The new U.S. citizenship test applies to anyone who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. The civics portion now draws from a bank of 128 questions instead of 100, the officer asks up to 20 questions instead of 10, and you need 12 correct answers to pass rather than 6. The English reading, writing, and speaking portions did not change. If you filed before October 20, 2025, you still take the 2008 version with the older 100-question list and the 6-out-of-10 passing standard.1USCIS. Study for the Test
What Changed on the Civics Test
USCIS implemented the 2025 civics test to align with Executive Order 14161 and published advance notice in the Federal Register so applicants could prepare with the revised materials.2USCIS. Check for Test Updates The new version is built on the short-lived 2020 test that was introduced and then rescinded in 2021, with adjustments to how it is administered.3USCIS. Civics Test (2020 Version)
Four things are different:
- The study bank grew from 100 questions to 128.
- The officer asks up to 20 questions instead of 10.
- You need 12 correct answers to pass, up from 6.
- The officer stops once you reach 12 correct or 9 wrong. Under the old test, the officer stopped at 6 correct.
The English components stayed the same. Reading, writing, and speaking work exactly as they did before, no matter which civics version applies to you.4USCIS. 2025 Civics Test
Which Version Applies to You
Your N-400 filing date decides which test you take. File before October 20, 2025, and you sit for the 2008 version: 100 study questions, 10 asked, 6 needed to pass. File on or after that date, and you sit for the 2025 version: 128 study questions, up to 20 asked, 12 needed.1USCIS. Study for the Test The two lists overlap but are not identical, so studying the wrong set is a real risk.
Applicants who qualify for the 65/20 special consideration follow the same filing-date rule. Filed before October 20, 2025, you study the 20 designated questions from the 2008 test. Filed on or after, you study the 20 designated questions from the 2025 test.2USCIS. Check for Test Updates
What the English Portion Looks Like
The English test measures three skills: speaking, reading, and writing. There is no separate speaking test. The officer evaluates your spoken English throughout the interview based on how well you understand questions and answer in simple sentences while going through your N-400 application.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2 – English and Civics Testing
For reading, the officer shows you up to three sentences and asks you to read one aloud. You pass by reading any one of the three correctly. An accent will not fail you, and if a sentence is phrased as a question you do not have to answer it.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Scoring Guidelines for the U.S. Naturalization Test
For writing, the officer dictates up to three sentences and you must write one correctly. Spelling, capitalization, and punctuation mistakes do not fail you unless they make the sentence impossible to understand. You cannot abbreviate any dictated word, and the sentence must be legible.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Scoring Guidelines for the U.S. Naturalization Test
Who Can Skip or Simplify the Test
Federal law exempts some applicants from parts of the test based on age and years of permanent residency.
50/20 and 55/15 English Exemptions
If you are 50 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years, you are excused from the English reading and writing requirements. The same exemption applies if you are 55 or older with at least 15 years as an LPR. Under either exemption, you still take the civics test, but you can take it in your native language. You must bring your own interpreter; USCIS does not provide one.7Office 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
65/20 Simplified Civics Test
Applicants who are 65 or older and have been LPRs for at least 20 years get both the English exemption and a shorter civics test. You study only the 20 questions marked with an asterisk in the official materials. The officer asks 10 of those, and you need 6 correct to pass. You may take this version in your native language with an interpreter you provide.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2 – English and Civics Testing
Medical Disability Waiver
If a physical, developmental, or mental impairment prevents you from learning English or civics, you can file Form N-648 with your N-400 to request a waiver. A licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist must certify the form after an in-person evaluation, or a telehealth evaluation where state law allows it. Approval excuses you from both the English and civics requirements. There is no USCIS filing fee for the form, though the medical professional may charge for the exam.8USCIS. N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
Separately, you can request physical accommodations such as a sign language interpreter or a wheelchair-accessible testing space. Submit the request as soon as you receive your appointment notice.9USCIS. Exceptions and Accommodations
How to Prepare
Start by downloading the right study guide. Filed on or after October 20, 2025, use the 128-question 2025 version.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 Version) Filed before that date, use the 100-question guide.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics (History and Government) Questions for the Naturalization Test
For reading and writing, USCIS publishes fixed vocabulary lists that contain the only words that can appear on the test. Memorizing them removes surprises. Some civics answers change over time, including the current president, your U.S. representative, and your state’s governor, so verify those close to your interview date.
USCIS also offers a free Practice Civics Test app on Google Play and the App Store. Search for “USCIS civics test” and confirm USCIS is listed as the developer before downloading.12USCIS. USCIS Tools and Resources
Review your N-400 before the interview as well. The officer uses your application as the script for the speaking portion, walking through your employment history, travel, and personal details. Discrepancies between your form and your answers create problems that have nothing to do with your English or your civics knowledge. If something has changed since you filed, be ready to explain it.
What Test Day Looks Like
The test is part of your naturalization interview at a USCIS field office. After check-in and security, an officer brings you to a private room and places you under oath. The officer works through your N-400, and the speaking evaluation happens naturally in that conversation. Reading and writing are administered with printed materials or a digital display. Civics questions are asked orally, and the officer tracks your correct and incorrect answers as you go.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2 – English and Civics Testing
If you do not understand a question, ask the officer to rephrase it. Staying silent or refusing to answer counts as a wrong answer.
What Happens If You Fail
Failing on your first attempt is not the end. USCIS schedules a re-examination between 60 and 90 days after your initial interview. The retake covers only the portion you failed, and the officer must use different test forms the second time.13U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Naturalization Interview and Test
Failing the second attempt results in denial of your application for failure to meet the educational requirements for naturalization.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2 – English and Civics Testing To try again, you would need to file a new N-400 and pay the filing fee again.