USCIS announces a revised naturalization civics test after Dec. 1
In this June 26, 2020, file photo, Aisha Kazman Kammawie, of Ankeny, Iowa, takes the oath of allegiance during a drive-thru naturalization ceremony at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa.[AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File]
On Friday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test. The agency initially announced plans to revise the test in July 2019.
According to USCIS, the civics test was revised as part of a decennial update to ensure that it remains an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge of American history, government and civic values.
The test is administered to applicants who apply for U.S. citizenship and is one of the statutory requirements for naturalizing. Applicants who apply for naturalization on or after Dec. 1 will take the updated version of the test. Those who apply before Dec. 1 will take the current version of the test, according to the agency.
“USCIS has diligently worked on revising the naturalization test since 2018, relying on input from experts in the field of adult education to ensure that this process is fair and transparent,” said USCIS Deputy Director for Policy, Joseph Edlow, in a release. “Naturalization allows immigrants to become fully vested members of American society, with the same rights and responsibilities as citizens by birth, and offering a fair test, which prepares naturalization applicants for these responsibilities, is of utmost importance to our agency.”
The revised test includes more questions that test the applicant’s understanding of United States history and civics, in line with the statutory requirements, and covers a variety of topics that provide the applicant with more opportunities to learn about the country as part of the test preparation process.
The revised test will not change the passing score of 60%. Candidates must answer 12 questions correctly, out of 20, in order to pass.
The USCIS says it will maintain the current guidelines for statutorily established special considerations for applicants who are 65 years old or older and have at least 20 years of lawful permanent resident status. These applicants are asked 10 questions and must answer a minimum of six questions correctly in order to pass.
Test items and study guides can be found on the Citizenship Resource Center on the USCIS website.