Is the Naturalization (citizenship) test too hard? (1 Viewer)

[radcen]

Is the Naturalization (citizenship) test too hard?

:soap

I am currently taking an online Intro to Sociology course at the local community college. There are weekly discussion board assignments with different discussion topics each week. This week's topic is immigration. As a response to a point in my initial post in the discussion, the instructor mentioned*** that she used to give sample tests to her students and that most of the students failed the test. As a result of this, a great many of the the current students* talk about how we essentially should let everyone in and forget about the test because the "test is too hard, Americans can't even pass it". I'm sorry, but... :doh

Here are sample questions for the test: Questions and Answers for New Naturalization Test

Too hard? This is extremely basic stuff. Stuff that everybody should have at least a basic knowledge. Plus, you only need to get 60%, essentially a 'D' in school grading terms, correct. Too hard? Seems to me the test is just fine. Seems to me that the fact that so many Americans cannot pass it is more an indictment on Americans and how... well, lazy and/or apathetic and/or indifferent... they/we are. You could even make a case that it shows that we might have it "too easy" if we can't even be bothered to know who the current Vice-President is (question #29 in the link), or name 3 of the original 13 states (question #64).

I'm getting angry just writing this question. :2mad:

Personally, I would say the test is just right. It's basic stuff, stuff that everybody should know, and you're not even expected to 'ace it'. It almost makes me think that even people born here should have to take it before they get the benefits of citizenship**. All that is expected is that a new citizen have a basic knowledge of the society and system they will be living under. That's is NOT an unreasonable expectation.

Check out the sample questions. What do you think? Please note that this thread is about whether or not the current naturalization test is too hard, not about immigration in general and/or other immigration policies. We have other threads for those questions.

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*- In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that I am middle-aged and the vast majority of the other students are in the 18-21 age range. In most classes I take age doesn't seem to be a factor, but in this class I have noticed a drastic difference in opinions and conclusions, and I think age (and/or life experience) is a factor.

**- Not really, that was my frustration talking, but still...

***- Please note that the instructor did not say she thought the test was too hard, she just mentioned that so many students failed. It is other current student who have expanded that thought and have said it is "too hard".

 

[mike2810]

No. Anyone interested in becoming a US citizen should have no problem passing the test.

on a side note. an interesting article "Citizenship Tests: A Comparative,
Communitarian Perspective"

http://www2.gwu.edu/~ccps/etzioni/documents/A377CitizenshipTest.pdf

 

[Kal'Stang]

I looked through the questions and I'll admit there were a few that I didn't know, but not many. I see nothing wrong with requireing that those that immigrate here know the answer to these questions. Especially since its not like they don't know what questions will be asked beforehand. You don't even need to study the history behind the answers to those questions. Just study the answers.

 

[radcen]

I looked through the questions and I'll admit there were a few that I didn't know, but not many. I see nothing wrong with requireing that those that immigrate here know the answer to these questions. Especially since its not like they don't know what questions will be asked beforehand. You don't even need to study the history behind the answers to those questions. Just study the answers.

Yep. I don't think I would have gotten 100% either, but I know damn well I could have easily scored 60%, which is the minimum.

 

[chris126]

If anything its to easy we should keep the uneducated and stupid out of this country.

 

[Goshin]

The test looks ok.

 

[Tythor Zeth]

I, as a Dutch citizen, had no problem answering well over 60% on that test you provided and I didn't even prepare myself so I guess the test is not too hard.

 

[Kal'Stang]

I, as a Dutch citizen, had no problem answering well over 60% on that test you provided and I didn't even prepare myself so I guess the test is not too hard.

I actually find it interesting to see someone that lives in another country that knows so much about my country without even studying up on it. I know that I couldn't do the same for ANY country in the world.

Is there a particular reason that you know so much or did you just learn this in school or through normal everyday interactions?

 

[Tythor Zeth]

I actually find it interesting to see someone that lives in another country that knows so much about my country without even studying up on it. I know that I couldn't do the same for ANY country in the world.

Is there a particular reason that you know so much or did you just learn this in school or through normal everyday interactions?

