One day you’re gathering with hundreds of library professionals for a panel discussion about how US libraries are supporting citizenship seekers.

The next day (literally) USCIS announces a new version of the US Citizenship test. More questions asked. More topics covered. Not much time to prepare.

For librarians and citizenship educators looking for a new resource to use with your citizenship classes or recommend to self-studiers, we’ve been working on something to help bridge the gap.

The American Citizenship Course (2025 Version) is now available in Transparent Language Online in English and Spanish!

Prep for the 2025 version of the US Citizenship Test

As with the 2008 version of the course, the goal is to help learners make the most of their time. Learners can jump around the course completing only the parts they need, whether that’s skipping entire units because they’re familiar with that topics or skipping activities within a lesson because they just want to practice test questions.

Each lesson incorporates:

• Reading passages: Learners who need more historical or cultural context to understand the test questions and answers can explore short reading passages.
• Key vocabulary: Learners with lower literacy can complete vocab activities to master words and phrases they’ll encounter in test questions and answers.
• Simulated speaking activities: Learners can simulate the actual test experience with activities that practice listening to the test questions and speaking the answers out loud.

So what’s new in the 2025 version?

• Covers the 128* new questions: All lessons and activities align to the 128-question version of the test that went into effect in 2025. (*Technically 120 questions, as 8 questions have variable answers based on when and where the test is taken.)
• More reading passages: New informational slides cover topics not previously encountered on the test, such as American innovations and leaders in the women’s rights movement.
• More vocabulary: Additional vocabulary is woven into the lessons where needed to cover challenging words or phrases in the new questions, like “federal republic”, “recession”, or “interstate system”.
• More visual aids: More pictures are included in the reading passages and vocabulary lessons to aid in comprehension of complex topics, especially for lower-literacy learners.
• New speaking and listening activities: The new “Conversation Practice” and “What Would You Say” activities encourage learners to practice listening to the test questions and speaking their answers out loud.
• Streamlined activity flow: Activities emphasizing reading or writing vocab and question answers were removed to simplify the experience, as learners will not need to do so on the test.
• Course syllabus: For citizenship educators using this course with students, a new syllabus outlines the test questions covered in each lesson. Download the syllabus to explore for yourself.

Prep for the US Citizenship Test in Spanish

A Spanish version of the course is also available, ideal for test takers who qualify for the 50/20 or 55/15 exceptions or whose native language is Spanish and would benefit from learning more complex concepts in their own language first before moving on to English.

It includes everything from the English version fo the course (all cultural and historical slides, vocabulary, and practice activities) just in Spanish!

Learners can find the course by selecting “Spanish, Latin American for Spanish, Latin America speakers” as their language, then visiting the “Courses & Lessons” tab where the course will be waiting for them.

Ready to start recommending this course to your patrons and students? “American Citizenship Course (2025 Version)” is available now for all English language pairs in Transparent Language Online.

If your library or organization doesn’t subscribe yet, you explore the course in the two-week free trial.