Civics Test

[jsnearline 2]

Here's another example...

What did Martin Luther King do?

- fought for civil rights

- worked for equality for all Americans

My wife keeps answering with "worked for civil rights"

I really don't know whether they would accept that as an answer or not. I suppose it could depend on the IO you get at interview and what mood they're in.

Anyone who's been through the interview already have any thoughts on this?

[J&D 0]

Here's another example...

What did Martin Luther King do?

- fought for civil rights

- worked for equality for all Americans

My wife keeps answering with "worked for civil rights"

I really don't know whether they would accept that as an answer or not. I suppose it could depend on the IO you get at interview and what mood they're in.

Anyone who's been through the interview already have any thoughts on this?

Hmmm....I'm interested in people's opinions on this also. I would think surely the IO would accept an "improvised answer" that is still correct, even if it isn't word for word as per the USCIS answer(s).....

[j&js 0]

I would hope that the IO could read the list of correct answers and accept anything that means the same thing. You would think that they would prefer people to understand the civics issues, not just memorize some canned answers, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Thanks so much for this post. I had thought we were all set as my husband has extensively studied American politics (and he's married to a history teacher!) and can answer all of the questions. Now I think we'll spend some more time making sure his answers match the study guide as closely as possible.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Likewise, I wonder about the same thing too.....

Who the heck can remember things "word for word"...Lol...I certainly can't (nor I don't think that many people can either)!

I figure that as long as it "more or less the same idea", that one should get credit for that being the correct answer, right?

On that note...lol..."Martin Luther King worked for civil rights" sounds good to me, as after all he did do such, right?....

Or how about this one: "Martin Luther King fought for civil rights and worked for equality"...would that be ok too? (lol..in this case, it would be a "two for one answer".....Never mind...sorry to you all there....

Either way, hopefully the USCIS understands that we are only human, and not some robot or computer that spits out the exact same words, each and every time.....

Lol..if that were the case, we might as well just pre-recorded word for word the answers, and press the play button when told to do so for the correct answer... (but of course, tape recorders aren't allowable when one takes such a test...)

So the only hope is to have a nice, friendly, understandable, and "human" USCIS officer when taking such a test...

Good luck everyone, on your citizenship tests and for the rest of your immigration journeys too.

Ant (only human...)

P.S. Here is another thought....

-One plus One equals Two

-Two is the sum of One plus One

*Do these two statements mean the same thing? You decide....Pass or Fail the test?...

Here's another example...

What did Martin Luther King do?

- fought for civil rights

- worked for equality for all Americans

My wife keeps answering with "worked for civil rights"

I really don't know whether they would accept that as an answer or not. I suppose it could depend on the IO you get at interview and what mood they're in.

Hmmm....I'm interested in people's opinions on this also. I would think surely the IO would accept an "improvised answer" that is still correct, even if it isn't word for word as per the USCIS answer(s).....

Edited June 28, 2009 by AntandD

[jsnearline 2]

Is there anyone who has already been through the interview who can shed some light on this?

[diadromous mermaid 36]

It's not that exacting. You're overthinking it. It is a test of civic knowledge, and if the answer offered covers the jist of the question, then that's OK.

Is there anyone who has already been through the interview who can shed some light on this?

[NickD 203]

Is there anyone who has already been through the interview who can shed some light on this?

Wife went through it, told me less than two minutes was the spent on both the civics and English test. The other forty was spent trying to prove to her IO that she was married to me, with papers. She knew all 100 questions and answers, but think I should have spent more time with her with our evidence. Maybe your IO will be exactly the opposite, so can't tell you which phase to be concerned about.

[daveh 0]

I doubt the answers have to be word for word. The civics and history test are not part of the English test. If the answers did have to match exactly, then why do they offer it in Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese and Vietnamese?

USCIS new test .

Dave.

[J&D 0]

After looking through all the posts on this, I think the people that stated that the answer should more or less and not exactly match the correct answer are right.

[queendlee 1]

After looking through all the posts on this, I think the people that stated that the answer should more or less and not exactly match the correct answer are right.

I know I am over thinking things, but the instructions said to use their answers (correct or not), but I guess I just wanted to make sure. I assumed paraphrasing was ok, but then I read some things that make me think otherwise!

My only other issue is the number of answers for questions that the number of responses was not stated. For instance a questions where three responses are given and the question ask state the reason for x. Do you give all three or do you give one of their responses.

Its obvious for the questions that the answers are just worded in different ways like "what is the emancipation proclamination?" the answers are just different wording of the same answer, but for a questions like "why did the colonist fight the british?" or"what is the rule of law?" - several answers are given, do you answer all three or just one?

[imzadi 0]

My only other issue is the number of answers for questions that the number of responses was not stated. For instance a questions where three responses are given and the question ask state the reason for x. Do you give all three or do you give one of their responses.

Its obvious for the questions that the answers are just worded in different ways like "what is the emancipation proclamination?" the answers are just different wording of the same answer, but for a questions like "why did the colonist fight the british?" or"what is the rule of law?" - several answers are given, do you answer all three or just one?

I thought about this, too. But using common sense one might think that one of the suggested answers will suffice.

Since the test doesn't look too difficult anyway I'd suggest to study all the answers so you can present "alternatives" in case the IO ins't satisfied.

[queendlee 1]

I thought about this, too. But using common sense one might think that one of the suggested answers will suffice.

Since the test doesn't look too difficult anyway I'd suggest to study all the answers so you can present "alternatives" in case the IO ins't satisfied.

thanks, i figured, i was just having trouble remembering every single response for some of those types of questions, but I guess I should be ok

[James 2]

Here's another example...

What did Martin Luther King do?

- fought for civil rights

- worked for equality for all Americans

My wife keeps answering with "worked for civil rights"

I really don't know whether they would accept that as an answer or not. I suppose it could depend on the IO you get at interview and what mood they're in.

Anyone who's been through the interview already have any thoughts on this?

When my wife read me the questions and had me answer them without ever having seen the answers provided, I said he was a leader of the civil rights movement. I can't imagine that wouldn't be a passing answer.

[J&D 0]

When my wife read me the questions and had me answer them without ever having seen the answers provided, I said he was a leader of the civil rights movement. I can't imagine that wouldn't be a passing answer.

Certainly better than 'Some American dude...'

I'd say anything that resembles a correct answer will be marked as such. Although I would say if the IO wants one answer from a potential list of one or more answers, then give one answer only.