The speaking test is administered to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to communicate in English. An USCIS officer tests the ability of the applicant to speak and understand English based on the his/her ability to respond to questions normally asked in the course of the naturalization examination. The officer’s questions usually relate to questions provided in the naturalization application. The officer should repeat and rephrase questions during the naturalization examination until the officer is satisfied that the citizenship applicant either understands the questions or does not understand English.

Informational Video 100 Test questions for 2016 U.S.Citizenshininterview

The reading test is administered to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to reading in the English language. A person applying for US citizenship must read one sentence out of three sentences. The reading test is administered by an immigration officer using standardized reading test forms. The sentences are simple and always contain easy to understand English words.

The writing test is administered to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to write in the English language. The applicant will be asked to write one sentence out of three sentences in a manner that the USCIS officer would understand. The officer dictates the sentence to the applicant using standardized writing test forms. An applicant must not abbreviate any of the words. An applicant does not fail the writing test because of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors, unless the officer is unable to understand the sentence.

The civics test is administered to demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of U.S. civics. To demonstrate this, the applicant must answer correctly at least six of ten questions from the standardized civics test form administered by an officer. You can practice a sample citizenship test questions at https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/teachers/educational-products/100-civics-questions-and-answers-mp3-audio-english-version. The officer administers the test orally.

All officers administering the English and civics tests are required to record the test results in the applicant’s A-file. Officers are required to complete and provide to each applicant at the end of the naturalization examination the results of the examination and testing, unless the officer serves the applicant with a denial notice at that time.

Congress enacted legislation making the English test and the civics test not a requirement for certain categories of people.

1. The first category of people is those with medical disabilities. The applicant must demonstrate physical or developmental disability or mental impairment certified by either a medical doctor, a doctor of Osteopathy, or a clinical psychologists. One of these professionals will have to fill out Form N-648 that will be shown to the USCIS officer.
2. The second category of people is those who are at least 50 year old and resided in the U.S. as an LPR for at least 20 years at time of filing or 55 years old and resided in the U.S. as an LPR for at least 15 years. This category does not have to prove their knowledge and understanding of the English language. They do, however, have to pass civics test in the language of choice with the use of an interpreter.
3. The third category is the applicant who is 65 years of age or older and has been living in the United States for periods totaling at least 20 years subsequent to a lawful admission for permanent residence. This applicant gets a special consideration for the civics test. The applicant should study only 20 simplified questions with asterisks and not the full 100 civics questions from the list linked above.

Hopefully you will pass all the citizenship tests and be allowed to be sworn in as a U.S. citizen. However if an applicant fails any portion of any test, or even all the tests, USCIS will reschedule the applicant to appear for a second examination between 60 and 90 days after the initial examination. In cases where the applicant appears for a re-examination, the reexamining officer must not administer the same English or civics test forms administered during the initial examination. The officer must only retest the applicant in those areas that the applicant previously failed. If the applicant is not able to pass all the tests during the second appointment, the application is denied based on the educational requirements for naturalization.

My hope is that this article clears up the testing process and answers all of your questions about how the government administers the naturalization tests. I recommend taking this information to prepare for your citizenship test and to pass with high marks. Good luck!