The U.S. citizenship exam is now more complex, as new modifications take effect starting this Monday.
This was confirmed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The agency announced the implementation of the 2025 naturalization civics test, which aims to assess “an applicant’s understanding of U.S. history and government.”
A federal implementation notice details that the test will be a version of the 2020 civics exam, which was introduced during President Trump’s first term but later suspended by the Biden administration.
Foreigners seeking U.S. citizenship must “read, write, and speak English and demonstrate knowledge of U.S. government and civics,” the agency stated in a release.
“These critical changes are just the first of many,” it added.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will resume personal investigations of naturalization applicants, which may include visits to neighborhoods and workplaces.
What changes now?
- The number of questions increased from 100 to 128.
- During the interview, the immigration officer will ask questions until the applicant answers 12 correctly or 9 incorrectly. (In the 2020 version, 20 questions were asked, with 12 correct answers required, while the current version required 6 correct answers out of 10.)
- Some questions have been rewritten to be more complex and less direct.
- Some questions require longer and more specific answers.
Is this a new exam?
Yes and no. During his first term, the Trump administration updated the 2008 version, expanding it from 100 to 128 questions and increasing the difficulty.
However, in 2021, then-President Joe Biden suspended the 2020 exam and reverted to the 2008 format to streamline the naturalization process, which has been in use in recent years.
The U.S. citizenship civics test was created in 2008 under the administration of Republican President George W. Bush.
“U.S. citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world and should be reserved only for those who fully embrace our nation’s values and principles.” — Matthew Tragesser, USCIS spokesperson
Will there be more changes to the civics exam?
Yes, USCIS warned that this is just the first step in a “multi-phase” effort to increase the difficulty of the citizenship exam and that more measures will be announced in the coming “weeks and months.”
In recent months, the agency has already announced several changes, such as evaluating applicants’ “good moral character” and resuming “neighborhood monitoring,” which may include speaking with neighbors and even coworkers.
Two weeks ago, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that the current exam is “too easy” and that the agency is considering changes that could include raising the minimum passing score and adding a written essay for applicants.
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