There are several reasons. The average quality of our education is higher than in the US which means that we get more and better education than the average American. Next to that, since after the Cold War, The United States has been the hegemonic hyper-power (hegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance in which the hegemon (leader state) rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force). This means that (for example) the history and geography of The United States has a high priority in schools of modern foreign countries like The Netherlands.
Another reason is television. A great majority of TV shows and movies that we watch here were created and located in The United States which means that getting to know your country is inevitable.

 

[longview]

No the test is not too hard!, if it looks hard to US college students,
that says much about our primary education system here.
Another thing to consider, is by the time a person is taking this test,
they have devoted "years" to becoming a Citizen.
It is the last step in a long journey, that they made a decision to undertake.

 

[radcen]

There are several reasons. The average quality of our education is higher than in the US which means that we get more and better education than the average American. Next to that, since after the Cold War, The United States has been the hegemonic hyper-power (hegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance in which the hegemon (leader state) rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force). This means that (for example) the history and geography of The United States has a high priority in schools of modern foreign countries like The Netherlands.
Another reason is television. A great majority of TV shows and movies that we watch here were created and located in The United States which means that getting to know your country is inevitable.

During my time in Germany (25+ years ago) I learned that the Germans I knew were, in general, better versed in a basic knowledge of the US than we were of their country and history and culture.

Being such an overwhelming history dork myself, I could probably take a similar test for a few select countries and probably do ok. Not sure if I'd pass, but if I didn't barely squeak by, I might score in the 40-50% range. Only a few countries, though, not any country.

 

[DrunkenAsparagus]

The problem is not the test. The problem is that the overall process is so long, convoluted, expensive and exclusionary that you inevitably leave out a lot of people.

 

[TheRedMenace]

The problem is not the test. The problem is that the overall process is so long, convoluted, expensive and exclusionary that you inevitably leave out a lot of people.

What's the problem with that? We already have way too many immigrants as it is, the process should be much more exclusionary than it is now.

 

[Tythor Zeth]

What's the problem with that? We already have way too many immigrants as it is, the process should be much more exclusionary than it is now.

It is quite hard to get a green card compared to other countries. I would not only have to serve your military but also lose my current nationality in the process. Or I would have to look for a company that specifically wants me instead of a US citizen, but hey, I would have to be pretty awesome for that to happen now wouldn't it

 

[wolfman24]

Hello

Actually the procedure for becoming a citizen now is much easier than it was 100+ years ago. the waiting period was longer and the test was harder. Not sure why it changed but it has.

Wolfman24

 

[Higgins86]

its not too hard and anyway given the $ you spend to get to that point I would think anyone taking the tests would be doing their homework!

 

[Rainman05]

I think its too easy.

 

[straykatz]

It should be easy for an American to answer these questions but that's not the case.....I agree with the poster who said earlier this is a reflection on this country's education system and not related to the immigration system

I've been on the receiving end of these questions looking across the desk at an immigration officer knowing my answers would either make or break my chance to become a citizen and that is harder than the questions themself because the nervousness along with the stress of passing can cause you to go blank on the answers even when you know the answers.....while the test questions and answers may not be hard...the whole process is not as easy as some think.

 

[AlbqOwl]

In a former career position I enjoyed the very high privilege of helping to teach English, Constitution, and American history to new immigrants preparing for citizenship. I can truthfully say that in five years of doing that, I did not deal with a single person, regardless of their country of origin, who was not eager to learn all they could about America, our laws, our government, and our perceptions of the American way. And when I was double blessed to attend the swearing in ceremony for these remarkable people, there was not a dry eye in the house. Certainly not theirs. Not mine. These people wanted to be Americans and not transplanted Chinese or Japanese or Mexican or Vietnamese or whatever their country of origin might be. And though they brought all the virtues and charm from their country of origin, they wanted to be fully assimilated into our unique American culture. And when they were, they enriched it with the best that they brought from their former country.

That is the way immigration should be. And it should be a huge stain of shame on us that we do not demand and encourage our children to know as much about our country and to appreciate it and care for it as much as those new naturalized citizens do. In my opinion nobody should make it out of highschool without being able to score 100% on that citizenship test.