The Proposed Changes to the US Citizenship Test: A Closer Look
The agency will conduct a nationwide trial of the proposed changes in 2023 with opportunities for public feedback. According to a USCIS report, more than 1 million people became US citizens in fiscal year 2022, and USCIS reduced the huge backlog of naturalization applications by over 60% compared to the year before.
The US citizenship test is due for an update after 15 years, and the new version is expected late next year. US Citizenship and Immigration Services proposed changes that include a speaking section to assess English skills and a multiple-choice civics section on US history and government, instead of the current oral short-answer format. While some immigrants and advocates worry the changes will hurt test-takers with lower levels of English proficiency, USCIS says the changes “reflect current best practices in test design” and will help standardize the citizenship test.
The agency will conduct a nationwide trial of the proposed changes in 2023 with opportunities for public feedback. According to a USCIS report, more than 1 million people became US citizens in fiscal year 2022, and USCIS reduced the huge backlog of naturalization applications by over 60% compared to the year before.