As an immigrant hopeful, when you are required to appear for your naturalization interview you will be asked questions about your background and other relevant details.
What’s important is the fact that you will be asked to take the English and Civics tests; only if you have applied for either an exemption or waiver will you be not asked to appear for the test.
WHAT CONSTITUTES THE ENGLISH TEST
The English test has 3 major components:
•Reading test
•Writing test
•Speaking test.
Reading Test
You will be asked to read aloud 1 out of 3 sentences correctly – this is done to test your ability to read in English. A Reading Test Vocabulary list will help you in this endeavour. Words in this list are associated with people, Civics, places in America, question words like who, why, where etc. and other functional verbs and phrases.
Writing Test
In the writing test you will be asked to write 1 out of 2 sentences correctly, as a mode to test your ability to write cogent sentences. The Writing Test Vocabulary list will help you study for this portion of the exam. Text in the list mainly pertains to Civics and English topics. Names of months and holidays, verbs, important places and people, apart from other content is covered in this test.
Speaking Test
Your capacity to speak correct English will be examined by a USCIS officer when you are called for your eligibility interview, on a form called N-400, or the Application Form for Naturalization.
WHAT CONSTITUTES THE CIVICS TEST
This test deals with American Civic questions. There are a set of 100 civics questions on the test, and during the interview you will be examined on the basis of being asked up to 10 questions from the list.
In order to pass the test you must correctly answer 6 out of the 10 questions asked by the officer. You should have a fair knowledge of current affairs; read up the questions from the list thoroughly, along with their answers, as there is a method of random questioning you could be asked any question.
WHAT THE TEST COMPRISES:
The broad topics covered in this test have to do with:
A) Principles of American Democracy, I.e – the American Constitution, its amendments, the Declaration of Independence.
B) System of Government, I.e – the parts of the US Congress, number of US senators, judicial topics, capitals of states in America etc.
C) Citizen rights and responsibilities, I.e – voting rights, Pledge of Allegiance, voting age, ways in which Americans can participate in the country’s democracy, etc.
D) American History, I.e – Colonial Period and Independence, the 1800s’, recent American History and other important historical information, symbols, holidays etc.
For every application there are two opportunities to appear for the English test and Civics tests. In your first interview, if you fail in any portion you are given the chance to be re-examined on that portion of the test, provided you take the test between 60 and 90 days from the date of your first interview.