New insight on potential changes to citizenship test

[Babu Frik 1,194]

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/04/trump-administration-citizenship-test-00544390

 

• The Trump administration, in its second term, plans to make the U.S. citizenship test more difficult. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director, Joseph Edlow, stated that the current test is "just too easy" and that applicants can be "coached" on how to pass.

• The proposed changes include making the test more "thought-provoking" and potentially requiring applicants to write an essay about what becoming an American means to them.

• The current test requires applicants to correctly answer 6 out of 10 questions from a list of 100, and also to have basic English skills. The new test would be expanded to 20 questions, with applicants needing to answer 12 correctly.

• These changes are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten the U.S. immigration system, which also includes expanding USCIS's law enforcement capabilities to combat fraud and resuming practices like interviewing immigration applicants' coworkers and neighbors.

[Dashinka 26,109]

Of course the question that always comes up is how well would a natural born USC do on the test?  And then there is this.

 

 

 

[Boiler 47,907]

I have come across a few people where the definition of basic knowledge of English must mean very basic. If you are doing the interview you must have been here for quite some time, well a few exceptions, but for the vast majority.

 

I think they corrected them but I do remember when 2 of the answers provided were wrong.

 

I would think most people could answer many of the 100 questions through general knowledge, easy enough to brush up beforehand. 

[yuna628 9,899]

Asking people to write essays is a nonsense idea. Becoming an American isn't like writing a thesis to get into college of why you think you should be one. It's not an exclusive club reserved for who writes the best sentences. If you can answer the test questions effectively and pass the other requirements that's all is needed. Do I think that individuals should know a good basis of English? Sure, but I know everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning languages. It's not like we're requiring potential citizens to take some kind of mandatory language classes. If essay writing becomes a thing I guarantee you will have letters written by other people or worse.. AI.

 

Most Americans cannot answer the 100 questions.... but I made darn sure I drilled them into my husband.

[MMRF 57]

18 hours ago, Babu Frik said:

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/04/trump-administration-citizenship-test-00544390

"...the current test “just too easy,” arguing that it allows for people to be “coached” through the immigration process ..."

Ugh, what do they think studying is? Are people just supposed to magically know the answers without learning?

[mam521 2,651]

🤦‍♀️So, on one hand we have this garbage and then we have this on the other: https://www.click2houston.com/news/texas/2025/09/04/texas-is-poised-to-replace-staar-here-is-what-schools-new-standardized-tests-would-look-like/

 

I realize the article is related to TX and TEA, but they are dumbing down the English requirement and contemplated getting rid of the Social Studies aspect of standardized testing in the state.  Like what the deuce?   

 

So, this administration wants foreigners to produce an essay when the US' own kids in the second largest state are seeing dumbing down of these exact requirements to successfully produce their own essay?  It makes ZERO sense.  Worry about what's happening right here, right now to current Americans!  The garbage I read online from a good number of Americans demonstrates they have not learned or failed to retain any American history and really don't understand the Constitution.  So my question to Edlow would be where are your locals "attachments to the Constitution as required by the statute"?

 

My next question would be who judges the essay for this apparent attachment?  It's subjective at best.  A multiple choice test is either right or wrong.  No room for wishy washy.  An essay can depend on how the "grader" feels on that day.  Much of USCIS is yes or no.  Did you file income tax, yes or no?  Do you have proof of intermingling of finances or insurances, yes or no?  Have you been an exemplary human while residing in the US as a PR, yes or no?  Citizenship is hardly the biggest challenge in the whole immigration scheme IMO.  

 

As for a language requirement, I don't have an issue with a generalized requirement for speaking and listening.  Canada has this provision for their citizenship appointment but it's just that - a generalized provision for understanding.  It's not a dig for complements to feed the egos and tell the country how pretty it is.  My friend's wife had to do it quite recently and it's taken very seriously and if there is any suspicion of cheating, you fail.  End of story.  

 

The current citizenship test though...I don't know what apparent "coaching" can happen other than learning the answers.  

[JeanneAdil 7,234]

clearly to those running government and writing the civics test,  political science is the only thing they believe is important to being a good citizen.  the constitution being the supreme Law of the Land is important as it governs federal and state both but the test leaves out local laws that vary not only from state to state but "at times county to county" 

and knowing your congressional persons is on the test . WHY?  this is something any of us can look up on the internet if we find a need to know/ it would be more important to know what they believe in when we vote.  '

 

and yes,  there are a great many Americans who could not pass the test / not all people are interested in History.  some are math /science majors and only take a history course as it is required for high school and / or college .   i don't care if my heart dr or plumber know history.  i want them to know their job 

 

the driving test (in TN) makes more sense / it requires a person to know how much alcohol is a DUI

/ to me the laws that  require you to be a good citizen are not included in the N 400 test making the whole thing useless.  

why not a list of drugs and ask applicants which ones are illegal ?

 

and those in power still do not know the real issues with the immigration process

there are those who use the system , marry a USC and then its green card to fast divorce .  if a USC has the proof they were used fraudulently, the immigrant should not be allowed a divorce waiver and get to stay.

 

and allowed to do N 400 within 3 years ??? 

 

 

[TBoneTX 47,911]

13 hours ago, yuna628 said:

Most Americans cannot answer the 100 questions

When Mrs. T-B. was approaching this stage, I took the test myself, because I was curious.

I got 98 of 100 and was genuinely ashamed and mortified to have missed 2.

18 hours ago, Dashinka said:

And then there is this.

 

 

This is the definitive study guide for the N-400.   

See the answer about "name two American Indian tribes."  

[Aquabac 13]

I  for one am happy they are making it harder. 6/10 to pass is ridiculous

[steve-phuket 21]

the writing an essay thing is just a proposal at the moment right? anyhow if my wife had to write an essay, i'd write it for her and make her write it out every day until she memorized it perfectly, so really no different to memorizing a hundred other things no one would need to know in real life, like who was president in world war 1 and what does genocide mean.

 

my bigger worry is if they want proof you are a "good citizen". how do you prove you help your community, do you need do some kind of documented community service or something?

[OldUser 10,381]

1 hour ago, steve-phuket said:

the writing an essay thing is just a proposal at the moment right?

It is just a proposal. If you apply now, most likely rules won't change mid process and you'd be grandfathered into current rules