New Test Announced

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Greencard - US / Irish Immigration Questions

New Test Announced

October 4, 2007

By Debbie McGoldrick

THOSE who will be applying for U.S. citizenship this time next year will have a new study guide to peruse before the interview, as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced last week that it will revise the current 100 questions that make up the history and civics part of the naturalization process.

“We are very proud of this new test, and the open manner that we worked with our stakeholders throughout this entire process,” said USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez. “Together, we developed a test that will encourage citizenship applicants to learn and identify with the basic civic values that unite us as Americans.”

The new test questions were utilized as part of a pilot program at 10 USCIS offices around the country earlier this year. During this process, there were actually 142 questions that examiners could choose to ask citizenship candidates, who had the option of using the current study guide if they wished.

Now those questions have been whittled down to 100, and they’ll be asked of naturalization applicants starting in October of next year. “The 100 new civics items on the new naturalization test were selected after USCIS, a panel of history and government scholars, and English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers conducted a thorough review of the responses to the 142 items on the pilot test,” according to an agency release.

“The revised naturalization test will help strengthen assimilation efforts by emphasizing fundamental concepts of American democracy, basic U.S. history, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. It will also promote patriotism among prospective citizens.

“Following the pilot, USCIS refined the questions and answers, dropping several and adjusting others to increase clarity, narrowing the list to the new 100 questions. The range of acceptable answers to questions will increase so that applicants may learn more about a topic and select from a wider range of responses

“For instance, one of the new questions with a range of correct answers is, ‘What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?’ The applicant may respond with a variety of possible answers such as speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition the government.”

The new study questions are posted on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov. Until next October, though, the current guide questions will be the ones used by USCIS examiners; they are also posted on the site.

How smart are you with regards to U.S. civics? Test yourself with these:

The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? (We the People).

What is freedom of religion? (You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.)

Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? (Provide schooling and education; provide protection (police); provide safety (fire departments); give a driver’s license; approve zoning and land use.)

What are two rights only for United States citizens? (Apply for a federal job, vote, run for office, carry a U.S. passport.)

What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? (Freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, freedom of worship, the right to bear arms.)

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