The civics test is the history and government part of your citizenship interview. If you filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, a USCIS officer asks you up to 20 questions from a list of 128, and you need 12 correct answers to pass. If you filed before that date, you take the older 2008 test: up to 10 questions from a list of 100, with 6 correct answers needed.
Which civics test do you take?
Your test version depends on the date you filed Form N-400, not the date of your interview. USCIS explains this on its 2025 Civics Test page and its interview and test page.
| 2025 civics test | 2008 civics test | |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes it | Filed N-400 on or after Oct. 20, 2025 | Filed N-400 before Oct. 20, 2025 |
| Question list to study | 128 questions | 100 questions |
| Questions asked | Up to 20 | Up to 10 |
| Correct answers to pass | 12 | 6 |
| Test stops when you have | 12 correct or 9 incorrect | 6 correct or 5 incorrect |
The stopping rules come from the USCIS Policy Manual. In practice, this means you may hear fewer than 20 (or 10) questions. If you answer 12 correctly in a row on the 2025 test, the officer stops there.
If your application was filed before October 20, 2025, and is still waiting for an interview in 2026, you still study the 100 questions of the 2008 test. If you file a new N-400 now, you study the 128 questions. Check the filing date on your receipt notice if you are not sure.
How the test is given
The civics test happens during your naturalization interview at a USCIS office. It is oral: the officer reads each question out loud and you answer out loud. There is no multiple choice.
The same interview also includes the English test, unless you qualify for an exception:
- Speaking: the officer judges your spoken English during the whole interview, as you answer questions about your application.
- Reading: you must read aloud one of up to three sentences correctly.
- Writing: you must write one of up to three sentences correctly.
The Policy Manual says officers should repeat and rephrase questions until they are satisfied you either understand them or do not understand English. So if you did not hear a question well, it is fine to ask the officer to repeat it.
Questions whose answers change
A few questions ask about people who hold office right now, so the right answer depends on when your interview takes place. These include the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, the Chief Justice, the President’s political party, your state’s governor, your two U.S. senators, and your U.S. representative.
USCIS keeps the current answers on its official Check for Test Updates page. The rule is simple: answer with the name of the person serving on the day of your interview. Look at that page again a few days before your appointment, especially after an election. For senators and your representative, the page points you to senate.gov and house.gov.
The 65/20 special consideration
You get special consideration if you were 65 or older and had been a permanent resident for at least 20 years at the time you filed, according to USCIS Exceptions and Accommodations. For both test versions:
- You study only the 20 specially marked questions (marked with an asterisk in the official list).
- The officer asks 10 of those questions.
- You need 6 correct answers to pass.
People who qualify for 65/20 are also exempt from the English test and may take the civics test in their own language. If you do, you must bring an interpreter who is fluent in English and your language.
Two other age-based rules, 50/20 and 55/15, exempt you from the English test but not from the regular civics test. If a disability keeps you from learning English or civics, you may ask for an exception with Form N-648. An attorney or DOJ-accredited representative can help you decide whether any of these apply to you.
If you do not pass
You get two chances in total. If you fail the civics part (or the English part) at your first interview, USCIS retests you only on the part you failed, between 60 and 90 days after that interview. The Policy Manual says that if you fail the same part a second time, the officer must deny the application. If that happens, talk to an attorney or DOJ-accredited representative about your options.
How to study
Start with the free official materials on the USCIS Study for the Test page:
- 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version, PDF)
- One Nation, One People: 2025 Civics Test Study Guide (PDF)
- 100 Civics Questions and Answers (2008 version, PDF), only if you filed before October 20, 2025
Some tips that help many people:
- Study the right list. Confirm your filing date first, so you do not spend weeks on the wrong version.
- Say your answers out loud. The real test is spoken, so practice speaking, not just reading. Ask a friend or family member to read questions to you in random order.
- Learn short answers. Officers accept a correct answer or a different wording of it, so you do not need to memorize long sentences. A short, clear answer is easier to remember when you are nervous.
- Write down your local answers. Your governor, senators, and representative are easy to forget. Check them on the official updates page.
- Practice the conversation, not just the questions. The interview starts with greetings and questions about your application, and the officer listens to your English the whole time.
For that last tip, the free Immigratus AI Civics Test app lets you rehearse a mock interview in English. An AI interviewer starts with small talk, asks civics questions one at a time (including ones for your state), and tells you whether each typed answer would count. It is a practice tool and the AI can make mistakes, so always check answers against the official materials on uscis.gov.
Beware of anyone who promises you will pass or sells “guaranteed” answers. Notarios and immigration consultants cannot give legal advice (see USCIS’s Avoid Scams page). USCIS study materials are free.
Practice with the app
The Immigratus AI Civics Test app is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by USCIS or any government agency. Use it alongside the official USCIS materials, not instead of them.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.
Common questions
How many questions are on the 2025 civics test?
The officer asks up to 20 questions from a list of 128. You pass when you answer 12 correctly, and the test stops early once you reach 12 correct or 9 incorrect.
Who still takes the 2008 civics test?
People who filed Form N-400 before October 20, 2025. They get up to 10 questions from the list of 100 and need 6 correct answers to pass.
Is the civics test written or oral?
It is oral. A USCIS officer asks the questions out loud during your naturalization interview, and you answer out loud.
What happens if I fail the civics test?
You get one more chance. USCIS retests you only on the part you failed, between 60 and 90 days after your first interview. If you fail the same part again, the application is denied.
What is the 65/20 special consideration?
If you were 65 or older and had been a permanent resident for at least 20 years when you filed, you study only 20 specially marked questions. The officer asks 10 of them, and you need 6 correct.
Official sources
Our apps are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to USCIS, EOIR, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, or any other government agency. They do not provide legal advice.