This test reminded me of the ToEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), though-- most native English speakers I know will fail that test spectacularly, and I expect the average US citizen would score about 50% on this.
I actually teach people how to pass the TOEFL, and most native speakers of English would pass very easily. Are you sure you're talking about the TOEFL?
Perhaps it's changed in recent years. I taught TOEFL prep in Hong Kong from 2001-2002, and a large portion was focused on the technical terms for parts of speech and sentence composition. I administered the test to a group of ≈100 British expatriate form 5 students, and the average score was abysmal.
hm... yeah... that doesn't sound right at all. Either we're talking about completely different tests or it was in fact totally changed. The TOEFL tests your ability to effectively function in a college classroom in English- it measures your ability to understand English language (written and spoken) and communicate in a way that can be understood (through both writing and speaking). These are skills that basically every literate speaker of English has. There are no technical questions about English grammar, and in fact grammar is not even considered in the grading criteria unless yours is so bad that it renders your writing unintelligible.
I took the TOEFL in 2000 and it was basically questions about what you read, about what you heard, some vocabulary (like : should one use rising or raising in this sentence...) and a composition. The same thing with the Cambridge Test, the DELE and the DELF/DALF.
Also, I only missed Hamilton. When I retook the quiz and intentionally got only 50% of the answers right, it says that I scored in the 23rd percentile, so, I imagine that *most* Americans do better than 50%. The average score is 16 which is 67%, enough to pass the test barely.
Right, which is why I used words like "imagine" and "most" to make it clear this was just a guess. You might also want to consider the fact that we've got a large number of international visitors on the site, as well, probably bringing down the average.
Or increasing the scores. I have never been to the US and still got 17, and that was partially because I couldn't be bothered to think any more. I could have got more if I hadn't quit.
If non-Americans are so good at answering questions about America then why are they always complaining on quizzes that feature questions related to America that there is no Earthly way they could have possibly known the answers and demanding some sort of apology?
I also kept thinking freedom to assemble and tried different versions of assemble peacefully assemble, right to assemble, etc. I missed John Jay because I absolutely have no recollection of learning about him.
Which of them don't? Most seem pretty strongly correlated to appreciating American values actually, others are related to civic responsibility, and others are just basic U.S. history.
The one about who was president during WW1 is fairly obscure and is more general knowledge than demonstrating American-ness. As a life-time UK citizen, I'd have to look up who was the British Prime Minister for the same period (Asquith and Lloyd George - thank you Jetpunk).
That one I'd file under basic US history. It's definitely something Americans would learn as children in elementary school. It's not asking too much for naturalized citizens to have a similar level of knowledge. If they know Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Wilson, Eisenhower, Truman, Nixon, Kennedy, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Obama... that's pretty basic. Coolidge, Arthur, Taylor or Harrison.. that's more obscure.
Better than the one we have in Britain... "Do you know how to claim benefits?". "Are you aware of the European Human Rights Legislation to allow you to screw cash from the government" etc.
to be honest it looks much easier.... the questions seem more modern, with several obvious answers, and lots of questions about applying for citizenship ... 75% pass mark. No questions on points of law
I took the British one (Australian expat living in Britain) a couple of years ago. Some hard questions, some easy. Some totally irrelevant to everyday life (eg. 'What was the name of the common Iron Age dwelling?')
But there is Washington State and Washington D.C even I know that and I'm not American! Therefore people may be miss lead to thinking they are the same place
@BeccaScorer20 I agree with @kalbahamut. Also, Americans know the difference and don't often say the whole Washington, D.C. thing. That's like saying The People's Republic of China every time you want to speak about China. Yes, it's the complete and correct name, but colloquially our capital is just referred to as Washington or just D.C. Being from the Philadelphia area, I know we usually just refer to it as D.C.
Usually the two are said in a context that can easily be derived from the rest of the sentence. If not, I am more likely to assume it is the national capital. I usually say "Washington state" if there's any question. "My cousin lives in Washington" meaning D.C., versus "My cousin lives in Washington state." When in doubt, people can always ask which one is meant.
I got an 83% - not bad for my age! Shame on me though, I should've gotten them all right but the last one, considering this is exactly what we are studying in history now...
67% (if 60% is good enough for a pass, then I'm through!) -- executional? I knew it, but I didn't know the word for it. Same for the assembly one. On the other hand never heard of the Federalist Papers!
100% with 2:20 on the clock. USA here I come!! (UK national)
Actually the first time I did the test I had no idea about the authors of the Federalist papers. Still think "legislature" should be accepted, particularly if "judiciary" is allowed.
Because then you won't have to live the rest of your life wondering 'Am I going to be caught and thrown out?' I prefer legality. Of course, I have no worries. I'm American-born.
