Would you pass the new naturalization test?

[TravelingGal]

I''ve lived here all my life, but only became a citizen about 12 years ago. At the time, I recall having to study for the test, even after all those history classes in school.

The new test is supposed to be a bit harder, and for grins you can see if you know enough to become a citizen. Sample test is at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21019797/.

I missed 2 for 92%...Phew! I passed! (BTW, you only need a 60% to pass and become a citizen...a D. Tough standards we have...

)

 

[musey]

Oh goodness, I only got a 76%! But at least for all the questions I got wrong, I didn''t think I had the right answer

I know PLENTY of natural-born citizens that wouldn''t get a 60% on that thing.

 

[robbie3982]

I missed 7...woops! I''d pass, but I think I need a history review

 

[onedrop]

I got a 92% but I was a poli sci/govt major in college. Nonetheless I struggled to come up with some of the answers.

 

[Delster]

Non-Americans here - I got 76%, BF got 56%! Looks like I'm in and he's not?

Then again, he was just larking around doing the quiz, whereas I was actually thinking... hmmm...

I missed seven questions but in fairness one of those was the tax one!

 

[MustangGal]

I got 84%, it''s been a while since history class, but I''m sure I would have gotten them all right when I was taking Government in high school. They really were that tough.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

I got a 76%

(runs off to study U.S. history)

 

[strmrdr]

96
had a brain fart on how many years a senator is elected for.

 

[FireGoddess]

84% - not bad considering I always hated history class.

 

[Kaleigh]

I got 88%. Guess I knew more than I thought. A couple things I missed really surprised me.

 

[Kay]

I got 96%, but it probably helps that I was a poli sci major undergrad and studied law. I couldn''t remember how many amendments there are to the Constitution.

 

[decodelighted]

Yanno ... if someone made a Life Science test you had to pass to live on THIS EARTH ... I bet there''d be a long line at the "Jet-Propel-You-Into-The-Ether-Now" FAILURE Station.

 

[cara]

100%, but the multiple choice format helped on a number of questions. I''m kind of disappointed cause there was some spin out that the new test was going to ask bigger-picture questions that are more important for citizens to know instead of the standard detail-dribble of presidental birthdays and whatnot.

While there were some government questions that seem relatively important for citizens to know (assuming you want them to know how government works), the history questions were pretty useless.

Who really needs to remember that the Constitution was written in 1780-something and not 1776, when we declared independence?

Do we really need to remember Wilson was president during WWI, or that the Louisiana purchase was made in 1803 from France?

There aren''t any questions about historical issues or important civil themes, ie. no slavery/Civil War questions, or questions about where/what side we fought for in the world wars, what grievances were listed in the Declaration of Independence, or questions on what rights exactly are promised in the Bill of Rights.

Its kind of disturbing that the test-writers place more value on knowing when each president served and what other things the presidents had accomplished than what exactly is promised in the Bill of Rights or what issues led to the Civil War.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 10/1/2007 4:01:44 PM
Author: cara
100%, but the multiple choice format helped on a number of questions. I''m kind of disappointed cause there was some spin out that the new test was going to ask bigger-picture questions that are more important for citizens to know instead of the standard detail-dribble of presidental birthdays and whatnot.

While there were some government questions that seem relatively important for citizens to know (assuming you want them to know how government works), the history questions were pretty useless.

Who really needs to remember that the Constitution was written in 1780-something and not 1776, when we declared independence?

Do we really need to remember Wilson was president during WWI, or that the Louisiana purchase was made in 1803 from France?

There aren''t any questions about historical issues or important civil themes, ie. no slavery/Civil War questions, or questions about where/what side we fought for in the world wars, what grievances were listed in the Declaration of Independence, or questions on what rights exactly are promised in the Bill of Rights.

Its kind of disturbing that the test-writers place more value on knowing when each president served and what other things the presidents had accomplished than what exactly is promised in the Bill of Rights or what issues led to the Civil War.

Yes, I was surprised at these questions after reading all the press about how the new questions would require some "thought".

