A Federal Register notice published on 30 December 2024 ended the trial of a redesigned naturalisation test that USCIS had announced two years earlier. USCIS said it would no longer pursue the trial, and the decision took effect immediately.
Key facts
- What Redesign trial terminated
- When 30 December 2024, with immediate effect
- Comments More than 1,300, mostly opposed
- Test in use 2008 English and civics tests
What had been proposed
The redesign had two parts. The first was a standard English speaking test in which applicants would describe photographs of everyday scenes, replacing the current approach where the officer judges speaking during the interview. The second was a civics test with updated content in a multiple-choice format shown on a tablet, instead of oral questions and answers. Reading and writing were never part of the trial.
Why it ended
USCIS held public engagements in January, March, April and May 2023 and a webinar with the CIS Ombudsman in July 2023, and received more than 1,300 comments. Most were against the changes. Critics said the photo task would add a new exam and a new barrier, and that multiple-choice civics would demand stronger reading and test-taking skills than the oral format. Some commenters supported the ideas as fairer for lower-level learners. USCIS concluded that the trial could add to applicants’ burden and stopped it.
The notice confirmed that USCIS would keep using the 2008 versions of the English and civics tests. It did not set out any future redesign plans. In September 2025 USCIS later announced a different change, bringing back the 2020 civics test for new filers.
What this means
There is no photo description task in the US citizenship interview, and civics remains an oral test. Prepare for speaking by practising clear answers about your own N-400 application, since that is how the officer assesses spoken English. For civics, follow the list that matches your filing date, as explained on the USCIS interview and test page.