U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Redesigns Naturalization Test

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the naturalization test to create a test and testing process that is standardized, fair and meaningful. A standardized and fair naturalization test will include uniform testing protocols and procedures nationwide to ensure that there is no variation between offices. A meaningful test will encourage civic learning and patriotism among prospective citizens. A revised test, with an emphasis on the fundamental concepts of American democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, will help to encourage citizenship applicants to learn and identify with the basic values that we all share as Americans.

During the past 10 years, the standardization and meaningfulness of the naturalization test have come under scrutiny. Various studies found that the exam lacked standardized content, instruments, protocols or scoring system. Inconsistencies were reported in the way the exams were administered nationwide, and there was no assessment of whether applicants had a meaningful understanding of U.S. history and government.

To address these concerns, Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) launched a test redesign project in 2000 that has included technical assistance from several test development contractors, the National Academy of Sciences, a panel of history and U.S. government scholars, and a panel of English as a Second Language (ESL) experts. In addition, USCIS has sought input from a variety of stakeholders, including immigrant advocacy groups, citizenship instructors, ESL teachers, and USCIS District Adjudications Officers.

As part of the test redesign, USCIS will conduct a pilot program in ten cities beginning in February 2007 to ensure the agency has all the information necessary before the new test is fully implemented nationwide in 2008. The pilot program will run in 10 cities that were randomly selected based on geographic region and citizenship application volume. During this pilot, USCIS will carefully analyze the new test questions to make certain that the questions are fair and work as they were intended. USCIS will also collect information about testing procedures, to include feedback from DAOs, to help refine the testing procedures and facilitate the smooth transition to the new naturalization exam.

USCIS plans to pilot 142 U.S. history and government questions and approximately 36 reading and 36 writing items. The topic areas include principals of American democracy, system of government, rule of law, rights and responsibilities, American History, and geography. About half of the questions include rephrased versions of questions on the current test. All citizenship applicants in the 10 pilot areas who are scheduled for their naturalization test during the pilot will receive advance copies of the civics questions and the two lists of vocabulary for self-study. USCIS has also posted these study materials on the web at:http://www.uscis.gov/natzpilot. The actual test will become available to the public.