How the U.S. Citizenship Test Works

How many questions are on the citizenship test?

The 2025 civics test has a study list of 128 questions. At your interview, the USCIS officer asks you up to 20 of them. You need 12 correct answers to pass.

The officer stops asking once you have answered 12 correctly, or once you have missed 9, since at that point the result is already decided.

What changed with the 2025 civics test?

USCIS introduced the 2025 civics test for applicants who file Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. It replaced the 2008 test, which had 100 questions, asked 10 and required 6 correct answers.

If you filed before that date, you take the 2008 version instead. Check your filing date and the latest rules on uscis.gov.

Is the citizenship test multiple choice?

No. The civics test is an oral test. The officer reads each question out loud and you answer out loud in your own words. There are no answer choices to pick from.

Multiple-choice practice is still a good way to learn the material. Before your interview, practice saying the answers out loud. Our flashcard mode is made for this.

What are the topics on the test?

The 128 questions cover American government (principles, the system of government, and rights and responsibilities), American history (the colonial period and independence, the 1800s, and recent history), and integrated civics (symbols and holidays).

• Principles of American Government (15)
• System of Government (47)
• Rights and Responsibilities (10)
• Colonial Period and Independence (17)
• 1800s (10)
• Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information (19)
• Symbols (6)
• Holidays (4)

Which answers depend on where I live?

A few questions ask about your own U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, your governor and your state capital. Other questions ask who holds an office right now, such as the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice.

Learn the answers that are true on the day of your interview. Elections can change them.

What else is on the naturalization test?

The civics test is one part of the naturalization test. Most applicants also take an English test with reading, writing and speaking. The speaking part is judged during your interview.

What happens if I fail?

If you don't pass a part of the test at your first interview, USCIS gives you a second chance. You are retested on the part you failed, usually 60 to 90 days after your first interview.

How to prepare

1. Read through all 128 questions and answers once, topic by topic.
2. Practice one topic at a time with the free practice test.
3. Switch to flashcards and say each answer out loud.
4. Take the 20-question mock test until you pass comfortably every time.
5. In the last week, check the current office holders and your own state answers.