For those who are unaware, “naturalization” is the process by which individuals born outside the United States become U.S. Citizens. In order to be eligible for naturalization, applicants must be a Lawful Permanent Resident (also know as a “green card” holder) for five years prior to application (only 3 years in certain cases).

In addition to other various procedural and eligibility requirements, applicants for naturalization must be of good moral character and pass the naturalization test, which tests the applicants’ grasp of the English language and civics. Certain exceptions to the mandatory testing requirement exist for older applicants in special circumstances.

According to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the redesigned naturalization test is intended to ensure that citizenship applicants have uniform, consistent testing experiences nationwide and that the civics portion can effectively assess whether applicants have a meaningful understanding of U.S. government and history.