Record numbers of people have been deported by INS and the border patrol in the past decade, destroying lives, breaking up families, costing an enormous amount of money and resources... I guess there's that.
Only missed Senate, Wilson, and Madison. Totally blanked on them. Luckily, it's still 88%, so even if I DID have to take the test(which I don't, being born in the US has its advantages, like maybe being president, and not having to take citizenship tests), I would pass. The end.
I've been teaching American Government for 7 years. I give the full exam to my students on the first day of class, just so I can see how much they know coming into the class. To date, I've only had about 15 students pass it on the first go. :/
I got 22 and I have no intention of becoming a US citizen. (not sure I'm entirely happy being a UK citizen some days!). Got a lot of them from watching West Wing - best American drama ever written in my opinion.
A history lesson for any who are interested: There was nothing in the original constitution about presidential succession other than giving Congress the right to determine it. A federal statute in 1792 listed the President pro tempore of the Senate next in line followed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1886 a new statute provided for succession to go through members of the president's cabinet, beginning with the first post created, Secretary of State. In 1947 Truman convinced Congress to pass a new statute, basically returning to the former statute except changing the order from President pro tem of the Senate to making Speaker of the House first with the Cabinet last. None of these have been used. Some argue that the Constitution prohibits members of Congress from being appointed president, but the statute has not been challenged in the courts. The 20th and 25th amendments deal with filling presidential vacancies, but do not extend beyond the vice-president.
This is obsolete. Just walk past the border patrol, cuss at him in Spanish, claim to be a victim of oppression, promise to vote Democrat, and live off public assistance.
Even though we currently have a volunteer military, all 18-year-old males still have to register in case things change and they need to draft men for military service. All males must register even if disabled or a conscientious objector.
Since the word "Assembly" does not appear anywhere in the United States Constitution and the word "Assemble" does, can you accept Assemble? I did not get that because I did not try assembly. Assembly is what states have in some of their levels of Government.
When my brother in law went in to finalize his citizenship he spent the week before studying, even though he was equivalent of a German professorial PHD in History concentrating on German/US relations. He went in to see the federal judge and after a few minutes discussing his background was asked do you want to give your oath now or in a public ceremony. He was incredulous and asked "I don't have to take the test?" The judge more or less said, "Dr Fischer given your background there is no reason to waste your time or the US government's time, but if you want a test here you go. Who is the president of the United States?"
This is because Senators sit in a Senate. There is no equivalent word for the Representatives, they do not sit in a Reprate (although it's full of reprobates). Calling the chambers "houses" comes from the English Parliament, with its House of Commons and House of Lords. But in the US Congress, only one of the two chambers is called a House, so it gets the advantage of being known as The House. And on this quiz, House on its own gets you the point,.
It would be interesting to know how and where that term first came into the world. In dutch we have kamers meaning chambers. Italy has a similar term also using "chambers"
The Senate and the House are legislative chambers. The room where the House meets is called the House Chamber or the Hall of the House of Representatives. It is the large assembly room where they sit in a semi-circle of tiered seating facing the Speaker. If you've ever seen a State of the Union Address it is held in the House Chamber.
83% and I'm not American and I don't get why anyone needs to know most of this stuff to become a citizen. Although my country's citizenship test is just as arbitrary and pointless.
A test is not a test if the questions are known before the test. Any fool can pass a test such as that. Anybody with evil intent would pass this test easily because they would be coached to do so. It is a completely irrelevant and comical procedure.
It's meant to see if people have an understanding of American history and its government. The real test has 10 random questions and they're given orally, you don't have to write anything.
This is just a sampling of the test. The goal is to demonstrate a knowledge of American society. Even if you only memorize the freedoms of the First Amendment for the test, you still know them. So that's important.
Can you accept "assemble" for assembly (saying 'The right to assemble' actually makes more sense) and allow just the word "Representatives" for the House of Representatives as well?
75% as an Australian. I'll take that everyday. Don't usually go well in American related quizzes but this one was kind to me. unfortunately i'm quite happy here in Australia so don't need a US Citizenship
Why is Woodrow Wilson specifically on this test? Is he special or something? I'd thing FDR, Washington, Truman, or any Cold War president should also be on this test if he is.
Such a stupid test. Why do we make people do this? How does passing this show that they will be any better of a citizen than someone who couldn't pass this? Shouldn't it at least be current? Why does an immigrant care what we bought in 1803?
Yeah! Knowledge makes no difference in any person's life! Knowing stuff is stupid!!!!! We'll never make the same mistakes again because of instincts and luck and good looks!
Did you expect the 2nd and 3rd time to suddenly get a lot wrong? Was that the terrifying part? "Ok maybe this time I ll get a few wrong... What??! still got everything right? Man.. not again..."
