The U.S. citizenship test, explained

Overview

To become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, most applicants must show that they can read, write and speak basic English and that they know the fundamentals of U.S. history and government. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) checks both during a single interview, after you file Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, and attend your biometrics appointment.

The test is not written on a computer. A USCIS officer asks you the questions out loud and you answer out loud, so practicing by speaking your answers is the best way to prepare.

Which version: the 2025 or the 2008 civics test?

USCIS introduced a new civics test in 2025. The version you take depends only on the date you filed your N-400.

Your filing date is on the receipt notice USCIS sent you after you applied. When in doubt, check the official USCIS 2025 civics test page.

How the civics test works

The officer picks questions from the official list and asks them one at a time. You answer in your own words. You do not need to repeat the exact answer from the study guide: any answer that is correct and on the official list is accepted.

The questions cover three areas:

• American government: the Constitution, the branches of government, the system of checks and balances, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
• American history: the colonial period and independence, the 1800s, and recent American history.
• Symbols and holidays: the flag, the national anthem, and national holidays.

The English test

Speaking

There is no separate speaking exam. The officer judges your spoken English during the whole interview, mostly while going over the answers on your N-400 with you. Be ready to talk about your application: your addresses, jobs, travel and family.

Reading

You read a sentence out loud. You get up to three tries with different sentences, and you pass when you read one correctly. The words come from the official reading vocabulary list, which is mostly about civics and history.

Writing

The officer reads a sentence and you write it down. You get up to three sentences, and you pass when you write one so that the meaning is clear. Small spelling or grammar mistakes are usually fine if the meaning is not changed.

Exemptions and special consideration

Some applicants do not have to take the English test and can take the civics test in their own language with an interpreter:

• 50/20: you are 50 or older and have been a permanent resident (green card holder) for at least 20 years.
• 55/15: you are 55 or older and have been a permanent resident for at least 15 years.
• 65/20: you are 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for at least 20 years. You also get special consideration on civics: you only study the 20 questions marked for 65/20 applicants.

Age and years of residence are counted on the date you file your N-400. Applicants with a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment may qualify for an exception to both parts by filing Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, completed by a licensed medical professional.

Interview day

Arrive early and bring your appointment notice along with the documents it lists. These usually include:

• Your green card (Permanent Resident Card).
• A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license.
• All passports and travel documents you used since becoming a permanent resident.
• Any other documents your notice asks for, such as marriage or tax records.

The officer will place you under oath, review your application, and give you the English and civics tests. At the end you receive a written notice of the result. If you are approved, you will be scheduled for the oath ceremony, sometimes on the same day. You become a citizen when you take the Oath of Allegiance.

If you don't pass

You get two chances to pass each part of the test. If you fail the English or civics part at your first interview, USCIS schedules a second interview, usually 60 to 90 days later, where you are tested again only on the part you failed. If you fail again, your application may be denied, and you would have to apply again.

How to study

Most people need a few weeks of steady practice. A simple plan:

1. Week 1: read through every question once and listen to the answers. Do not try to memorize everything yet.
2. Week 2: take a practice test each day and save the questions you miss.
3. Week 3: focus on your mistakes, say the answers out loud, and practice the reading and writing vocabulary.
4. Last days: run full interview simulations and check the answers that depend on your state and on current officials.

Ten to fifteen minutes a day works better than a long session once a week. Studying out loud matters: in the interview you speak your answers, you do not choose them.

Sample civics questions

These questions appear on the official USCIS study lists. Answers are shortened; the official lists accept other correct answers too.