New Changes to Civics Test - Effective On or After Dec 1, 2020

[StuTor 51]

Important Updates to the Naturalization Test:

 

USCIS has revised the civics portion of the naturalization test. All applicants for naturalization with a filing date on or after Dec. 1, 2020, will be required to take the 2020 version of the civics test. For more information, visit The 2020 Version of the Civics Test page. Applicants for naturalization with a filing date before Dec. 1, 2020, are required to take the 2008 version of the civics test.

 

2008 Version

The 2008 version of the civics test is an oral test, and the USCIS officer will ask you up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions. You must answer 6 questions correctly to pass the 2008 version of the civics test. 

Applicants for naturalization with a filing date (also known as a receipt date) before Dec. 1, 2020, will take the 2008 version of the civics test. You may find study materials for the 2008 version of the civics test on this page.

 

2020 Version

The 2020 version of the civics test is an oral test, and the USCIS officer will ask you 20 questions from the list of 128 civics test questions. You must answer at least 12 of the 20 questions correctly to pass the 2020 version of the civics test. 

 Applicants for naturalization with a filing date (also known as a receipt date) on or after Dec. 1, 2020 are required to take the 2020 version of the civics test. Find more information about the 2020 civics test and study materials to help you prepare. 

 

65/20 Special Consideration

 

If you are 65 years old or older and have been living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the 20 questions that have been marked with an asterisk (*) found at the end of each question. You may also take the naturalization test in the language of your choice. For more information, see exceptions and accommodations or the USCIS Policy Manual Citizenship and Naturalization Guidance.

Note: On the naturalization test, some answers may change because of elections or appointments. You must answer the question with the name of the official serving at the time of your naturalization interview. For the answers to these specific questions, please visit the Civics Test Updates page.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/study-for-the-test

[Disteny 39]

The made the test harder and added more questions

[Wafflebot 21]

On 11/15/2020 at 2:18 PM, Disteny said:

The made the test harder and added more questions

I'd say the additional questions will add to study time, but it doesn't seem like the test will be more difficult necessarily. Passing rate remains at 60%. If you have studied enough to answer 6 out of 10 correctly, you can probably answer 12 out of 20 correctly as well.

[StuTor 51]

One thing i noticed is that; you'll be asked the complete 20 questions regardless of your score. So unlike the 2008 version where the questioning stops when you get the first 6, the questions will continue until all 20 questions have been asked.

 

 It's a waste of time, particularly for the AO and at a time when record cases are backlogged. 

[Boiler 46,132]

How long does asking 20 questions take?

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

8 hours ago, StuTor said:

One thing i noticed is that; you'll be asked the complete 20 questions regardless of your score. So unlike the 2008 version where the questioning stops when you get the first 6, the questions will continue until all 20 questions have been asked.

 

 It's a waste of time, particularly for the AO and at a time when record cases are backlogged. 

I think its the same, whereas they stop when you hit 12 correct. 

The wording probably wasn't written correctly.

[StuTor 51]

6 hours ago, Boiler said:

How long does asking 20 questions take?

A lot longer than asking 6 questions, that's for sure 😄

[StuTor 51]

5 minutes ago, NEW CITIZEN said:

I think its the same, whereas they stop when you hit 12 correct. 

The wording probably wasn't written correctly.

I thought as well at first, but on further research i verified that the applicant will indeed be asked all 20 questions. We should begin to see this next month, so we can verify for sure 

[bigjailerman 318]

Well just filed end of November and got in under the wire to avert the 2020 test 😁

 

Now the final wait begins!

[GoldenMontana 10]

My appointment is on December 29th and was a little sweaty when the family pulled up the 128 questions on Thanksgiving and I thought I'd been studying from the wrong place 😂

[aspiaspi 9]

Just to confirm what I am reading - filed in July2020  so if and when get called for interview .. I will be doing 2008 version right ? 

[bigjailerman 318]

Yes you are correct, December 1 and onward gives you 2020 version, prior is the 2008..!

[aspiaspi 9]

Thanks for confirmation.. 

[egyptianpotato 7]

I've read the 2008 civics for fun a while back and now studying the 2020 civics since i applied for my n400 lately ( i don't have the interview scheduled yet ) 
It's honestly not that much harder than the previous material if reading/understanding english is no big deal for you. I can see how it'd be challenging if your english is so-so and you're doing your best to memorize.. 

My approach is to read the whole thing a few times, do some research on events or terms that you don't get, and finally study/memorize/answer 10 questions everyday ( if you have enough time ). I've downloaded the 128 material/questions from the USCIS website and i'm using an awesome iphone app called Citizen Now, i highly recommend it. 

 

Goodluck, Everyone. 

[EternalForeigner 58]

And make sure to know who your Senator and Congressperson is if that has changed recently.

Edited January 8, 2021 by EternalForeigner