9/20. Looks like Britain gets to keep me ;) I’ve seen some versions of ours and the questions are just as odd... was surprised they don’t include more practical ones. Maybe because that kind of knowledge changes faster depending on trends, election results etc and so ‘correct’ answers would constantly need to be updated??
If a Guatamalan migrant fleeing drug cartels needs to know the answers to these questions, so should every politician in America, including Supreme Court nominees.
I do... but... I would HOPE that SC justices have studied the Constitution more than I have. The question I was thinking of was about the first amendment.
some of them border on that. Particularly the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. Though, like all religious people, Americans tend to cherry pick which parts of the Constitution they believe are important or even know about, and it's always up for interpretation.
In my experience, when conservatives talk about "the Constitution," they really just mean the Second Amendment. That, and occasionally a tragicomic misunderstanding of what "free speech" means.
Not "all" religious people cherry pick what we religious people feel are important. Maybe some or even most, but not all. Be careful when using that word.
it's so close to all that to say all is preferable to finding fault with saying all. It's almost impossible to conceive of someone who didn't do that, in fact, given how voluminous the texts of certain religions are and how rife with contradictions they also are. Though of course the cherry pickers who think they're somehow more special than the other cherry pickers they feel have picked the wrong cherries will deny, credulously, that those even exist.
Not the same thing. Signing up for selective service means that you are registered as a potential draftee. Signing up for military service means actually joining the military. I did the former, but not the latter.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness"..."Not surprising Men quote 'em. Don't act surprised you guys, cause I wrote 'em" -Thomas Jefferson
"Alexander joins forces with James Madison and John Jay to write a series of essays defending the new United States Constitution entitled The Federalist Papers"
Of course synonyms for "assemble" should be allowed. The First Amendment secures certain freedoms — the specific word itself is malleable and less important than what the word represents.
When Kurt Gödel, famous for his incompleteness theorem that postulated that every formal system will have some irreconcilable inconsistencies (I'd explain it better, but I can't--even this is probably wrong), was being driven from Princeton to Philadelphia to take his citizenship test, he told the fellow faculty member driving him that he intended to tell the examiner of a number of logical inconsistencies he had found in the Constitution. His driver talked him out of it.
Quizmaster wasn't kidding about the official test being much easier; here is the official practice test from the U.S. Government: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/civics-practice-test-2008
I must have been overtired, clicked on this quiz, glanced at the title and for some reason read UK Citizenship test. Thought question 1 was weird, but when “God Save the Queen” didn’t work I spent a good few seconds trying to decide if it there was another, arcane, official name I’d not heard of before, or whether some daft Yank (no offence) had butchered it.
I did manage to get full marks though so, if someone can disregard my ‘daft yank’ remark and send me the appropriate paperwork? What jobs do you have for Brit’s anyway? Is it still mainly wise-cracking butlers and haughty librarians? Or do you still need ridiculously aristocratic maîtres d’, who for some reason still work in restaurants, despite clearly being members of the English nobility?
This test reminded me of the ToEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), though-- most native English speakers I know will fail that test spectacularly, and I expect the average US citizen would score about 50% on this.
Scored 20/24 btw. American media makes we learn lots of those things even if we dont care about it.
While politics really isn't my thing, US History is worth knowing
Actually the first time I did the test I had no idea about the authors of the Federalist papers. Still think "legislature" should be accepted, particularly if "judiciary" is allowed.
Who wasted their college years on a political science degree NOW, huh mom? ;-)
Also, probably would have failed (scarcely 60% after some guessing), good thing I'm not American probably
Great quiz though!
James Madison wrote twenty-nine
Hamilton wrote the other fifty-one!"
96%
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness"..."Not surprising Men quote 'em. Don't act surprised you guys, cause I wrote 'em" -Thomas Jefferson
"Alexander joins forces with James Madison and John Jay to write a series of essays defending the new United States Constitution entitled The Federalist Papers"
Or just go to a way closer country AUSTRALIA
I am obviously meant to be a stateless person...
I am qualified to be a citizen in a country I live in already. Woohoo!Oops, this is an American test, so I should write: learned.
By the way, on a day-to-day basis, how often do U.S. citizens actually use and need this information?
I did manage to get full marks though so, if someone can disregard my ‘daft yank’ remark and send me the appropriate paperwork? What jobs do you have for Brit’s anyway? Is it still mainly wise-cracking butlers and haughty librarians? Or do you still need ridiculously aristocratic maîtres d’, who for some reason still work in restaurants, despite clearly being members of the English nobility?
what am i going to do with my dirt poor, wanting-to-be-american european self! ...