U.S. citizenship test gets tougher under new rule triggering earlier test stops and more questions

25 October 2025

An American flag.  Al Messerschmidt/Getty

The path to U.S. citizenship has just become significantly more demanding for those applying as of October 20, 2025, following major changes introduced by Donald Trump’s administration through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Under the updated naturalisation civics test, applicants must now answer 20 questions instead of the previous 10, and must get at least 12 correct to pass, rather than the earlier threshold of six. The pool of possible questions has been expanded from 100 to 128, covering U.S. history, government structure, key national holidays and deeper civic concepts.

Perhaps the most significant procedural change is the new “stop-rule.” Interviewers will terminate the civics portion of the test when an applicant either reaches 12 correct answers (and thus has passed) or accumulates 9 incorrect answers (and thus cannot pass). This effectively means some applicants will see their interview end earlier than under the previous format.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the change reflects the view that the previous test was “too easy” and that applicants should demonstrate a deeper understanding of the meaning of U.S. citizenship.

The new rules apply to those who filed their naturalisation applications on or after October 20, 2025. Applicants who filed before that date will continue under the 2008 version of the civics test. There is a partial exemption: applicants who are age 65 or older and have been lawful permanent residents for at least 20 years may take a simplified 10-question version drawn from a smaller question bank.

Immigration advocates, civil-rights groups and community organisations have raised concerns that these changes may disproportionately affect applicants with limited English proficiency, fewer resources to prepare, or who are older and balancing multiple responsibilities. They argue that the increased difficulty, and the built-in early termination rule, may raise barriers to citizenship for already vulnerable groups.

From a broader policy lens the shift underscores how naturalisation requirements are reflecting a tougher stance on legal immigration and assimilation under the Trump administration. By raising the bar, the government signals that citizenship is not just a legal status but tied to a higher expectation of civic knowledge and commitment.

For applicants the implications are real: preparation time is likely to increase, study materials more essential, and nerves less forgivable. The option of having the interview cut short means fewer chances to recover in the event of early mistakes. In practical terms this may influence when applicants choose to file, how they prepare and whether they would benefit from additional resources.

At the same time, the move reinforces that applying for U.S. citizenship remains a serious decision. Beyond learning facts about the government or history, the test is positioning citizenship as a more visible threshold of civic responsibility. For some immigrants, this may be a motivator to invest in study and instruction but for others, the elevated difficulty may cause hesitation or re-evaluation of timing.

As these updated rules take effect, it remains to be seen how many applicants will be impacted and whether USCIS will track pass-rates, demographic shifts or notice unintended consequences. The administration frames the change as raising standards, but critics will watch for whether the effect is greater exclusion rather than deeper engagement.

Ultimately the new citizenship test rules mark a clear pivot: applicants must now navigate a longer question set, meet a higher passing score, and be prepared for the exam to end quickly. What was once considered a manageable step in the path to citizenship has become a test of preparation, resilience and readiness in a changed landscape.