Studying for the citizenship test: our ten week plan

Our Saturday class has helped many neighbors prepare for their citizenship interview, and the secret is not cramming. It is a little practice on most days, for ten weeks. Here is the plan we use, which you can follow at home or with us.

What the interview includes

At your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer goes over your application with you, tests your English (reading, writing and speaking) and asks you civics questions about United States history and government. The officer judges your speaking from the conversation itself. USCIS publishes the official civics questions and answers, and the version you study depends on the date you filed, so check which one applies to you before you start.

Our ten week plan

• Weeks 1 and 2: Read your whole application again, and practice answering questions about it in English, out loud.

• Weeks 3 to 6: Learn the civics questions, five to ten a day. Say the answers aloud and test yourself with flash cards.

• Weeks 7 and 8: Practice reading and writing sentences that use the words on the official USCIS vocabulary lists.

• Week 9: Sit a practice interview with a volunteer, from the greeting to the final questions.

• Week 10: Review the questions you find hardest, gather your documents and plan your trip to the interview.

If you do not pass the first time

It happens, and it is not the end. If you do not pass a part of the test, USCIS gives you a second chance to retake that part, usually within 60 to 90 days. Our class keeps a seat for you, and our first Saturday citizenship clinic can also help with your application before you file.