Sample U.S. Citizenship Test Questions and Answers

Sample U.S. citizenship test questions and answers come straight from an official USCIS bank, and knowing the format helps you study the right way. During your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer reads up to 10 civics questions aloud from that bank and you answer out loud. Once you reach six correct, the officer stops and you have passed.¹ The 2025 version of the test, which applies to N-400 applications filed on or after October 20, 2025, draws from a pool of 128 questions.² Applications filed before that date use the older 2008 version with 100 questions. Both cover the same subject areas, and many questions overlap.

The samples below reflect the topics you will encounter on either version. Many questions accept more than one correct answer, and you only need to give one accurate response to get credit.

Government Questions

Government makes up the largest share of the bank. It covers the Constitution, the three branches, and the rights of citizenship.

What is the supreme law of the land? The Constitution.³
What does the Constitution do? It sets up the government, defines the government, and protects the basic rights of Americans.
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? Checks and balances, or separation of powers.³
Who makes federal laws? Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
How many U.S. Senators are there? One hundred.³
Who is in charge of the executive branch? The President.
What does the judicial branch do? It reviews and explains laws, and resolves disputes.

Rights and responsibilities come up often. If asked to name two rights from the Declaration of Independence, acceptable answers include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.³ You may also be asked to identify a right that belongs only to U.S. citizens, such as voting in a federal election or running for federal office.

History Questions

History questions span the colonial era through the twentieth century. They test broad strokes, not specialist knowledge.

Why did the colonists fight the British? Acceptable answers include high taxes, taxation without representation, and lack of self-government.
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? July 4, 1776.³
Name one problem that led to the Civil War. Slavery, economic reasons, or states’ rights.
What did Abraham Lincoln do? He freed the slaves through the Emancipation Proclamation, saved the Union, and led the country during the Civil War.
Who did the United States fight in World War II? Japan, Germany, and Italy.³
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? He fought for civil rights and equality for all Americans.

Geography, Symbols, and Holidays

Integrated civics covers geography, national symbols, and holidays. The questions can feel like trivia, but they count the same toward your six correct answers.

Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. The Missouri River or the Mississippi River.³
Why does the flag have 13 stripes? Because there were 13 original colonies.³
Why does the flag have 50 stars? Because there is one star for each state.³
What is the name of the national anthem? The Star-Spangled Banner.
Name a state that borders Canada. Acceptable answers include Alaska, Maine, New York, Washington, and several others.

If asked to name a state bordering Mexico and Texas comes to mind, that is enough. One correct answer is all you owe.

Questions Whose Answers Depend on Where You Live

Three questions in the bank do not have a universal correct answer. You have to look these up for your state and district before your interview.

Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now? Name a current senator from your state. Residents of Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories should answer that they have no U.S. senators.⁴
Name your U.S. Representative. Give the name of the representative for your congressional district. Territory residents can name their nonvoting delegate or resident commissioner.⁴
Who is the Governor of your state now? D.C. residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.⁴

These trip up otherwise well-prepared applicants. Confirm the names on your state’s official website or senate.gov close to your interview date.

Answers That Change With Current Officeholders

Several other questions have answers that shift when officeholders change. Check the USCIS updates page before your interview so you are giving the current name. As of the most recent updates, the President is Donald Trump and the Speaker of the House is Mike Johnson.⁴ Outdated flashcards and third-party practice sets are one of the most avoidable reasons people miss questions they actually studied for. Start with the official USCIS PDF, which is free, and cross-check any app against it.

The Reduced List for Applicants 65 and Older

If you are 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years when you file your N-400, you study a shorter list. Instead of the full 128 questions, you learn 20 designated items marked with an asterisk on the official list.⁵ The format is unchanged: the officer asks up to 10 from that smaller pool, and you need six correct.

Sample questions on the 65/20 list stick to core concepts. You might be asked who the current President is (Donald Trump), what the capital of the United States is (Washington, D.C.), or when Independence Day is (July 4).

If You Miss Too Many

Missing more than four questions on your first try does not end your application. Federal regulations give you a second chance within 90 days of the initial examination, and you only retake the portion you failed.⁶ If you fail the second time, USCIS denies the application, and you would need to file a new N-400 to try again. Most applicants pass the first time: USCIS reports roughly 90% pass on the first attempt and about 94% pass when re-examinations are included.⁷

The civics test is one piece of a broader interview that also evaluates your English speaking, reading, and writing, and reviews your N-400. Applicants who qualify for statutory age-and-residency exemptions (50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years) can take the civics test in their native language with their own interpreter.⁸ The sample questions above are the same either way; only the language of the exchange changes.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Study for the Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 2025 Civics Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics (History and Government) Questions for the Naturalization Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics Test Answer Updates
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics Questions and Answers for the 65/20 Special Consideration
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eCFR. 8 CFR 312.5 – Failure to Meet Educational and Literacy Requirements
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Naturalization Statistics
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Exceptions and Accommodations