USCIS Halts Proposed Changes to Naturalization Civics Test: What Applicants Need to Know in 2025

For immigrants working toward U.S. citizenship, the civics test is a crucial part of the naturalization process. In recent years, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed significant changes to the test—but as of December 2024, those changes have officially been terminated.

In 2022, USCIS announced plans to redesign the naturalization civics test. The proposed changes included:

• Switching from oral questions to a multiple-choice format

• Updating the English speaking section

• Revising the content and structure of certain civics questions

The goal, according to USCIS, was to make the test more standardized and easier to administer. However, the proposal sparked widespread concern among immigrant advocates, educators, and legal experts.

After a period of public testing and review, USCIS officially scrapped the proposed changes in December 2024. The decision came in response to:

• Negative feedback from community organizations and educators

• Concerns that a multiple-choice format could disadvantage non-native speakers

• Fears that the changes would make the test unnecessarily difficult for certain applicants

With the cancellation of the redesign, USCIS has confirmed that it will continue using the 2008 version of the civics test. Here’s what that means:

• The test is oral, not written.

• Applicants are asked 10 questions from a pool of 100 possible civics questions.

• You must answer 6 out of 10 correctly to pass.

• Topics include U.S. history, government structure, and basic rights and responsibilities.

And if you need help with the US Naturalization process, make sure to check out the services we provide including live mock interviews, phone and email consultations, citizenship courses.

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