The US Citizenship Test Process

During the US citizenship test and interview, a USCIS Official will ask you questions about your application package and background. To be eligible for citizenship, applicants should take the US citizenship test which comprises of English language and civics. Generally, applicants should prove that they can read, write and speak basic English and also that they have basic knowledge of US history and government. Reading, writing, and speaking form a part of the English test whereas the civics test covers important U.S. history and government topics.

While testing your reading ability, you will be required to read one out of three sentences correctly to prove your ability to read in English. To prove your writing ability, you have to write one out of three sentences correctly. Your speaking ability will, in fact be checked by the way you answer the interview questions. In civics, there are 100 questions. During the interview, you will be asked around 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You should answer at least six questions correctly to pass the civics test. In case you fail any section of the test, you will be tested again on the same section of the test that you failed within 90 days.

There are some applicants who are exempted from taking the English language and civics test. If you are above 50 years of age and have been a permanent resident for periods totaling at least 20 years, then you need not take the English test. You have to take the civics test, but you can take the test in a language of your choice. If you fall in this category, you should mark 50/20 in red on top of your citizenship application.

If you are above 55 years of age and been a permanent resident for periods totaling at least 15 years, then you need not take the English test. Even in this category, you have to take the Civics test and can take the test in a language of your choice. If you come under this category, you should mark 55/15 in red on top of your citizenship application.

If you are above 65 years of age and have been a permanent resident for periods totaling at least 20 years, then you need not take the English test. Even here, you have to take the civics test and can take the test in a language of your choice. But this test will be a simpler version. You will be asked 10 questions form the list of 25. If you fall under this category, you should mark 65/20 in red on top of your citizenship application.

If any applicant has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment and if that impairment affects his/her ability to learn English and civics, then he/she is eligible for an exception from the US Citizenship Test. Form N-648 needs to be filed along with the citizenship application Form N-400, to request such an exception.

In situations where you are eligible for a waiver of the English proficiency requirement, you should be prepared to bring an interpreter. The test is not a multiple choice test. Your civics knowledge will be tested orally. The interviewing officer will ask ten from the set of 100 questions. You should be able to answer six out of ten questions correctly to pass the civics test.