New N-400 Naturalization Test
In the interest of creating a more standardized, fair, and meaningful naturalization process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently completed a multi-year redesign of the naturalization test. The major aim of the redesign process is to ensure that naturalization applicants have uniform, consistent testing experiences nationwide, and that the civics test can effectively assess whether applicants have a meaningful understanding of U.S. government and history.
The resulting redesigned test was publicly introduced on September 27, 2007. Naturalization applicants will begin taking the revised test on October 1, 2008. The following guidelines will determine whether naturalization applicants will take the current test or the redesigned version:
If an applicant:
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Applies BEFORE October 1, 2008 and is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview BEFORE October 1, 2008, he or she will take the current test.
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Applies BEFORE October 1, 2008 and is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview AFTER October 1, 2008, he or she can choose to take the current test or the redesigned version.
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Applies AFTER October 1, 2008, he or she will take the redesigned version.
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Is scheduled for his or her naturalization interview AFTER October 1, 2009, regardless of when he or she applied, he or she will take the redesigned version.
New Naturalization Test Materials
Redesigned Naturalization Test: Civics (History and Government) Items
Redesigned Naturalization Test: Vocabulary List for the Reading Test
Redesigned Naturalization Test: Vocabulary List for the Writing Test
Redesigned Naturalization Test Informational Brochure
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Redesigned Naturalization Test
Naturalization Test Redesign Project: Civics Item Selection Analysis
Scoring Guidelines for the English Portion of the Naturalization Test
Return to N-400 Naturalization Process Page