The U.S. citizenship test just got harder. Can you answer the new questions?

Only 1 in 3 U.S. citizens were able to pass the U.S. citizenship test in a 2018 national survey. That test just got much harder. Beginning December 1, 2020, applicants for U.S. citizenship now face a revised civics exam with new questions covering U.S. history and civics. Applicants must now answer twice as many questions correctly to pass.

The U.S. citizenship or naturalization test consists of two parts: the English language and U.S. civics. The English portion tests applicants’ ability to speak, read and write in the English language. Officers evaluate applicants’ ability to speak and understand English through the naturalization interview. The reading and writing portion consist of writing and reading a short sentence, such as “George Washington was the first President of the United States.”

U.S. Citizenship Test Questions

21 of the new and revised questions added by USCIS to the 2020 edition of the U.S. citizenship civics test are included in the quiz below. Test your knowledge about U.S. civics and see if you can answer every question. The possible responses deemed correct by USCIS are also included.

This quiz reviews the new U.S. Citizenship Test Questions.
Click "Next" to begin!

1. 

What is the form of government of the United States?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Republic Constitution-based federal republic Representative democracy

1 out of 21

2. 

The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Self-government Popular sovereignty

2 out of 21

3. 

What does the Bill of Rights protect?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer (The basic) rights of Americans (The basic) rights of people living in the United States

3 out of 21

4. 

Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Equality Liberty Social contract Natural rights Limited government Self-government

4 out of 21

5. 

Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation Federalist Papers Anti-Federalist Papers Virginia Declaration of Rights Fundamental Orders of Connecticut Mayflower Compact Iroquois Great Law of Peace

5 out of 21

6. 

Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer To more closely follow public opinion

6 out of 21

7. 

Why does each state have two senators?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Equal representation (for small states) The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

7 out of 21

8. 

The President of the United States can serve only two terms. Why?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer (Because of) the 22nd Amendment To keep the president from becoming too powerful

8 out of 21

9. 

Why is the Electoral College important?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer It decides who is elected president. It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection.

9 out of 21

10. 

How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Five (5)

10 out of 21

11. 

Supreme Court justices serve for life. Why?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer To be independent (of politics) To limit outside (political) influence

11 out of 21

12. 

What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer (It states that the) powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people.

12 out of 21

13. 

How can people become United States citizens?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Naturalize Derive citizenship Be born in the United States

13 out of 21

14. 

Why is it important to pay federal taxes?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Required by law All people pay to fund the federal government Required by the (U.S.) Constitution (16th Amendment) Civic duty

14 out of 21

15. 

The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer (Battle of) Bunker Hill Declaration of Independence Washington Crossing the Delaware (Battle of Trenton) (Battle of) Saratoga Valley Forge (Encampment) (Battle of) Yorktown (British surrender at Yorktown)

15 out of 21

16. 

What founding document was written in 1787?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer The (U.S.) Constitution

16 out of 21

17. 

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution. They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution.

17 out of 21

18. 

The Civil War had many important events. Name one.

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer (Battle of) Fort Sumter Emancipation Proclamation (Battle of) Vicksburg (Battle of) Gettysburg Sherman's March (Surrender at) Appomattox (Battle of) Antietam/Sharpsburg Lincoln was assassinated

18 out of 21

19. 

What amendment gives citizenship to all persons born in the United States?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer 14th Amendment

19 out of 21

20. 

Name one leader of the women's rights movement in the 1800s.

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Susan B. Anthony Elizabeth Cady Stanton Sojourner Truth Harriet Tubman Lucretia Mott Lucy Stone

20 out of 21

21. 

*BONUS QUESTION* The Nation's first motto was 'E Pluribus Unum.' What does that mean?

Possible correct responses are listed below:

Please select your answer Out of many, one We all become one

21 out of 21

Time's up

Changes to the Citizenship Test

There are a total of 128 potential questions that may be asked on the new naturalization test. Many of the questions on the prior civics test have been rewritten and their answers have changed. In addition, 28 new questions have been added that cover additional details about U.S. history and the American political system. On the old test, applicants could be asked up to a total of 10 questions, and to pass, they would need to answer 6 of them correctly.

Now, applicants will be asked 20 questions total. Applicants will have to answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly, in order to pass.

The test is oral, and applicants must respond with the correct answer from memory.

Previously, the immigration officer would stop asking questions once an applicant answered enough correctly to achieve a passing score. Now, applicants will be asked the full 20 questions even if they have already answered the required number of questions to pass the test.

Exemptions and Special Considerations

For now, USCIS has announced that “will maintain its current guidelines for statutorily established special considerations for applicants who are 65 years old or older and have at least 20 years of lawful permanent resident status.”

Applicants age 65 or older, and have held green cards for at least 20 years, will be asked 10 questions in total from a shorter list. They must answer 6 correctly to pass.

The new civics questions will apply to all citizenship exam-takers besides those in the Special Consideration category regardless of age.

Some individuals may qualify for a Medical Disability Exception, which can exempt applicants from having to take the civics test altogether. The USCIS website outlines the qualifications for exemption from the English language and civics requirements.

How to Prepare for the New Citizenship Test

The 2020  version of the civics test will only apply to those naturalization applicants with a filing date (received date) on or after December 1^st of 2020. U.S. citizenship applicants who filed their applications before December 1^st, 2020, will still be administered the 2008 version of the test.

USCIS has published study guides, flash cards, and all questions and answers to the new U.S. citizenship test on the USCIS website for free.

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Joseph Alain Moro is an immigration lawyer and the owner of Moro Legal, LLC, a law practice founded in Denver, Colorado. Joe helps people across the globe in obtaining visas, green cards and U.S. citizenship to live the American dream. For more information, contact Moro Legal, LLC and schedule an attorney consultation. Phone: +1 (303) 586-1955. Email: joseph@morolegal.com.