U.S. Citizenship Test Is Getting Harder: What You Need to Know
Did you know that the U.S. is about to make its citizenship test more challenging? Starting later this year, anyone applying to become an American citizen will face a bigger pool of questions and a higher bar for passing. This change comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten the legal immigration process.
Here’s what’s happening. The civics test, which has long been part of the citizenship process, is designed to make sure applicants have a basic understanding of U.S. history and government. In the past, applicants studied 100 questions and had to answer six out of ten correctly. Under the new rules, they’ll need to study 128 questions and answer 12 out of 20 correctly. The test is oral, not multiple choice, and most questions have several acceptable answers. Those who fail get a second chance, but if they fail again, their citizenship application will be denied.
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Certain exemptions remain. For example, people over 65 who have lived in the U.S. as permanent residents for at least 20 years will only need to study 20 questions and can take the test in their preferred language. But for most applicants, the new test is a significant increase in both volume and difficulty. Some of the added questions cover topics like the 10th Amendment, the Federalist Papers, former President Eisenhower, and the Founding Fathers, as well as American innovation.
Officials say these changes are meant to ensure that new citizens are “fully assimilated” and committed to American values. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson Matthew Tragesser described it as “the first of many” steps to raise the standard for citizenship.
Critics argue the new test could create unnecessary barriers. Advocates for immigrants point out that long-time residents who contribute to their communities may now face a harder path to citizenship. Jennifer Ibañez Whitlock of the National Immigration Law Center called the changes “cumbersome” and said they could make it more difficult for immigrants to secure the protections that come with U.S. citizenship.
The citizenship test changes are part of a broader pattern of stricter immigration policies. The Trump administration has also expanded the criteria for assessing an applicant’s “good moral character” and revived “neighborhood checks,” where investigators interview neighbors and coworkers to evaluate eligibility.
In short, the naturalization process is getting tougher. Applicants will need to study more, demonstrate greater knowledge, and navigate additional scrutiny. For anyone planning to become a U.S. citizen, it’s a reminder that preparation and understanding of America’s history and political system are more important than ever.
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