US to revise citizenship test, format likely to become tougher. Here's look at new sections

livemint.com:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is likely to adds a speaking section to to the test. For the exam, an officer would show photos of everyday scenarios and ask the applicant to verbally describe the photos.

Currently, the speaking ability is assessed with the officer asking personal questions the applicant. “For me, I think it would be harder to look at pictures and explain them," said Heaven Mehreta, who immigrated from Ethiopia 10 years ago, passed the naturalization test in May to become an US citizen, as quoted AP. Mehreta, 32, said she learned English as an adult after moving to the U.S.

and found pronunciation to be very difficult.  Meanwhile, Shai Avny, who immigrated from Israel five years ago and became a U.S. citizen last year, asserted that the new format will likely increase the stress level of the applicants. “Sitting next to someone from the federal government, it can be intimidating to talk and speak with them.

Some people have this fear anyway. When it’s not your first language, it can be even more difficult. Maybe you will be nervous and you won’t find the words to tell them what you need to describe," Avny said.

“It’s a test that will determine if you are going to be a citizen. So there is a lot to lose." The proposed change to the U.S. history and government civics section would involve switching from the current oral short-answer format to multiple-choice questions.

This change has been suggested to increase the difficulty level of the test and require a broader knowledge base.  For instance, instead of simply asking the applicant to name a war fought by the U.S. in the 1900s, they would need to choose the correct answer from a list of options, such as World War I, World War II, Korean War,