Only 42 percent of Arizonans could pass US citizenship test, survey finds

PHOENIX – Do you think you could pass the U.S. citizenship test?

If so, you’d be in the minority.

A recent Woodrow Wilson Foundation survey found that only 42 percent of Arizonans could earn a passing grade on a multiple-choice U.S. history exam that used questions from the citizenship test.

Respondents had to score at least 60 percent to pass. In Arizona, 2 percent earned grades of A (90-100), 8 percent got B’s (80-89), 17 percent notched C’s (70-79) and 16 percent sneaked by with D’s (60-69). (Find a sample test here.)

That might sound weak, but only 15 other states had a higher percentage of passing grades than Arizona.

In fact, just 40 percent of the 41,000 Americans surveyed could pass the exam.

Vermont, at 53 percent, was the only state with a majority of its residents doing better than an F.

Louisiana was the worst-performing state, with just 27 percent earning a passing grade.

“Unfortunately, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation has validated what studies have shown for a century: Americans don’t possess the history knowledge they need to be informed and engaged citizens,” Arthur Levine, president of the nonprofit group, said in a press release issued last week.

According to the foundation’s website, its mission is to identify and develop “leaders and institutions to meet the nation’s critical challenges.”

In response to poor performances on history tests, the group launched the WW American History Initiative.

The program is designed to teach history more effectively, using formats such as digital games, videos and graphic novels.

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