Raising the Bar: New U.S. Citizenship Test Brings Tougher Requirements in 2025

Starting in October 2025, immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship will face a more demanding civics test with expanded content and stricter requirements. The updated exam increases the pool of possible civics questions from 100 to 128, and applicants will be asked up to 20 randomly selected questions instead of 10. To pass, they must correctly answer at least 12, doubling the number required under the previous version. Although the passing threshold remains 60 percent, critics warn that doubling the number of questions could heighten test anxiety and failure rates. Immigration advocates argue that the change feels less about strengthening civic knowledge and more about raising barriers to naturalization. The test will continue to be administered orally by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, who may stop once it is clear whether the applicant has passed or failed. Certain permanent residents aged 65 and older, with at least 20 years in the United States, will still be eligible for a shorter version of the test.