U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on November 13, 2020 plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test.
The civics test is one of the statutory requirements for naturalizing and is administered to applicants who apply for U.S. citizenship. The revised version of test includes more questions that test the applicant’s understanding of U.S. history and civics. The new civics test will not change the passing score, which will remain at 60% but candidates must answer 12 questions correctly, out of 20 in order to pass. Naturalization applicants who are 65 years old or older and have at least 20 years of lawful permanent resident status will be asked 10 questions and must answer a minimum of six questions correctly in order to pass.
Applicants who apply for naturalization on or after Dec. 1, 2020, will take the updated version of the test. Those who apply before Dec. 1, 2020, will take the current version of the test.
The test items and study guides can be found on the Citizenship Resource Center on the USCIS website. USCIS has also updated the USCIS Policy Manual (PDF, 323.82 KB) accordingly; see Volume 12, Part E, English and Civics Testing and Exceptions, Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing.
