Audio study tools can help you prepare for the US citizen test. Learn more about study tips and tricks and how text to speech can help.
To become a US citizen, a person needs to go through a naturalization process. This process includes five steps. You need to fill out the N-400 form, then visit your biometrics appointment, after which you’ll be eligible to take a citizenship interview and test. Once those are done, the Citizenship and Immigration Services will review your application, and if it’s all okay, you’ll finally have an opportunity to swear the famous Oath of Allegiance.
As you can see, the only issue you might have is passing the citizenship interview and test. But there’s no need to worry. It’s not like you're applying for MIT. Both the interview and test are mere formalities that you can overcome if you take studying seriously. And the most serious way to do so is by using audio study material.
The benefits of getting a US citizenship
Before we go on any further, it would be only fair to explain why would anyone want to become a US citizen. Namely, the first and most obvious reason is that red-white-and-blue citizenship protects you and your children from deportation. This means that your children will also become US citizens once you do, protecting them as well.
Still, it’s not just about deportation. Many families in the United States have some members without American citizenship. As such, they constantly face separation fear. Yet, all this can disappear with passing the citizenship test. But that’s not all. By becoming an American, you can get a government job, vote, and travel almost anywhere without a visa.
Citizenship test tips
Once you apply for American citizenship through an N-400 form and a biometrics evaluation, you’ll need to do an interview and a test. Both of these sound a bit scary to people with weaker English skills, but in reality, they are not that hard. They mostly deal with American democracy and topics that surround it.
The interview covers basic knowledge of the English language, while the written test checks up on the understanding of government (e.g., U.S. constitution, Supreme court), American history, and integrated civics. USCIS civics test is a group of questions and answers about US geography, holidays, symbols, and others.
How to ace your naturalization test
Different people take different approaches to the US citizenship test study guide. Some of them study the entire U.S. history, some take practice tests, while others take a more modern approach to test questions. They listen to podcasts and audio study material.
Nowadays, you can find all sorts of audiobooks that cover test prep curriculum on Amazon. But to get these, you have to pay a hefty price for both the services of the digital library and for the audiobook itself. This is why many turn to text-to-speech (TTS) apps.
These apps are the epitome of high-end technology. They turn digital text into speech, enabling people with reading disabilities to enjoy literature and study for school. Additionally, they allow others to multitask by both listening and doing something else at the same time.
But in any case, physical copies of workbooks that cover the US citizenship test are a dime a dozen, and some are free. So, with a text-to-speech tool, you can turn them into full-on unabridged audiobooks and listen to questions & answers instead of reading.
This approach will improve your reading, material comprehension, and also your pronunciation of American English. All three are necessary if you’re looking to pass both the interview and test, and the best app to help you do so is none other than Speechify.
Speechify
In an ever-evolving landscape of text to speech apps, Speechify continues to be the number one rated TTS tool. This piece of software uses three main components to turn any writing into natural-sounding speech straight from an audio CD of NYT best seller. These include optical character recognition (OCR), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning.
Regardless of whether your US citizenship textbook is in a digital or physical format, you can turn it into audio. The first one’s obvious, as you simply select the text that you want Speechify to transcribe. However, the second means snapping photos of pages that with some OCR magic, the app will turn into speech in a matter of moments.
Unlike most other TTS apps, Speechify is pretty versatile. It’s available on all platforms, including iOS and Android for smartphones, as well as macOS and Windows for laptops and PCs. You can either download the app from your designated app store, or you can add Speechify as a plug-in to your Chrome or Safari web browser.
All this comes with options to choose from over 15 languages, including Spanish, and 30 different reading voices. And regardless of which you pick, the app will provide you with a natural-sounding narration throughout your listening course. We fully recommend giving this app a go if you’re looking to prepare for the US citizenship exam and naturalization interview.
FAQs
Can you pass the 100-question civics test?
The civics test is an oral test, and the USCIS Officer will ask the applicant up to 10 of the 100 civics questions. An applicant must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test. On the naturalization exam, some answers may change because of elections or appointments.
How much does it cost to take the citizenship test?
$640. (Add the $85 biometric fee for a total of $725, where applicable. See exceptions below.) If you file your Form N-400 online, you may pay your fee online.
What are the benefits of being a US citizen?
- Protection from deportation. Becoming a U.S. citizen protects you and your children from deportation
- Citizenship for your children
- Family reunification
- Eligibility for government jobs
- Freedom to travel
- Ability to vote
What should I study to become citizenship?
Before you take the United States Citizenship Test, you'll want to study English and American civics. You'll need to practice speaking, reading and writing English. You'll also want to study the three branches of the American government and the major rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Cliff Weitzman
Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.