US Citizenship Test 2026: interview, civics questions, pass mark and free practice
The US citizenship test is part of the naturalization interview run by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). There is no national exam date: after you file Form N-400, USCIS schedules your interview, and the civics and English tests happen at that interview. Which civics test you take depends on when you filed: on or after 20 October 2025, the 2025 test (128 questions to study); before that date, the 2008 test (100 questions). This guide explains both, how the interview is booked, the pass marks, and how to prepare.
US citizenship test at a glance
| Conducting body | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
| What it is for | Naturalization as a US citizen |
| Mode | Oral and written, face to face with a USCIS officer at the interview |
| Questions | 2025 test: 20 civics questions from 128; 2008 test: up to 10 from 100; plus reading, writing and speaking |
| Time | No fixed clock; part of the interview |
| Marking | 2025: 12 right to pass; 2008: 6 right to pass; reading and writing: 1 sentence of 3 |
| Language | English (some applicants qualify for exceptions) |
| How often | Two attempts per application |
| Official website | uscis.gov |
Test dates and booking
You cannot book the citizenship test yourself. You file Form N-400, and USCIS sends you an interview appointment. The civics and English tests are given at that interview by the officer who reviews your application. So your "exam date" is the date on your interview notice; until you have it, there is no date to plan around except your own filing date, which decides your edition.
If you fail any part, USCIS's interview and test page says you get two attempts, and you are retested on the part you failed between 60 and 90 days from the date of your first interview (checked 20 October 2026).
How to apply
- Read the eligibility rules and the current fee on the N-400 page on uscis.gov.
- File Form N-400 online or on paper, with the documents and fee the form instructions ask for.
- Attend your biometrics appointment if USCIS schedules one.
- Wait for the interview notice, with the date, time and USCIS office.
- Prepare for the edition that matches your filing date, and check the current answers to questions about office holders on uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates shortly before your interview.
Keep ready for the interview: your interview notice, your Green Card, passport and any documents the notice lists.
Exam pattern
| Part | 2025 civics test | 2008 civics test |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes it | N-400 filed on or after 20 October 2025 | N-400 filed before 20 October 2025 |
| Questions to study | 128 | 100 |
| Asked | 20, orally | Up to 10, orally |
| Pass | 12 right | 6 right |
| The officer stops at | 12 right or 9 wrong | 6 right or 5 wrong |
The English test is the same for both:
| Part | How it works | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | The officer judges your spoken English during the interview, from your answers about your N-400 | The officer's assessment |
| Reading | Read a sentence aloud | 1 sentence correct out of 3 |
| Writing | Write a sentence the officer reads out | 1 sentence correct out of 3 |
The 65/20 consideration applies if you are 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 years or more. You then study only the 20 specially marked questions, are asked 10, and pass with 6 right. Other exceptions and accommodations are on uscis.gov.
Syllabus
- Civics: American government (principles of democracy, the system of government, rights and responsibilities), American history (colonial period and independence, the 1800s, recent history) and symbols and holidays. You answer in your own words; the officer does not expect the exact wording.
- Reading and writing: sentences built from USCIS's official reading and writing vocabulary lists.
- Speaking: questions about your own application.
Our US citizenship syllabus page sets out every part.
A plan for the weeks before your interview
| Weeks | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Find your edition from your filing date. Take one full practice interview and see which civics categories are weak. |
| 2 to 4 | Learn 10 to 15 civics questions a day, saying the answers aloud. Revisit missed ones the next day. |
| 5 | Two practice interviews a week. Look up your two US senators, your representative and your governor. |
| 6 to 7 | Reading and writing from the vocabulary lists; speaking practice on your N-400 answers, so you can explain every line. |
| Last week | One practice interview a day; check the test updates page for office holders. |
Pass three practice interviews in a row before the real one. How to use mock tests explains how to space them.
Useful links
- The naturalization interview and test (uscis.gov)
- Form N-400 (uscis.gov)
- 2025 civics test: 128 questions and answers (uscis.gov PDF)
- Study materials and vocabulary lists (uscis.gov)
- Free US citizenship practice interview
- US citizenship syllabus
- US citizenship interview dates
- Canadian Citizenship Test 2026: booking and pass mark
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the US citizenship test in 2026?
If you filed Form N-400 on or after 20 October 2025, the officer asks 20 of the 128 civics questions and you need 12 right. If you filed earlier, you get up to 10 of the 100 questions and need 6 right.
When is the US citizenship test date?
There is no national date. USCIS schedules your naturalization interview after you file Form N-400, and the tests are part of that interview.
What happens if I fail the citizenship test?
You get two attempts. USCIS retests you on the part you failed between 60 and 90 days after your first interview.
Do I have to answer in the exact words of the USCIS list?
No. The officer accepts an answer that gives the right fact in your own words. Our practice checks answers the same way, against USCIS's published answers.
Is the 2025 civics test harder than the 2008 test?
It has more questions to study (128 against 100), asks up to 20 instead of 10, and needs 12 right instead of 6. The share you need right is about the same.