100 Civics Questions and Answers for the Citizenship Test

The 100 civics questions for the citizenship test are the USCIS study list covering U.S. government, history, and geography that applicants use to prepare for the oral civics portion of the naturalization interview.¹ That 100-question list has been the study tool since 2008, but it isn’t the only one in use anymore. A newer 128-question version rolled out in late 2025, and the list you study depends on when you filed Form N-400.

Which List Applies to You

Check your N-400 filing date before you open any study guide. If you filed before October 20, 2025, you study the 100-question list and take the 2008 test. If you filed on or after that date, you study the 128-question list and take the 2025 test.² The two lists overlap in subject matter, but specific questions and answers differ, so studying the wrong version wastes time.

Download your version directly from the USCIS website rather than relying on third-party PDFs, which can be outdated.³⁴

How the Test Works

On the 2008 test, a USCIS officer asks up to 10 questions drawn from the 100-question pool. You need 6 correct to pass, and the officer stops as soon as you hit 6.³ On the 2025 test, the officer asks up to 20 questions from the 128-question pool. You need 12 correct, and the officer stops at 12 right or 9 wrong.⁵

Both tests are oral. The officer reads each question aloud and you answer verbally. Nothing is written, nothing is multiple choice, and there is no clock on individual questions. The civics test happens in a private office at a USCIS field office as part of the naturalization interview, and you learn your result the same day.⁶

What the Questions Cover

Both lists are organized around the same three subject areas. The balance shifts between versions, but the terrain is the same.

American Government

This is the largest category. It covers the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, the three branches of government, how laws are made, and the rights protected by the Bill of Rights. Expect questions on the structure of Congress, the role of the President, the function of the Supreme Court, and the amendments that expanded voting rights. Citizen responsibilities also appear: serving on a jury, voting, and similar duties.

American History

Questions run from the colonial era through the present. The early section focuses on independence from Great Britain, why the colonists sought freedom, and the people who shaped the founding documents. The 1800s section covers the Civil War, the abolition of slavery, and westward expansion. Modern history includes the World Wars, the civil rights movement, and the September 11 attacks.

Integrated Civics

This category is practical knowledge about the country: geography questions on major rivers, bordering countries, and U.S. territories; national symbols like the flag and the Statue of Liberty; and federal holidays such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.

Answers That Change With Elections

Several questions have answers that shift after elections and appointments. You must give the name of the official serving on the day of your interview, not the person who held the office when you started studying.⁵ The questions in this category ask about:

The current President of the United States
The current Vice President
Your state’s two U.S. Senators
Your U.S. Representative
Your state’s Governor
Your state’s capital (this one doesn’t change with elections, but the correct answer varies by where you live)

USCIS keeps current names posted at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates, and you can look up your congressional representatives by residential zip code on official government sites.³ If an election falls between the day you start studying and your interview date, update your answers. This trips up more applicants than you would expect.

Residents of Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories should note that their representation differs. D.C. has a delegate in the House who can participate in committee votes and debates but cannot vote on bills before the full House, and D.C. has no representation in the Senate. Residents of territories face similar limitations. The correct answer reflects your actual representation, so “no senators” is the right answer if that applies to you.

The 20-Question Subset for Older Applicants

If you are age 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years, you study a smaller list.¹ Instead of the full 100 or 128, you only need to prepare the 20 questions marked with an asterisk in the study materials. The officer asks 10 from that smaller bank, and you need 6 correct to pass. This applies whether your filing date puts you on the 2008 or 2025 version.⁵

The 20 designated questions cover fundamentals: the branches of government, the first President, Independence Day, the Statue of Liberty, and similar core material.⁷ The 65/20 exemption also excuses you from the English requirement, so you may take the civics test in your native language with an interpreter you bring to the interview. Check your permanent resident card to confirm you meet the 20-year threshold as of your N-400 filing date.

English Exemptions That Affect Test Language

Two other exemptions ease the burden for long-term older residents who don’t meet the 65/20 threshold. If you are age 50 or older with at least 20 years as a permanent resident, or age 55 or older with at least 15 years, you are exempt from the English language requirement.⁸⁹ You skip the reading, writing, and speaking portions entirely.

You still take the civics test, but you may take it in the language of your choice, and you are responsible for bringing your own interpreter. The full 100 or 128 questions still apply under these exemptions; only the 65/20 combination unlocks the shorter list.

Medical Exceptions and Disability Accommodations

If a physical, developmental, or mental impairment prevents you from learning English or civics, you can request an exception using Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. A licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist must evaluate you and certify that your condition prevents you from meeting the educational requirements. The evaluation must happen in person or, where state law permits, through a real-time telehealth examination.¹⁰

An exception is different from an accommodation. An exception excuses you from a requirement; an accommodation changes how the requirement is delivered to you. You can request both for the same interview. Common accommodations include Braille or large-print reading materials, sign language interpreters or assistive listening devices, and, if you cannot use your hands, an oral version of the writing test. If you cannot travel, USCIS may conduct the interview at your home or a medical facility. Request accommodations as soon as you receive your interview notice, either through your USCIS online account or by calling the USCIS Contact Center.¹¹

If You Fail on the First Try

Failing civics at your first interview doesn’t end your case. USCIS gives you two chances. If you fail any portion, the officer schedules a re-examination on the failed component within 60 to 90 days, and you retake only the part you failed.¹² Missing that second appointment without a timely reschedule request can result in denial of the whole application. If you fail the second attempt, USCIS denies the N-400, and you would need to file a new application or request a hearing on the decision.⁹

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1423 – Requirements as to Understanding the English Language, History, Principles and Form of Government of the United States
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 2025 Civics Test
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics (History and Government) Questions for the Naturalization Test
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 Version)
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Study for the Test
6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Naturalization Interview and Test
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics Questions for the 65/20 Exemption
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Exceptions and Accommodations
9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2 – English and Civics Testing
10
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Disability Accommodations for the Public
12
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part B Chapter 4 – Results of the Naturalization Examination