Takers must now double the minimum requirement and get 12 answers correct to pass the test, which now has a maximum of 20 questions.
Part of the test to become a naturalized United States citizen is now more difficult after President Donald Trump’s administration announced changes Monday.
The oral test, issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is now double its previous versions. The Naturalization Civics Test previously had 10 questions with a requirement of getting six correct answers.
Takers now must double that minimum requirement and get 12 answers correct to pass the test, which now has a maximum 20 questions on it.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said this change is to help “ensure proper assimilation of lawful immigrants into the United States and promote a unified American identity and attachment to the Constitution, laws and founding principles of the United States.”
The change went into effect immediately for those who filed for naturalization on or after October 20.
The test will stop immediately once a taker gets 12 questions correct or answers 9 incorrectly.
Questions are randomly selected from the new total of 128, up from 100. They cover a variety of subjects, from listing the original 13 colonies to who makes federal laws, to specifics about the Constitution, to naming federal holidays and more.
The Citizenship Test Working Group and more than 120 national, state and local organizations submitted a letter encouraging the changes to be delayed since they could pose “significant challenges” for people.
“The administration has not presented substantial evidence that the changes are necessary to protect the integrity of the naturalization process, which it cites as a basis for justifying this shift,” the letter reads.
Trump administration officials previously expressed they thought the test was “too easy” and needed a change.
The doubling from 6 to 12 correct answers required represents a 100% increase in passing standards, raising the bar from 60% accuracy to 60% accuracy but with twice as many questions demonstrating knowledge breadth rather than just depth.
The immediate October 20 effective date gave applicants who filed on or after that date no transition period to prepare for the expanded test format, potentially disadvantaging those who had been studying the previous 100-question pool.
The expansion from 100 to 128 total questions increases the study burden by 28%, requiring citizenship applicants to master additional civics content beyond what was previously considered sufficient for demonstrating American civic knowledge.
The early termination at 12 correct or 9 incorrect answers means the test can theoretically end after just 12 questions for perfect scorers or extend to 20 questions for borderline passers, creating variable test lengths.
The “proper assimilation” and “unified American identity” language in DHS justification reflects nationalist rhetoric that critics argue frames immigrants as insufficiently American unless they meet heightened standards native-born citizens never face.
The Citizenship Test Working Group’s 120-organization coalition represents immigrant advocacy groups, legal aid organizations, and community groups who work directly with citizenship applicants and understand the practical impacts of testing changes.
The lack of “substantial evidence” criticism highlights that the Trump administration implemented policy changes based on subjective views about test difficulty rather than data showing the previous test failed to assess civic knowledge adequately.
Trump officials’ characterization of the previous test as “too easy” implies citizenship was being granted to applicants with insufficient civic knowledge, though no evidence suggests naturalized citizens demonstrate less civic engagement than native-born Americans.
The variety of question topics from 13 colonies to federal holidays to Constitutional specifics requires applicants to master historical facts, governmental structures, and cultural knowledge across multiple subject areas rather than focusing on core civic principles.
Washington state’s large immigrant population means the increased testing requirements will significantly impact local communities in Seattle, Tacoma, and surrounding areas where thousands pursue citizenship annually through naturalization processes.
