To become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, you have to pass an oral civics test drawn from a published pool of 100 civics test questions for naturalization covering American government, history, and geography. At your interview, a USCIS officer reads up to 10 of those questions aloud, and you pass as soon as you answer 6 correctly.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Study for the Test The full list is public, so you can study every possible question before you walk in.
How the Test Works
The civics test happens during your naturalization interview at a USCIS field office. The officer reads questions in English and you answer out loud. There is no written portion, no answer sheet, and no multiple choice. The officer picks up to 10 questions from the pool and stops as soon as you get 6 right or miss 5.1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Study for the Test Applicants who have studied usually finish well before question 10.
The version of the test in use is the 2008 version. USCIS rescinded the 2020 version on March 1, 2021, and has used the 2008 pool ever since.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Reverts to the 2008 Version of the Naturalization Civics Test
What the 100 Questions Cover
The pool is grouped into three broad areas: American government, American history, and integrated civics (geography, symbols, and holidays).
American Government
Government is the largest slice. The Constitution anchors this section. You should know that its opening words are “We the People,” that it is the supreme law of the land, and that the Bill of Rights is the name for its first ten amendments.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics Questions and Answers
Expect several questions on the three branches. The legislative branch draws the most: the Senate has 100 members, and the House of Representatives has 435 voting members.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics Questions and Answers The executive branch is led by the President. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court, which currently has nine justices. Questions about the Court also reach judicial review, the power established in Marbury v. Madison that lets courts strike down laws that violate the Constitution.
Individual rights and civic responsibilities round out this group. Freedom of speech and religion under the First Amendment are common topics, along with duties like serving on a jury and voting in federal elections.
American History
The history questions run from the colonial period into the late twentieth century. For the colonial era, you need to understand why the colonists fought for independence from Great Britain, with taxation without representation the most commonly tested reason. The Declaration of Independence and its core ideas also appear.
The 1800s section focuses on westward expansion and the Civil War, including Abraham Lincoln’s role, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the abolition of slavery. You do not have to memorize most dates, but you should be able to match the right leaders to the right conflicts.
Twentieth-century questions cover both World Wars and the Cold War. Woodrow Wilson led the country during World War I, Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, and the Cold War centered on the struggle against the spread of communism. The civil rights movement rounds out the section, with questions on Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for equality and Susan B. Anthony’s work for women’s right to vote.
Integrated Civics
This category tests geography, symbols, and holidays. Geography questions ask about major features like the two longest rivers and the oceans bordering the East and West coasts. You should be able to name at least one U.S. territory.
For symbols, the flag comes up most. The 13 stripes represent the original colonies, and the 50 stars represent the states today. You should also know that the Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor and was a gift from France.
Holidays tie history to the calendar. Independence Day falls on July 4, and you should recognize other federal holidays like Thanksgiving and Labor Day. These questions tend to be the most straightforward and are worth locking down early.
Questions With Answers That Change
Several questions ask about officials serving at the time of your interview, not historical figures. You need to know the current President and Vice President, one of your state’s U.S. Senators, your state’s Governor, and your U.S. Representative.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics Test Answer Updates These answers change with elections, appointments, and retirements. If you live in Washington, D.C., or a U.S. territory, the correct answer for senators or governor is that your jurisdiction does not have one. USCIS updates its answer key when officials change, so verify the current answers close to your interview date. The officer will not accept an outdated name, even if it was correct when you started studying.
Whether You Have to Learn All 100
Most applicants study the full pool of 100. There is one shortcut built into the rules. If you are 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years, you qualify for the 65/20 exception. You only need to learn 20 designated questions marked with an asterisk on the official study materials.5Office 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 The officer still asks up to 10 questions and you still need 6 correct, but every question comes from that shorter list.
Two other age-based rules affect language but not the civics content. Under the 50/20 rule (50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident) or the 55/15 rule (55 or older with 15 years), you can take the civics portion in your native language with your own interpreter. You still answer the same civics questions.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Exceptions and Accommodations
A separate path exists for applicants whose physical or developmental disability or mental impairment prevents them from learning English or civics. You request a full exception by filing Form N-648, certified by a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist, showing the condition has lasted or will last at least 12 months. Conditions resulting solely from illegal drug use do not qualify. The N-648 is not for applicants who simply find studying difficult; if reasonable accommodations like extra time, a sign language interpreter, or a Braille reading test would let you pass, USCIS expects you to use those instead.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part E Chapter 3 – Medical Disability Exception
Where to Get the Questions
USCIS publishes the complete list of 100 questions and answers as a free PDF and as MP3 audio recordings of each question.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 100 Civics Questions and Answers for the 2008 Test with MP3 Audio Because the real test is oral, listening to the questions spoken aloud is one of the strongest ways to prepare. You hear the phrasing close to the way an officer will say it.
USCIS also offers a free online practice test with 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the same pool.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Welcome to the 2008 Civics Practice Test The real test is not multiple choice, so use the practice test as a knowledge check, not a format rehearsal. A free mobile app is available on Google Play and the App Store; search for “USCIS civics test” and confirm the developer is listed as USCIS before downloading.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Tools and Resources
If You Miss Too Many Questions
Failing on the first try is not the end. USCIS schedules a second attempt between 60 and 90 days after your initial interview, and you only retake the portion you failed.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part B Chapter 4 – Results of the Naturalization Examination Missing that second appointment can lead USCIS to deny the whole application, so treat the rescheduled date as fixed.
If you fail the second attempt, USCIS denies the N-400. From there you can file Form N-336 within 30 days to request a hearing before a different officer, or file a new N-400 and start over.12U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings There is no waiting period to refile, but applying again without more study usually produces the same result.