On September 17, 2025, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced changes to the citizenship test that will take effect for applications filed on or after October 20, 2025.
The update seeks to strengthen the assessment of civic knowledge, while maintaining the English standards. Here are four keys about the new test and how to prepare for it.
Changes in the civic exam
The civics exam now includes 128 questions, up from 100 on the 2008 exam, according to the USCIS announcement in the Federal Register.
Applicants will answer 20 questions in the interview, needing 12 correct answers to pass, instead of 6 out of 10.
The test will stop when 12 hits or 9 errors are reached.
In 2024, 88% of applicants passed the exam, according to USCIS, but the new format requires more preparation.
Renewed content
For its part, 75% of the questions come from the 2008 exam, while 25% are new, including topics such as Dwight Eisenhower, Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Papers, according to CBS News.
The questions, tested in pilot tests with volunteers in 2024, cover U.S. history, government and civic values.
The exam is still oral, with no multiple choice, and applicants must study the updated official answers, according to VisaVerge.
Who will take the new exam?
Accordingly, the 2025 examination will apply to those who file Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Those who apply earlier will be tested with the 2008 exam, which includes 100 questions.
USCIS will maintain both study guides on its website to facilitate preparation, according to the official announcement.
In 2024, 1.1 million naturalization applications were processed, according to the State Department.
Exceptions for seniors
On the other hand, applicants 65 years of age or older with 20 years of permanent residence in the U.S. will face a simplified examination.
They will only study 20 pre-selected questions and answer 10, needing 6 correct answers to pass, according to USCIS.
This exception, which benefited 15% of applicants in 2024, according to the American Immigration Council, allows the test to be taken in the applicant’s preferred language, alleviating language barriers.
How to prepare
Nevertheless, USCIS recommends using the official study materials, available on its website, and practicing English, as the exam tests reading, writing and speaking.
In 2025, 30% of denials were attributed to failures in the civic test, according to VisaVerge.
Applicants must demonstrate good moral character and avoid behaviors such as illegal voting, which automatically disqualifies, according to DHS. Community classes, such as those offered by Catholic Charities, may be helpful.
Context of the reform
In addition, the changes are part of a broader overhaul of the naturalization process under the Trump administration, which includes stricter vetoes and revisions to disability exceptions, according to The Hill.
In 2024, the average time to process a citizenship application was 6.7 months, according to USCIS.
The update seeks to ensure that new citizens understand U.S. values, according to spokesman Matthew Tragesser.
Community resources
For more information, contact USCIS at +1-800-375-5283 or visit their website to download the study guides.
While the new citizenship test poses a major challenge, preparing with time and official resources can make the difference in achieving U.S. naturalization.
Filed under: New citizenship test
This article was originally published in Nueva News.
