At your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer tests two things: your English (reading, writing and speaking) and your knowledge of U.S. history and government, the civics test. Since October 2025 two versions of the civics test have been in use at the same time, so it's worth knowing which one is yours before you start studying.
Which test is yours
It depends on when you filed Form N-400, not on your interview date:
- Filed on or after October 20, 2025: the 2025 civics test.
- Filed before October 20, 2025: the 2008 civics test.
Check yours with our 10-second checker →
The 2025 civics test
- The officer asks up to 20 questions from a list of 128.
- You pass with 12 correct.
- The officer stops as soon as you have answered 12 correctly, or 9 incorrectly.
The 2008 civics test
- The officer asks up to 10 questions from a list of 100.
- You pass with 6 correct.
- The officer stops after 6 correct or 5 incorrect answers.
It's an interview, not a multiple-choice test
The officer asks each question out loud and you answer in your own words; there are no options to choose from. Any answer on USCIS's accepted list for that question counts. Some answers change with elections and appointments, such as the President or your senators, and you must give the name of the official serving at the time of your interview. A few questions also depend on where you live, like your state's senators, governor and capital.
The 65/20 special consideration
If you are 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 years or more, you study a shorter list: 20 specially marked questions from your version of the test. The officer asks 10 of them, and you may take the civics test in the language of your choice.
The English test
- Reading: read 1 of 3 sentences aloud correctly.
- Writing: write 1 of 3 sentences correctly.
- Speaking: the officer judges this during your interview.
USCIS publishes reading and writing vocabulary lists to study from.
If you don't pass
You get one more chance. USCIS retests you only on the part you didn't pass, English or civics, between 60 and 90 days after your first interview. If you don't pass the second time, the application is denied.
How to prepare
- Confirm your version from your N-400 filing date.
- Study from USCIS's free materials at uscis.gov/citizenship: the question list for your version, the study guide and the vocabulary lists.
- Practise answering out loud, without options in front of you, the way the interview works.
- Look up the answers that depend on elections and on your state, and check them again shortly before your interview.
- Practise reading and writing short sentences using the official vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
Which civics test will I take, 2025 or 2008?
How many questions must I get right?
Can I take the civics test in my own language?
What happens if I fail the citizenship test?
Do I need to know my state's officials?
Sources
- USCIS: Check for test updates (reviewed September 18, 2025)
- USCIS: Study for the test
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part E, Chapter 2
US Citizenship Test is our study app for the interview: every official question on the 2025 and 2008 tests with an explanation, a mock interview that stops when the officer would, your state's answers, and the English test. It's coming soon to the App Store.
We're an independent developer, not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. government. USCIS's own study materials are free at uscis.gov/citizenship.