#20 of the more difficult US Citizenship Test questions

09 July 2007

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The United States is in the process of changing the citizenship and naturalization test. The goal is to make the questions reflect more closely information about the U.S. that will actually be useful for new citizens to know.

Currently the test is itself "in testing," being available to potential citizens who volunteer to take it. If they fail, they are allowed to re-take the original test. Sometime during 2008 the new test will become the official one, after it is adjusted from the information during the current pilot program.

Potential new U.S. citizens have a 100 question guide to study from, and they will need to answer 20 written questions in multiple-answer format.

New citizens will also have to take an oral examination ("the naturalization interview"), during which immigration officials can ask any one of the 100 questions. The interviewee will not be given answers to choose from; he (or she) will have to answer from memory.

Also, during the interview, the interviewer is allowed to ask similar questions that may not be exactly like the ones from the study guide. One of the goals of the interview is to determine if the new citizen has a clear knowledge of the English language.

Below are 20 of the more difficult questions with sample answers that an immigrant may expect to choose from on the written test today.

We will publish the answers early next week. according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Good Luck!

1. How many stripes are there on the U.S. flag?

2. Who is the chief justice of the Supreme Court today?