The U.S. naturalization test assesses your familiarity with the country’s language and basic history. If you are an immigrant in Kentucky seeking legal citizenship of the United States, this test will most likely be part of your naturalization process. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, there are a few potential cases in which you do not have to take the test, such as certain medical conditions. Another case in which you could opt out of part or all of the test is if you are over a specified age and have been a resident of the United States for at least 20 years. You may have up to two opportunities to pass.
The portion of the test which covers the country’s history and government is taken orally. An officer asks up to ten questions, and you must answer six questions correctly in order to pass. The content of the test may include general facts about the country’s history and geography, as well as basic facets of the government’s structure.
The English portion tests your ability to understand, speak, read and write the language. An officer may ask you questions about your application, and you should be able to answer intelligibly. For the writing portion, you must be able to write down at least one out of three sentences that an officer dictates to you aloud. The reading portion also includes three sentences. You must be able to correctly read at least one of the three without omitting or mistaking a content word. For each part of the test, you may make minor mistakes in grammar or pronunciation, but the meaning of the sentences must be clear. This information is provided for information purposes only, and should not be interpreted as legal advice.