American Civics Test

[2] Prior to the 1906 law, naturalization was under the jurisdiction of the courts (municipal, county, state, or federal), where petitioners could go to the most convenient location and procedures varied.

[4] During the Bureau of Naturalization's early years of operation, concerns were raised about immigrants being denied citizenship due to a lack of knowledge of American civics and history, so the bureau established education programs to combat the problem, but no standardized test or testing procedure was developed.

[5] The modern day literacy test is similar, but it requires most to read, write, and be able to speak partial english.

[8] Rather than memorizing simple trivial facts, changes were made to ensure that test takers had a meaningful understanding of US history and civics.

[9] Following a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the INS lacked standard test content, instruments, protocols, and even a scoring system for the naturalization process.

The test is prepared in English (with exceptions) and is administered orally by a USCIS officer who asks up to 10 of the 100 civics questions.

[11] The questions cover a wide range of topics, including the principles of American democracy, the functions of the different branches of government, and the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens.

These requirements include being at least 18 years old, being a legal permanent resident, and overall being a person of good moral character.

[14] Applicants seeking naturalization are expected to be literate in the English language as well as understand the fundamental principles of the history and government of the United States.

[21] The revised 2020 version increased the number of questions while making the wording more difficult for non-native English speakers.

[22] Although a copy of the test and its answers are made available online, advocates worry about more disadvantaged applicants' ability to understand more nuanced questions.

[28] The agency is currently exploring ways to revamp the civics test, with the help of national engagements for feedback and comments on the proposed changes.

[32] The law, signed by Governor Doug Ducey, requires high school students to correctly answer 60 of 100 questions on a test similar to the one new citizens must pass during naturalization.