US Citizenship Test: Civics, English, and Exemptions

The US citizenship test is the exam a USCIS officer gives you at your naturalization interview. It has two parts: an oral civics test on American government and history, and an English test covering reading, writing, and speaking. You need 60 percent on the civics questions to pass, and the specific version you take depends on when you filed Form N-400.¹

Which Version You Take

Your N-400 filing date is what matters. Applicants who filed before October 20, 2025, take the 2008 version, which draws from a published list of 100 civics questions. Applicants who filed on or after that date take the 2025 version, which draws from 128 questions. The 2025 test is based on the 2020 redesign, with some changes to how it is administered.¹

The scoring works differently in each version. On the 2008 test, the officer asks up to 10 questions and you need 6 right.² On the 2025 test, the officer asks up to 20 and you need 12 right.³ The passing threshold is 60 percent either way. In both versions, the officer stops asking once you reach the passing number, so you may not hear every question.

How the Test Is Given

The civics portion is entirely oral. There is no multiple-choice sheet, no bubble form, and you do not see the questions in writing. The officer reads a question aloud and you answer aloud. Each answer is marked correct or incorrect against the official answer key. No partial credit.²

The whole thing happens at your naturalization interview at a USCIS field office. That same appointment also covers a review of your N-400 answers under oath and questions about your background and eligibility. Your spoken English is judged throughout the conversation, not in a separate speaking section.⁴

What the Civics Questions Cover

Federal law requires every naturalization applicant to demonstrate knowledge of the fundamentals of US history and the principles and structure of the government.⁵ Both versions of the test split their questions into three areas.

American Government

The largest share of questions covers how the federal government works: the separation of powers, what the executive, legislative, and judicial branches each do, the purpose of the Constitution, and what the Bill of Rights protects. You should be ready for questions on citizens’ rights and responsibilities, including voting and jury service. You may also be asked to name your current US Representative, your two US Senators, or the current president and vice president.⁶

American History

History questions run from the colonial period to the present. The colonial and independence period covers topics like the reasons for the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, and the drafting of the Constitution. Nineteenth-century questions focus on the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, and westward expansion. More recent items cover the World Wars, the civil rights movement, and the September 11 attacks.

Symbols and Holidays

The last category tests practical knowledge of American geography and national symbols: identifying the Statue of Liberty, naming major rivers and bordering countries, and explaining what the stars and stripes on the flag represent. National holidays such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving also appear.

The English Test

The English portion has three components: reading, writing, and speaking. Federal law requires applicants to show they can read, write, and speak basic English.⁵

For reading, the officer shows you up to three sentences and you need to read at least one correctly out loud. For writing, the officer dictates up to three sentences and you need to write at least one correctly. The sentences use simple vocabulary from official word lists that USCIS publishes for free.⁷ Speaking is not tested in a separate section. The officer evaluates your spoken English throughout the interview based on how you answer questions about your N-400.⁴

Who Can Skip Parts of the Test

Age and disability create three exemptions.

The 50/20 rule waives the English test for applicants who are at least 50 years old and have been permanent residents for at least 20 years. The 55/15 rule does the same for applicants who are at least 55 with at least 15 years as a permanent resident. Both groups still take the civics test, but they can take it in any language they speak fluently. If you use a language other than English, you are responsible for bringing your own interpreter, who must be fluent in both languages.⁸

The 65/20 rule adds a civics break for applicants who are at least 65 and have been permanent residents for at least 20 years. They only need to study 20 designated questions rather than the full list.⁹ At the interview, the officer asks 10 of those 20 questions and 6 correct answers pass, regardless of whether the applicant is on the 2008 or 2025 track.¹⁰ 65/20 applicants can also take the civics test in the language of their choice with an interpreter.

Applicants with a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that prevents them from learning or demonstrating the required knowledge may qualify for a full exemption from both the English and civics requirements. To request one, you submit Form N-648 with your N-400. Only a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist may complete it, and the professional must evaluate you in person or by telehealth where state law allows and explain how your condition specifically prevents you from meeting the requirements.¹¹

How to Study

USCIS publishes every possible civics question and its accepted answers for free. For the 2008 version, that is the list of 100 questions. For the 2025 version, it is the 128-question list. Both come as downloadable PDFs in English and several other languages. USCIS also offers a study guide called “One Nation, One People” and vocabulary word lists for the reading and writing portions.¹²

Everything is on the USCIS website at no cost. Many public libraries and community organizations also run free citizenship classes. Because every question is published in advance, preparation is what carries you through. There are no surprise questions.

If You Fail

Failing on the first try does not end your application. USCIS schedules a second interview between 60 and 90 days after the first.¹³ You only retake the portion you failed. Pass civics but fail English, and you retake English; the reverse works the same way.⁴

Failing the second time results in a formal denial of your N-400. To try again, you file a new N-400 and pay the fee again, currently $710 online or $760 on paper, and go through biometrics and a new interview appointment.¹⁴ A denial can also be challenged through an administrative hearing on Form N-336, filed within 30 days of receiving the denial (33 if it was mailed).¹⁵

After You Pass

Passing the interview does not make you a citizen. The final legal step is the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony, in which you pledge to support and defend the Constitution, renounce allegiance to any foreign government, and accept obligations that may include bearing arms or performing civilian service when required by law.¹⁶ Some field offices hold same-day ceremonies. Otherwise, USCIS mails Form N-445 with the date and location. At the ceremony you take the oath, turn in your green card, and receive your Certificate of Naturalization.¹⁷

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Check for Test Updates
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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. 2025 Civics Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Naturalization Interview and Test
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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
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 128 Civics Questions and Answers
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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. Exceptions and Accommodations
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics Questions for the 65/20 Exemption
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Federal Register. Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Civics Test
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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. Study for the Test
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part B Chapter 4 – Results of the Naturalization Examination
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-400, Application for Naturalization
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA)
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Naturalization Ceremonies