U.S. Citizenship Questions: Civics, English, and Interview

The U.S. citizenship test has two parts: an oral civics quiz on American government and history, and a basic English check covering speaking, reading, and writing. If you filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, a USCIS officer will ask you up to 20 civics questions drawn from a bank of 128, and you need 12 correct to pass.¹ Federal law also requires you to read and write simple English sentences.²

Which Version of the Test You’ll Take

USCIS rolled out a redesigned civics test for anyone who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025.³ Applicants who filed before that date still take the older 2008 test. The two versions differ in the number of questions and the passing score:

2025 version: 128 study questions, up to 20 asked, 12 correct to pass, 9 wrong to fail.¹
2008 version: 100 study questions, up to 10 asked, 6 correct to pass, 5 wrong to fail.⁴

Under both versions, the officer stops asking as soon as you reach the passing or the failing threshold, whichever comes first. The civics questions are entirely oral. The officer reads each one aloud and you answer verbally, nothing written.

The Civics Questions

The 2025 study bank covers three areas: American government (the three branches, the Bill of Rights, current officeholders such as the president and your state’s senators), American history (colonial period, the Revolution, Civil War, both World Wars, the civil rights movement), and integrated civics (geography, national holidays, symbols like the flag and the Statue of Liberty). The 2025 version added questions on more recent history and additional figures, so work from the current official list rather than older study materials.

Some questions have answers that change with elected officials or population figures. Update those before your interview using the USCIS study page rather than trusting a printed list.

The English Portion

Federal law sets the standard at “words in ordinary usage,” not fluency.² Three skills get tested.

Speaking

There is no separate speaking test. The officer evaluates your spoken English throughout the interview as you answer questions about your N-400 application. If you understand the questions and can respond clearly enough to communicate basic biographical information, you’ll pass this piece.⁵

Reading

The officer shows you up to three sentences and asks you to read one aloud. You only need to read one of the three correctly to pass.⁵ Sentences are built from a limited vocabulary list published by USCIS, including words like “President,” “Congress,” “citizens,” and “vote.”⁶ Studying that list is one of the most efficient ways to prepare.

Writing

The officer dictates up to three sentences and you write them down. You need one of the three correct.⁵ A separate writing vocabulary list covers the words you might encounter, including place names like “Alaska” and “Washington, D.C.” and terms like “taxes,” “freedom of speech,” and “dollar bill.”⁷ Minor spelling errors that don’t change the meaning of the sentence generally won’t cause a failure.

Age and Disability Exceptions

Not everyone takes the same test. Federal law carves out exceptions for older long-term residents and applicants with certain disabilities.²

50/20 and 55/15

Two groups can skip the English reading and writing tests entirely and take civics in their native language through an interpreter. The 50/20 exception covers applicants who are at least 50 with 20 years of permanent residence. The 55/15 exception covers applicants at least 55 with 15 years of permanent residence.⁸ Both age and residency have to be met on the date you file your N-400, not on the interview date.⁹

The 65/20 Simplified Civics Test

Applicants at least 65 years old with 20 or more years of permanent residence get everything above plus a shorter civics test. Under the 2025 version, you study only 20 specially marked questions from the 128-question bank. The officer asks 10, and you need 6 correct. You can take it in your preferred language.¹⁰

Disability Waivers

If a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment prevents you from learning or demonstrating English or civics knowledge, you can request a complete waiver of the testing requirements. This means filing Form N-648, a medical certification completed by a licensed medical professional who has evaluated you in person or, where state law permits, through a real-time telehealth exam.¹¹ The disability must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 months.¹²

How the Interview Runs

The test happens inside the naturalization interview at a USCIS field office. Bring your Permanent Resident Card, a government-issued photo ID, and your interview appointment notice. USCIS also recommends bringing originals of documents relevant to your application, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and court records if you have a criminal history.¹³ If your green card has expired, the N-400 receipt notice automatically extends its validity for 24 months from the card’s expiration date.

The officer places you under oath, reviews your N-400 answers, asks follow-up questions about your background, and administers the English and civics portions. Your spoken English is being evaluated the whole time, not just during a defined test segment.⁵ At the end, the officer gives you Form N-652, which shows one of three results: your application is recommended for approval, a decision can’t yet be made (usually because more documents or a retest are needed), or your application is denied.¹⁴

If You Don’t Pass

Failing the English or civics test on the first try isn’t the end. USCIS must give you a second chance within 60 to 90 days of the initial interview.¹⁵ You only retake the portion you failed. If you passed civics but failed reading, you’ll only face reading again.

If you fail the second attempt, USCIS will deny your application. The denial notice must include the specific requirements you didn’t meet and information about requesting a hearing.¹⁵ A denied applicant can file a new N-400 at any time (paying the fee again and restarting the process) or request an administrative hearing to challenge the denial before a different USCIS officer.

What the Test Doesn’t Cover

Passing the civics and English tests doesn’t get you citizenship on its own. USCIS also has to be satisfied that you meet the continuous residence and physical presence requirements (generally five years as a permanent resident, or three if you’re married to a U.S. citizen, with at least half that time physically in the country),¹⁶ that you show good moral character during the statutory period,¹⁷ and, for men who lived in the United States between 18 and 25, that you registered with the Selective Service System when required.¹⁸ Study for the test, but don’t assume a passing score is the last hurdle.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 2025 Civics Test
2
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1423 – Requirements as to Understanding the English Language
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Check for Test Updates
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Study for the Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Naturalization Interview and Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Reading Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Writing Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Exceptions and Accommodations
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part E Chapter 2 – English and Civics Testing
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 Version)
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Form N-648 – Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Commonly Asked Questions About the Naturalization Process
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form N-652 – Naturalization Interview Results
15
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 4 – Results of the Naturalization Examination
16
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1427 – Requirements of Naturalization
17
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Adjudicative Factors
18
Selective Service System. Who Needs to Register