sea."
How can you remember the answer?
"Mare" sounds like "marine": a marine (sea) to a marine (sea), from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
82% of 89 practice answers from about 69 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "From the sea to the ends of the earth", chosen 13% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 80th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canadian Symbols chapter is 74% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canadian Symbols questions.
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Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canadian Symbols section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 24 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.