USCIS is Reverting to the 2008 Version of the Civics Test

After some major changes being done to the U.S. naturalization civics test, USCIS has announced on March 1st,2021 to revert to the 2008 version. The changes to the test came on December 1st,2020 when USCIS decided to include more questions on the exam that covered a variety of new topics. After much deliberation, the U.S. Citizenship and immigration services have concluded that this new version may cause potential barriers to the naturalization process. This revised test was viewed by many as a far more difficult test and may result in failure for many test-takers.

The original 2008 version of the civics test took multiple years to develop and finalize. USCIS received the input of more than 150 organizations before completing it. Some of these organizations include English as second language experts, educators, and historians. The 2008 civics test consists of 100 questions for which the applicants prepare, while the revised test consists of 128 questions. Applicants taking the 2008 test are assigned 10 questions and must answer 6 of them correctly to pass. In the December 2020 revision of the test, applicants would be required to answer 12 questions out of 20 correctly. Many were concerned that the revised test would discourage people from seeking citizenship due to failure of failing.

Applicants who filed their application for naturalization on or after December. 1st, 2020, and before March 1st, 2021, will have the option to take either the 2020 civics test or the 2008 civics test. There will be a transition period where both tests are being offered. The 2020 test will no longer be used starting April 19th, 2021. Applicants filing on or after March 1st, 2021, will continue to take the 2008 civics test.