The Washington Post even made a game of it, publishing a 10-question sample quiz drawn from the federal government’s newly revised civics exam and inviting readers to see how they fare — a stunt that invited exactly the panicked headlines the Left loves. Glenn Beck’s segment, where he takes the sample questions himself, simply underlines what Americans already know: citizenship should mean more than ticking boxes on a political loyalty test.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officially rolled out the new exam for applicants on or after October 20, 2025, changing the format to 20 questions chosen from a larger pool and raising the pass metric to 12 correct answers. The pool of potential questions expanded and many items now demand longer, fuller answers with a stronger emphasis on American history and civic understanding.
Good. We should want a tougher exam that measures whether prospective citizens actually understand what it means to be American, not whether they can parrot trivia that panders to cable news. The revised test sensibly shifts away from trivial geography items toward questions that probe history and principles — the things that bind a nation together.
Let’s not pretend the establishment press is neutrally alarmed; they package this as a crisis because they’d rather voters feel guilty than proud to require seriousness about joining our republic. The real outrage would be to demand open borders and then balk when newcomers are asked to learn the language, the history, and the duties that come with citizenship.
There are practical concerns worth watching: longer and more demanding interviews will take more time per applicant and could slow processing unless USCIS gets the resources and discipline to handle the workload. Experts and service groups warned that doubling the depth of the exam without matching capacity will mean fewer tests processed, not a lower bar for America.
At the end of the day, hardworking Americans want assimilation, not excuses. If you love this country, you teach its story, its laws, and its responsibilities — and you expect those who choose to become Americans to learn them. If the new test forces people to study, to speak up, and to commit to our Constitution instead of cheap symbolism, then conservative patriots should applaud, demand fairness in administration, and make sure the system works.
