Language &
Communication
Workshop
LCW
The New U.S. Civics Test:�Changes and Challenges
bill.bliss@languageandcommunication.org
Naturalization Requirement English/Civics
2
Immigration & Nationality Act (INA)
§312(a)(1)(2) / 8 U.S.C. §1423(a)(1)(2) requires:
The Civics Examination
3
Civics – 8 CFR § 312.2 (c)
Procedure. The examination of an applicant's knowledge of the history and form of government of the United States must be given orally in English by a designated immigration officer …
Civics Exam Changes*
2008
100 questions
6 out of 10 passing score
65/20 due consideration
2025 (2020 revised)
128 questions
12 out of 20 passing score
65/20 due consideration
* No changes to the speaking, reading, and writing tests (yet)
Questions are grouped into four levels of difficulty, electronically randomized, and spoken orally by the officer.
Officer repeats and rephrases as needed.
Civics Exam Pilot Testing
2008
6,000+
Included vulnerable populations
(low education and literacy/language/NRS level)
Initial phases + field-testing (authentic conditions); Item revision
Multiple years
Yes
2025 (2020)
150
Volunteer participants – likely to have higher level of education/English/confidence;
Vulnerable populations not factored in;
No info collected on NRS level of participants
Pandemic: brief/10 questions (not 20); by phone at home; no field-testing
(offices were closed)
Summer 2020 (several weeks)
No
Sample size
Test participants
Test conditions
Duration
Prep materials
NRS Speaking Skills (Productive)
NRS 2 (Low Beginning)
Can respond with simple learned phrases to some common questions related to routine survival situations. �Speaks slowly and with difficulty.
Demonstrates little or no control over grammar.
NRS 3 (High Beginning)
Can respond to simple questions about personal everyday activities, and can express immediate needs using simple learned phrases or short sentences.
Shows limited control of grammar.
Civics Exam Stakeholder Engagement
2008
Periodic engagement meetings over 2-3 years of development: in-person national and regional, information sessions
Involvement of more than 150 CBOs, faith-based, school systems, immigrant services organizations, USCIS personnel including subject matter specialists, field officers, community engagement personnel, and counsel
2025 (2020 revised)
None
Secretive process
Technical Advisory Group with no interaction with colleagues or stakeholders – non-disclosure agreements
Civics Exam Pilot Transparency
2008
Yes
Yes, including records studies
Initial + field-testing (authentic conditions)
Yes
2025 (2020)
No
No
No
Interim reports
Final reports
Opportunity for stakeholder feedback on reports prior to test implementation
2020 Civics Exam Abrupt Implementation
Test announced post-election on 11/13/2020 and implemented 12/1/2020
Pilot and Technical Assistance Group terminated
128 questions left in place
Duplicate/redundant questions:
Supreme Court justices’ life terms (2)
Federalist Papers (2)
Depression (2)
No records study or evaluation of how test participants performed on civics questions in four batches of levels of difficulty
2025 version – 1-month notice; a notice-and-comment period was added for an extra month, but the test effective date was not extended - new test is currently required
Civics Exam Content
New
(48)
Same
(45)
Rewording
(35)
Same topic/ Flipped Q&A:
More difficult
Similar difficulty
More Information, Please
What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
three
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
Name two promises that new citizens make in the Oath of Allegiance.
There were 13 original states. Name three.
five
Name two national U.S. holidays.
three
New Conceptual Vocabulary
New Conceptual Vocabulary
Faulty Questions
Question 97:
2020: What amendment gives citizenship to all persons born in the United States?
2025: What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?
Request: Restore the original question
Question 68:
How can people become United States citizens?
2020: Be born in the United States
2025: Be born in the United States, under the conditions set by the 14th Amendment
2020: Derive citizenship
2025: Derive citizenship under conditions set by Congress
Request: Restore the original answers (without the conditions)
Insufficient Answer Choices
Question 60:
What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
Prescribed answer: (It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.
Add options (and assure officers accept alternatives):
It gives states or people powers that aren’t federal.
