US citizenship test practice for your interview

The number depends on your Form N-400 filing date. If you filed before October 20, 2025, the 2008 civics test uses a bank of 100 questions; the officer asks up to 10 and you need 6 correct. If you filed on or after October 20, 2025, the 2025 test uses a bank of 128 questions; the officer asks up to 20 and you need 12 correct. The civics test is oral.

The civics questions cover US government, American history, geography, symbols, holidays, and rights and responsibilities. USCIS publishes separate 100-question (2008) and 128-question (2025) banks. Your filing date determines which bank applies. Browse the 2008 questions or 2025 questions, and use the filing-date helper if you are unsure.

The naturalization test includes an interview about your Form N-400, an English test (speaking, reading, and writing) unless you qualify for an exception, and an oral civics test about US history and government. The civics question bank and scoring rules depend on when you filed Form N-400.

No. The USCIS civics test is an oral exam: an officer asks questions and you answer aloud. It is not a multiple-choice test. USCIS also evaluates English speaking during the interview and tests reading and writing, unless you qualify for an exemption.

Most applicants take the naturalization test in English. Some applicants may take the civics test in another language if they meet an age-and-residency exception, or qualify for a disability-related exception. For example, the English requirement does not apply to applicants who are at least 50 and have been permanent residents for 20 years, or at least 55 with 15 years. Eligible applicants generally bring their own interpreter. Check USCIS exceptions and accommodations for your situation.

There is no separate fee to take the civics test at your interview. You pay a filing fee for Form N-400, the naturalization application; the amount depends on filing method and eligibility for a reduced fee or waiver. Check the current USCIS fee schedule before filing.

Yes, applicants who meet the requirements and prepare can pass. For civics, you must answer at least 6 of up to 10 questions correctly on the 2008 test, or 12 of up to 20 on the 2025 test. Study the question bank that matches your filing date and practice answering aloud.

It depends on your English skills and familiarity with US history and government. The civics test is oral, and the officer stops asking once you reach the passing score. Studying the correct USCIS question bank and practicing aloud can make the format more familiar.

If you do not pass one or more test portions at your first naturalization interview, USCIS generally schedules a second examination 60 to 90 days later and retests only the portion you did not pass. If you do not pass again, USCIS may deny your Form N-400.

There is no fixed time limit for the civics questions. The officer asks up to 10 questions on the 2008 test or up to 20 on the 2025 test, and stops when you pass or reach the maximum. The English test and review of your application are also part of the naturalization interview, so the full appointment takes longer.

If you fail the English or civics test at your first interview, USCIS generally gives you a second opportunity on the portion you failed, at a re-examination 60 to 90 days later. If you fail that portion again, USCIS may deny your naturalization application.