Breaking: Trump Administration Tightens US Citizenship Test – What You Need to Know

WASHINGTON — The journey to becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen has become more challenging following an announcement from President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday, outlining modifications to the test.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has revamped the oral examination, doubling its previous length. Before, the Naturalization Civics Test comprised 10 questions, with applicants needing to answer at least six correctly.

Now, test-takers must meet a higher threshold, correctly answering 12 questions out of a possible 20.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this adjustment aims to better facilitate the “proper assimilation of lawful immigrants into the United States,” while fostering a shared American identity and adherence to the nation’s Constitution, laws, and foundational principles.

This updated requirement was implemented immediately for individuals who submitted their naturalization applications 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. See 100 examples before the change here.

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.