The government has unveiled substantial changes to the U.S. naturalization civics test, announcing a return to more rigorous standards for prospective citizens.
These updates, effective for applicants filing after mid-October, are intended to ensure a deeper understanding of American history, government, and civic values, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Expanded and More Challenging Content
The revised test, as outlined in the Federal Register notice, seeks to modernize and strengthen the assessment of civics knowledge.
Officials state that the new questions, format, and evaluation criteria are designed to challenge applicants to demonstrate not just rote memorization, but a deeper conceptual understanding of core American values, historical turning points, and the structure of government authorities.
The revised test increases the pool of possible questions from 100 to 128, reintroducing updates first implemented in 2020 and rolled back during the previous administration. Applicants now face 20 questions, of which they must answer at least 12 correctly, compared to answering 6 out of 10 in the previous version.
The test remains an oral exam, with a wide range of topics including the Constitution, significant wars, influential figures such as Thomas Jefferson, and examples of American innovation.
Notably, the passing score is unchanged, but administrators can stop the exam after 12 correct or 9 incorrect answers, streamlining the process while maintaining rigor. Most applicants will take the exam in English, though some exceptions exist for older, long-term residents.
New Vetting and Character Assessment Standards
Alongside changes to the test content, the administration is implementing stricter criteria for evaluating applicants’ moral character and societal contributions. Guidance to USCIS officers now instructs them to consider a broader range of behaviors and revives neighborhood investigations to help verify eligibility.
Additionally, the agency has clarified that any involvement in unlawful voting, unlawful registration, or false citizenship claims will disqualify applicants from meeting good moral character requirements.
Rationale and Broader Context
USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser stated that “American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world and should only be reserved for aliens who will fully embrace our values and principles as a nation”, and that the changes are designed “to ensure only those aliens who meet all eligibility requirements, including the ability to read, write, and speak English and understand U.S. government and civics, are able to naturalize.”
He framed the move as promoting full assimilation and strengthening the integrity of American citizenship, calling these “critical changes… the first of many” planned under the current administration.
This announcement has sparked renewed debate in political and civic circles over the balance between making the citizenship process demanding and ensuring it remains fair and accessible.
As the policy goes into effect, prospective citizens will be asked to demonstrate broader and deeper civic knowledge and meet new standards showing their commitment to American values.
Advocacy groups and education experts have generally welcomed the updates, although some have urged the government to ensure that the test remains accessible for non-native English speakers and individuals from diverse educational backgrounds.
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This story originally appeared on TheGateWayPundit
