A Quick Outline to the U.S. Naturalization Exam and How to Ace It.
By John Galindo
Becoming a United States citizen is a milestone that over 625,000 individuals achieved in 2020 despite a global pandemic. Over the last decade, the United States has embraced 7.3 million naturalized citizens into the nation. That is an average of almost 730,000 citizens a year!
With so many people applying to become U.S. citizens each year, it’s an obligation of ours at Tutoria to provide as much context and insight to help our ESL learners achieve naturalization.
In this article, we’ll explore how students can prepare for the two-part citizenship exam and learn what resources are at your disposal.
The Facts
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services, the top five countries of birth for people applying to become U.S. citizens were Mexico, India, the Philippines, Cuba, and China. Together, these counties accounted for 35% of naturalized citizens in 2020. Of all of those seeking citizenship, the top 10 states that accounted for 71% of all applicants were California, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois, Georgia, and Virginia. Cities like Houston, Miami, Brooklyn, Las Vegas, and the Bronx have seen a positive uptick in immigration populations ranging from 1.2 to 2.8%.
So what does this all mean? Well, a couple of things.
With Mexico leading with 13.3% of people applying for citizenship in 2020, and no sign of slowing, we can expect the demand for bilingual tutors to remain important heading into 2022. In fact, at Tutoria a majority of our clients are Spanish speakers seeking English language tutors. Some of our clients are hoping to pass the Naturalization exam. Others have their eye on landing a new job or mastering another language. No matter the objective, having a tutor on your side who supports your goals can pave the way for success.
Benefits of Passing the Naturalization Exam
So, why would someone want to go through the process to become a U.S. citizen? Well, some of the perks of obtaining American citizenship include the ability to:
- Vote
- Serve on a Jury
- Travel with a U.S. passport
- Bring family members to the U.S.
- Obtain citizenship for children under 18 years of age
- Apply for federal jobs
- Work as an elected official
- Keep your residency
- Become eligible for grants and scholarships
- Obtain government benefits
Also, as a U.S. citizen, you receive citizens’ rights like freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial. Going through the citizenship exam is well worth it!
Eligibility
Anyone considering applying for citizenship must be eligible. That’s right, you must meet specific qualifications to apply for citizenship.
Some of those qualifications include:
- Being at least 18 years of age when applying.
- Having been a lawful permanent resident of the United States in the last 3–5 years.
- Being able to read, write, and speak in English.
- Being willing to take an Oath of Allegiance.
For a comprehensive list, you can click here.
Next, applicants will need to complete form N-400. Applicants can choose to file online or by mail depending on their preference. For more information about how to submit form N-400, you can click here.
Citizenship Exam
The U.S. Naturalization exam is a two-part assessment. The English portion tests an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak in English. The second part, the Civics exam, covers topics like American history and government. Most applicants are required to take both, but there are some exceptions (we will cover those later).
English Test
For the English test, applicants must demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak in English. To receive a passing score, applicants must meet three requirements:
- Read one sentence, out of three, demonstrating understanding.
- Write one sentence, out of three, in a manner that conveys competency.
- Be able to communicate in English with the USCIS officer.
To clarify, the speaking section of the test circles around the individual's ability to communicate with the USCIS throughout the entire testing process. If the testing officer believes an individual is unable to understand any questions being asked, that individual may fail. If you fail the speaking portion, you’re required to complete the writing, reading, and civics test unless you choose to withdraw.
While disheartening, passing someone who clearly does not understand English can lead to future problems. But don’t worry, applicants who did not pass can always come back and retake the test at a later time.
There are some exemptions for parts of the U.S. citizenship test. For example, you may be exempted from taking the English test if:
- You are 50 years of age or older, and have lived as a permanent resident in the United States for 20 years.
- You are at least 55 years old and have lived as a permanent resident in the United States for 15 years.
Civics Test
The civics exam is an oral exam testing applicants’ knowledge of American history and government. At the time of writing this, test takers have the option to take the 2008 version or the more recently revised 2020 test.
2008 Version
- To pass the 2008 test, applicants must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly.
- An applicant automatically fails if they incorrectly answer or fail to respond to five out of 20 questions.
2020 Version
- To pass the 2020 test, applicants must answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly.
- An applicant automatically fails if they answer incorrectly or fail to respond to nine out of 20 questions.
How to Prepare
Preparing for the Naturalization exam is less scary than you think. Online resources and good study habits can help increase your chances of passing!
Flashcards
Flashcards have helped millions of people worldwide ace tests by improving their information retrieval. The best part? You can study anywhere without lugging around a bulky laptop or textbook.
Make a list of all the definitions, sentences, prompts, and dates you need to know and transfer them to flashcards. In the beginning, be sure to keep separate stacks for each topic to avoid confusion. Over time, you can start testing yourself on more than one topic at one once.
Practice Tests
The USCIS has both the 2008 and 2020 versions of the Civic test online for free.
Depending on which test you decide to take, be sure to review every question type you may receive. Remember, the Civic tests won’t be a written test.
Some types of questions you can expect to answer include:
- “What is the form of government of the United States?”
- “What is the supreme law of the land?”
- “What is the rule of the law?”
Get a Tutor
A tutor can help you study for the naturalization test and provide support while you prepare. Luckily, you don’t need to pay for expensive tutors!
Tutoria pairs clients with volunteer English tutors for anyone interested in preparing for the naturalization test or English test. Signing up is easy:
- Clients post what they need help with
- Volunteer tutors post what they can help with
- Clients contact volunteers matching their needs and availability
90% of people who take the naturalization test pass on their first attempt. With daily studying and weekly reviews, achieving naturalization is possible!
