USCIS Announces More Difficult US Citizenship Test in 2025
Posted on 09/18/25 at 12:31
- Harder US citizenship test in 2025
- Questions increase to 128
- Stricter and progressive changes
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that the citizenship test will become more challenging starting in 2025.
The agency announced the rollout of the Naturalization Civics Test 2025, designed to evaluate applicants’ understanding of US history and government.
This is a revised version of the 2020 test, implemented during Donald Trump’s first term and later suspended under President Joe Biden.
Changes to the Citizenship Test
More questions ahead: USCIS announces first changes to the citizenship test https://t.co/zH66dVTm3k
— Telemundo San Diego (@Telemundo20) September 17, 2025
USCIS explained that foreign nationals seeking citizenship must demonstrate the ability to write, speak in English, and understand US civics and government.
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Matthew Tragesser, USCIS spokesperson, emphasized that US citizenship is “the most sacred in the world” and should only be granted to those who fully embrace the country’s values and principles.
What Changes in 2025
The number of civics questions will rise from 100 to 128, and some have been rewritten to be more complex and less straightforward, according to Telemundo.
During the interview, the immigration officer will continue asking questions until the applicant answers 12 correctly or misses 9 — a change from earlier formats.
Additionally, some questions will require longer, more detailed responses, raising the difficulty level of the test.
While based on the 2020 test, which had already increased difficulty compared to the 2008 version, the 2025 format seeks to strengthen applicants’ civic preparation.
Between 2021 and 2025, the easier 2008 version had been reinstated under the Biden administration to facilitate naturalization.
Next Steps and New Measures
USCIS announced that these changes are only the first phase of a broader plan to make the US citizenship test 2025 more demanding.
In the coming weeks and months, the agency plans to introduce additional measures, including evaluating applicants’ “good moral character” and reinstating community monitoring practices, such as interviews with neighbors and coworkers.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow recently argued that the current test is “too easy” and confirmed that further changes are under consideration — potentially raising the minimum passing score and adding a written essay requirement.
These modifications aim to ensure that new US citizens have a deeper knowledge of the nation’s government and history, as well as a genuine commitment to American values.
