What Is the Civics Test for U.S. Citizenship?

The civics test for U.S. citizenship is an oral exam given during your naturalization interview at a USCIS field office. A USCIS officer asks up to 10 questions drawn from a published list of 100, and you need to answer 6 correctly to pass.¹ Federal law requires this knowledge of American history and government as a condition of naturalization.²

What the Officer Will Ask You

Every question comes from the same published bank of 100, which USCIS groups into three areas:³

American Government, 57 questions. Principles of democracy, the three branches, rights and responsibilities of citizens, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, elected representatives, and how a bill becomes law.
American History, 30 questions. The colonial period and independence, the 1800s including the Civil War, and events from the 1900s to the present.
Integrated Civics, 13 questions. U.S. geography, national symbols, and federal holidays.

Some answers change over time. Questions about the current President, the Speaker of the House, or your state’s senators require the person holding that office on the day of your interview, not the day you started studying. USCIS posts updates on its website when these answers change, so check shortly before your appointment.⁴

Which Version of the Test You’ll Take

There are two versions in use, and your filing date decides which one you get. Applicants who filed Form N-400 before October 20, 2025, take the 2008 civics test. Applicants who filed on or after October 20, 2025, take the 2025 civics test.⁴ What matters is the date you filed, not the date of your interview. USCIS publishes separate study materials for each version, so make sure the questions you study match your filing date.

How the Test Is Scored

The exam is entirely oral. The officer reads a question, you answer aloud, and the officer moves to the next one. As soon as you give 6 correct answers, the officer stops the civics portion. If you give 5 wrong answers before reaching 6 correct, you fail that section.¹

The civics test is one piece of a longer interview. In the same appointment, the officer reviews your N-400 application, asks about your background and eligibility, and evaluates your English throughout the conversation.⁵ English is a separate legal requirement from civics: you must read one of three sentences aloud, write one of three sentences the officer dictates, and demonstrate basic spoken English while answering questions about your application.²

Simpler or Modified Versions

Federal law lets certain applicants take a shorter civics test, take it in another language, or skip parts of the naturalization exam entirely. Age and length of permanent residence are measured as of the date you file your N-400.²

The 65/20 Shortened Civics Test

If you are over 65 and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years, you study a designated list of just 20 questions rather than all 100, and you may take the test in the language of your choice.⁶ The 20 questions cover foundational topics such as the current President, the first President, the U.S. capital, why the flag has 50 stars, and when Independence Day is celebrated. USCIS uses a shortened bank tied to whichever test version matches your filing date.⁴

Language Accommodation at 50/20 and 55/15

Two groups can skip the English test and take the civics exam in their native language through an interpreter:

50/20: over 50 years old with at least 20 years as a lawful permanent resident.
55/15: over 55 years old with at least 15 years as a lawful permanent resident.

These applicants still face the full 100-question civics bank. The only accommodation is the language.⁷

Medical Disability Waiver

If a physical disability, developmental disability, or mental impairment prevents you from learning or demonstrating knowledge of English or civics, you can request a waiver of one or both requirements using Form N-648. A medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist licensed in the United States must complete the form and certify under penalty of perjury that the impairment is the reason you cannot meet the requirement.⁸⁹

What Happens If You Fail

Failing on the first try is not the end of your case. Federal regulations give you a second chance within 90 days of the first interview, and you only retake the portion you failed. If you passed civics but missed the English reading section, the civics questions do not come back around.¹⁰

If you cannot attend the second appointment, tell USCIS before the date. Not showing up without prior notice counts as failing the second attempt.¹⁰

If you fail the same portion at the second appointment, USCIS will deny your N-400. From there you have two options: file a new N-400 and start over with a new fee, or request an administrative hearing by filing Form N-336 within 30 calendar days of the denial. A different USCIS officer reviews the case at that hearing, though reversal is not guaranteed. Miss the 30-day window and USCIS will reject the hearing request.¹¹

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Study for the Test
2
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
3
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Civics (History and Government) Questions for the Naturalization Test
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Check for Test Updates
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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. Civics Questions for the 65/20 Exemption
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eCFR. 8 CFR 312.1 – Literacy Requirements
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12 Part E Chapter 3 – Medical Disability Exception
10
eCFR. 8 CFR 312.5 – Failure to Meet Educational and Literacy Requirements
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings