Preparing for the U.S. Citizenship Test: Background, What to Expect, and Tips for Success
Becoming a United States citizen is often the final milestone in people’s immigration journey. For many, that journey can take five to ten years and maybe more, depending on the circumstance, so raising their right hand and taking the oath to the Constitution is a big day. The steps involved to get to the oath are many and involve a significant amount of paperwork, forms, interviews, documentation, and a reading, writing, and civics test.
So what does this test consist of and how do you prepare? Let’s look at a little background and some tips to get started.
A Closer Look at the History of The United States Citizenship Test
Our nation’s naturalization process has come a long way. As history and the country has changed and evolved, so have the laws surrounding immigration. In 1790, for example, one must be a white person above 21 years old and have lived in the country for more than two years to petition for citizenship in common law court. Even then, however, prospective citizens were required to recite an oath of allegiance to the USA. The process has certainly changed since then.
The laws have experienced ebbs and flows since the country’s beginnings, shifting from a 14-year residency requirement in 1798 to finally considering African American citizens after the 14th Amendment. It wasn’t until 1906, that knowledge of English became a requirement. It was that year that the government sought to establish a unified process.
Slowly, after that, judges administering the oaths began asking common questions about U.S. history and civics. The fact that these questions were not standardized or approved, however, led to difficult questions that were used intentionally to try to fail applicants. This included questions such as, “How high is the Bunker Hill monument?” These types of trick questions were phased out.
Problems with questions like the above were quickly acknowledged and the government sought to standardize and approve reasonable civics questions as part of the test. So, ten years later, in 1917, the first-ever literacy test was approved and it required basic reading and writing skills.
What to Expect From the United States Citizenship Civics Test
While the idea of taking a test can be a little daunting, with plenty of time to prepare, some careful reading, and the right attorney guiding you along, the test will be a simple stepping stone. The test is usually administered during one of your final interviews, as the final step before receiving a swearing-in ceremony date.
During this final interview, the USCIS officer asks questions regarding the background and history of your application. You will then have to take two tests. One is an English test, which assesses an applicant’s ability to read or write English. The second part is the civics test.
The civic portion of the test is an oral test. A USCIS officer will ask about 10 out of the possible 100 civics questions and expect at least 6 of those questions to be correct. There are plenty of online resources that can help you study for the test. It is important to note, however, that some of the answers will change depending on who is currently in office in your state.
What Types of Questions are On the Test?
Most of the questions on the test are about the U.S. government and American history. Their intention is to quiz applicants on the founding principles of the nation and how the government is structured and how it functions.
Example questions might include:
- What is the supreme law of the land? (Answer: the Constitution)
- What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? (Answer: the Bill of Rights)
Other questions might test an applicant’s knowledge based on current elected officials. For example:
- Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators? (Answers will vary depending on who is a current sitting senator of your state of residence)
Some applicants might have an exemption and not have to take the test. For example, people that are 65 years or older might be exempt from portions of the test depending on circumstances.
What Happens if You Don’t Pass?
Applicants are given up to two tries to take the English and civics test. If a person fails the test in the initial interview, they can retest the failed portion about 60 to 90 days from the original interview date.
Quick Tips for Preparing for Your Test
While everyone’s learning process is a little bit different, there are a few tried and true pieces of advice that can help improve your outcome in this important interview. Below are a few tips to get you started.
- Download and organize your study materials. There is a wealth of information online. You can also download a copy of the test from the USCIS website. Begin by getting a sense of what you will be asked and knowing how much you have to study.
- Organize your study time by subject. Separate possible questions into categories such as history, government, geography, and holidays. By organizing your study sessions, you will get a better grasp of the material, instead of jumping around from question to question and simply trying to memorize.
- Use online resources to learn and absorb the information. Instead of just memorizing answers, try to provide yourself with some context to some of these questions. It will make it easier to remember the answers by filling in some of the gaps. For example, read articles or view videos on the Constitution and how it came to be.
- Take practice tests and practice speaking English. If you’re new to speaking English, remember that there is an oral component to the test. Many people might get a little nervous on the test and trip up because of their English rather than because they don’t know the answers. Also, taking practice tests online and with friends is a great way to get over the nerves of putting these responses into coherent answers.
Questions About the Naturalization Process?
Regardless of where you are in the immigration journey, you might have questions about what to expect when applying for citizenship. Don’t go on the journey alone. We can help. Call The Law Offices of Rios, Parada, & Seanez today to speak with an experienced immigration attorney.