New or old test

[roscove 0]

Hello,

I will have the option of taking the old or the new test. While I know the answer to my question is subjective I am interested in people's opinion as to which one is easier? I will study both to make my decision but I would like to hear some thoughts.

Thanks,

Dave

[moonhunt 1]

Hello,

I will have the option of taking the old or the new test. While I know the answer to my question is subjective I am interested in people's opinion as to which one is easier? I will study both to make my decision but I would like to hear some thoughts.

Thanks,

Dave

Old one! ^^

Not much of thought you need.

If you practice a little bit, it is automatic reaction to the answer.

Besides, English test seems much easier.

[Tiger50 0]

Hello,

I will have the option of taking the old or the new test. While I know the answer to my question is subjective I am interested in people's opinion as to which one is easier? I will study both to make my decision but I would like to hear some thoughts.

Thanks,

Dave

Old one! ^^

Not much of thought you need.

If you practice a little bit, it is automatic reaction to the answer.

Besides, English test seems much easier.

My wife submitted her N-400 application prior to October 1, 2008 so if she has her test before October 1, 2009 she would prefer the original or old test which she is currently preparing for it, it seems to be easier since it is based mostly on memorizing the answers.

Edited October 2, 2008 by Tiger50

[akdiver 3]

I looked at the questions for both, in detail. I can hardly tell the difference. I don't think one is any harder than the other.

I also think they should both be MUCH harder. In fact, I think they should do away with the test and institute a requirement that to naturalize, you must take a bonafide (in person, not telecourse or on-line) 1 semester, 3 credit university course in American History, taught in English, and receive a grade of "B" or better.

Edited October 2, 2008 by akdiver

[lucyrich 20]

They both consist of roughly 100 questions for which you can memorize the answers. And the most expedient way of insuring you pass the test IS to memorize the answers. That's not the best way to learn about your new country, but it's the most effective way to guarantee you'll pass the test.

There's a huge overlap; many of the questions are exactly the same between the old and new tests.

I've looked at both tests, and I can't see a significant difference in difficulty between them. Obviously, if you've already studied the old test a lot, it's going to be easier for you than the new test. But given equal study time with each set of questions, I think the tests are about equal in difficulty.

I think the new test is intended to be slightly more relevant than the old, and it may have achieved a tiny bit of success on that point, but not very much. The old test had quite a few questions about the flag, which the new test has replaced with questions about the government. I suppose I'd rather have citizens who know why we're protected against unreasonable search and seizure than have citizens who know why we have 50 stars on our flag.

[NickD 202]

I looked at the questions for both, in detail. I can hardly tell the difference. I don't think one is any harder than the other.

I also think they should both be MUCH harder. In fact, I think they should do away with the test and institute a requirement that to naturalize, you must take a bonafide (in person, not telecourse or on-line) 1 semester, 3 credit university course in American History, taught in English, and receive a grade of "B" or better.

You left off civics and political science, with the latter, can not even imagine using the words, political and science in the same course title. They contradict each other.

We showed the easy test to some friends and relatives, ha, they couldn't answer those questions. Wife and I actually spent less than 90 minutes studying in our four hour drive. An hour the first time around with some discussion, she took a two hour nap, she was up until 1:30 am and we had to leave at 3:30 am, then we went over the test again, in about 20 minutes.