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Takers must now double the minimum requirement and get 12 answers correct to pass the test, which now has a maximum of 20 questions.
WASHINGTON — Part of the test to become a naturalized United States citizen is now more difficult after President Donald Trump’s administration announced changes Monday.
The oral test, issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is now double its previous versions. The Naturalization Civics Test previously had 10 questions with a requirement of getting six correct answers.
Takers now must double that minimum requirement and get 12 answers correct to pass the test, which now has a maximum 20 questions on it.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said this change is to help “ensure proper assimilation of lawful immigrants into the United States and promote a unified American identity and attachment to the Constitution, laws and founding principles of the United States.”
The change went into effect immediately for those who filed for naturalization on or after Oct. 20.
The test will stop immediately once a taker gets 12 questions correct or answers 9 incorrectly.
Questions are randomly selected from the new total of 128, up from 100. They cover a variety of subjects, from listing the original 13 colonies to who makes federal laws, to specifics about the Constitution, to naming federal holidays and more. See 100 examples before the change here.
The Citizenship Test Working Group and more than 120 national, state and local organizations submitted a letter encouraging the changes to be delayed since they could pose “significant challenges” for people.
“The administration has not presented substantial evidence that the changes are necessary to protect the integrity of the naturalization process, which it cites as a basis for justifying this shift,” the letter reads.
Trump administration officials previously expressed they thought the test was “too easy” and needed a change.
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