The citizenship test is a joke. Just my opinion as I have taken it, and guided my mother and father through it with their not-so-hot English. TGuy will also be going through the process in about 2 years. IMHO, they should just sit you down, speak to you in English and see if you can converse back. OK, ok, I realize that is a terrible idea (and pretty darn subjective). But it blows my mind that you can still opt to take the citizenship test in SPANISH if you are over 50 and have been here 20 years. Huh? They''re rewarding you for not bothering to learn English in the 20 years that you were here? My parents were here for 25 years when they took the test and were both over 50, and I don''t believe there was an option to take it in Korean.

OK, off my hot seat now.

And Deco, you''re right...I''d probably fail that test...

 

[robbie3982]

Cara, there''s a link to an article at the end of the test that says changes are coming in a year.

 

[somethingshiny]

I missed 2! Who was president during WW1 and What year was the Constitution written. What a shame for my 5th grade history teacher!!

 

[somethingshiny]

I realize this test is a bit of a joke, but, did other USians have to take a Constitution test to get out of High School? We had to know the entire preamble (including punctuation), overview of each article, and know the Bill of Rights. We also had to know who and where a lot of it took place. (Although, I obviously didn''t learn it enough to stick!)

 

[Gypsy]

96%. I forgot the # of Amendments we had.

Terrible!

 

[Clio]

I got 100% (but I have a ph.d. in US history - I''d have been pretty worried if I hadn''t gotten them all right)

 

[snlee]

I missed 6 for a 76%. I''ve never been good at history.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/1/2007 4:20:25 PM
Author: somethingshiny
I realize this test is a bit of a joke, but, did other USians have to take a Constitution test to get out of High School? We had to know the entire preamble (including punctuation), overview of each article, and know the Bill of Rights. We also had to know who and where a lot of it took place. (Although, I obviously didn''t learn it enough to stick!)

yep we did actually its the same test as talked about in the article.
pass/fail 60% or better.
Still a requirement today, didn''t have to pass the class but had to pass the test.
I had a lot of fun in that class because the teacher was a flaming liberal and tried too slant everything and I didn''t let him get by with it.

The disagreement on the 2nd amendment went on for 3 days.
Day 1: Teacher: 2nd amendment is a state right to have a armed national guard, me: no it isn''t its an individual right just like the rest of them.
Then on the mid-term he didn''t have a right answer on the multiple choice question on the 2nd so he ended up not counting the question too shut me up.

I got an B in the class and a note saying I was the biggest pain in the butt he ever had to teach.
Was a lot of fun!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I''m not even going to post how poorly I did! It''s probably low enough to warrant deportation! (hopefully where ever I''m sent to has an easier naturalization test!

)

 

[Erin]

I see constitution I think 1776.
That''s just the year our country was born? Oh wait, Declaration of Independence, right?

 

[Stardust]

I''d likely do poorly...just as poorly as DH is doing answering the British citizenship questions while I''m flying through them. I''m studying for my British citizenship test right now - wish me luck

 

[isaku5]

Date: 10/1/2007 2:47:03 PM
Author: DivaDiamond007
I got a 76%

(runs off to study U.S. history)

I got 76% too and I''m Canadian. Does that mean I can apply for dual citizenship???

 

[cara]

Right, declare independence in 1776, operate under the Articles of Confederation for some number of years, then the (more Federalist) Constitution was written in 1787 to fix problems of governance under the Articles.

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 10/1/2007 2:54:58 PM
Author: strmrdr
96
had a brain fart on how many years a senator is elected for.

HI:

Me too; actually I had no idea.....got the last one wrong too about Supreme court...but not bad for an ally.......

, eh?

cheers--Sharon

 

[diamondseeker2006]

92%, but I would have had to guess on a couple that were mentioned on this thread such as the year the Constitution was written.

 

[diamondringlover]

I did very poorly

but I also graduated from high school almost 30 years ago, heck I am lucky I remember what I have for breakfast

 

[monarch64]

92% also...I was ticked because I was reasoning to myself over the year the Constitution was written, knowing that 1776 was the year we became a country and thinking that it took some time after that to get the Constitution together (although it was written in a very short time from what I recall)..but I ended up picking 1776 anyway, argh. The other one I got wrong was how long a state rep''s term is. Oh, and I had to guess on the ones regarding which pres was in office during WW1 and which war Eisenhower was in. Sheesh. I always liked history, but I liked the actual stories better than memorizing dates and names.