USCIS reports field test results on
new citizenship test format
In the spring of 2003, USCIS conducted a field
test of the English language portion of a new standardized citizenship
test. While many applicants had no trouble with the new test, approximately
10% (of individuals who has already passed the current test) were unable
to pass the field test version. [This has raised concerns among educators
and immigration advocates because it is this same 10%, we suspect, who
make up most of the students enrolled in citizenship preparation classes
today. Immigration insists that its intention is not to "raise
the bar" and is consulting with immigrant educators and advocates
to refine the test to try to ensure that it will not negatively impact
any particular group of immigrants.-LW]
USCIS
summary of phase I field test results