US naturalization civics test
The oral test about American government and history that you take at your naturalization interview.
At the interview an officer asks you up to 20 questions out of 128, aloud, and you must answer at least 12 correctly. On Asagno you study the questions with their answers and then sit a timed multiple-choice practice exam. Questions whose answer depends on where you live or who holds an office today (your senators, your governor, the president) are not in the bank: look them up at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates before your interview.
Test
Oral civics test at the naturalization interview
Questions
Up to 20 asked, from a list of 128
To pass
12 correct answers
Version
2025 test, for applications filed on or after 20 Oct 2025; earlier applicants may be on the 100-question 2008 test
65/20 rule
Age 65+ with 20 years as a permanent resident: 20 marked questions, 10 asked, 6 correct
Also tested
English reading, writing and speaking, separately
Study the questions first, then take the timed practice exam to see where you stand.
Every question of the practice bank with its answer, by topic. Check yourself, reveal the answer and mark what you don’t know yet.
20 questions drawn at random from the bank, with the real exam’s time limit and pass mark.
The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, rule of law
Congress, the president, the courts, the states
Voting, the Oath, taxes, civic participation
The Revolution and the Founders
The Civil War, the world wars, civil rights
The flag, the anthem, national holidays
The Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the 27 amendments, the rule of law and checks and balances: the first theme of the US civics test, with a real question.
Congress, the president, the Supreme Court and the states: how many senators and representatives, how long each serves, who signs and vetoes bills, and the federal and state powers, with a real civics test question.
Who can vote, serve on a jury and run for office, the Oath of Allegiance, taxes, the Selective Service and civic participation: the rights and responsibilities questions of the US civics test.
The history questions of the US civics test: colonial period and independence, the 1800s and the Civil War, the world wars, the Cold War, civil rights and September 11, with a real question.
The flag, the anthem, the Statue of Liberty, Washington D.C. and the national holidays: the symbols and holidays section of the US civics test, with a real question.
Most applicants need to be a lawful permanent resident for 5 years (3 if married to a US citizen) and meet the other requirements on the USCIS website.
Learn the official answers. Several questions accept more than one correct answer; you only need one. Use the study page to mark the ones you do not know yet.
The names of the president, vice president, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice, and your own state’s senators, representative, governor and capital, are asked on the day. Look them up before your interview.
Sit the timed 20-question practice exam. Aim for 12 or more right, the pass mark of the real test.
No. The real test is spoken: an officer asks, you answer. Here the questions come from the public USCIS list but you choose from four answers. It is practice for the content, not a copy of the interview.
It depends on when you filed your application. USCIS publishes both lists on its site; check the test-updates page and your appointment notice.
You get a second chance: USCIS retests you on the part you failed, normally 60 to 90 days after the first interview.
The USCIS questions are US government material in the public domain. Rules and fees change: always check uscis.gov. Asagno is not affiliated with USCIS or the US government.
Courses that build the vocabulary and grammar you need, level by level.