It says states or people also have powers, not just the national government.
Question 103:
What was the Great Depression?
Prescribed answer: Longest economic recession in modern history
Add options (and assure officers accept alternatives):
That was when the stock market crashed.
A time in U.S. history when the economy was the worst.
Problems with Implementation
Insufficient time and resources to prepare
Lack of instructional resources usually provided by USCIS
• Translations of questions and answers
• Curriculum materials
• Instructor guidance
• Training
Unusual challenge of preparing students in same class for two different exams depending on receipt date of their citizenship application
Taking Action: Advocacy
Comments by November 20
In subject line, insert the following:
12 USCIS-PM E.1 and 12 USCIS-PM E.2
(Policy Manual Volume 12, Part E, Chapter 1;
Policy Manual Volume 12, Part E, Chapter 2)
State your recommendations and reasons*
Provide data and information supporting the recommendation
Briefly describe your program or individual background
*e.g. Publish the test’s pilot data. Fix the test. Delay implementation. Provide instructional materials, training, info sessions. Restore and increase grant funding.
For reference (links in handout):
Organizational letter to USCIS (10/10/25)
Bill’s Medium article
Taking Action: Document & Report
Issues and concerns about:
Naturalization interviews
Unusual civics test questioning
Unusual speaking/reading/writing test questioning
New lines of questioning related to “good moral character
(e.g., “Do you consider yourself a good person?”
“What do you do to help your community?”)
Stakeholder engagement problems
Disruptions in USCIS communication with programs
Citizenship class issues
Attendance, funding, programming, immigration enforcement in or near program, KYR training
(Stakeholder survey link in your handout)
Taking Action: Legal Responses
FOIA Requests
Pilot testing interim & final reports, relevant internal and external documents & communication
Temporary Restraining Order
Flawed test – Flawed pilot
Doesn’t meet testing standards of American Psychological Association (especially re vulnerable populations)
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Economic impact on small non-profit community-based organizations;
No resources to revise and expand programs, accommodate test changes, increase staffing;
Limited training materials; no support; canceled grants
Administrative Procedure Act
Test changes have force and effect of law on applicants and disadvantage those with limited education/literacy who may be denied citizenship due to test changes
Resources
Side-by-Side Comparisons of 2008 & 2025 Tests
2008>2025
2025>2008
Lesson Planning tool
Instructional resource
Resources
Translations of
Civics Questions
USA Hello
Arabic, Chinese, French,
German, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Persian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese
Resources
The Path of Least Complexity:
Natz Study Guide with Suggested answers
Shorter
Similar to 2008 test answers
Contain more common vocabulary
Resources
Flash Cards
With thanks to
Nancy and Steve Maddox
Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX
File contains duplicate pages
Print double-sided on #110 card stock, cut up, to create two sets of Q&A cards
Or print only odd pages one-sided, then cut up and fold (similar to USCIS 2008 test files)
Resources
USCitizenshipTest.org
YouTube channel
Other Changes to Keep in Mind
Interview questions related to “good moral character”
Practice questions related to Part 9 of Form N-400 ”Have you ever . . .?”
Be prepared to explain significance of Oath of Allegiance
Prepare for potential new lines of questioning:
Do you consider yourself a good person?
What do you do to help your community?
Why do you want to become a citizen?
In handout:
Link to complete Part 9 interview practice in Voices of Freedom +
revised pages with new administration
Other Changes to Keep in Mind
Personal (“neighborhood*”) investigations
* Place of residence + work
To confirm good moral character, attachment to the Constitution, “disposition to the good order and happiness of the United States”
Investigation to be conducted or waived based on info in the application
USCIS may request “testimonial letters from neighbors, employers, co-workers, business associates”
“Submitting such evidence proactively” may avoid USCIS issuing a Request for Evidence or doing an investigation
(This is a matter for legal advisors, not citizenship instructors)
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Language &
Communication
Workshop
LCW
Questions?
Language &
Communication
Workshop
LCW
The New U.S. Civics Test:�Changes and Challenges