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The 2025 US citizenship test: 128 questions, 20 asked, 12 to pass
Key takeaways
- The 2025 civics test uses a bank of 128 questions.
- The officer asks up to 20 out loud. You need 12 correct answers to pass.
- It applies if you filed your Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. Earlier filers take the older test.
- Applicants 65 or older with 20 years as permanent residents study 20 starred questions. The officer asks 10 and you need 6.
- A few answers change after elections, and four depend on where you live.
If you are applying to become a US citizen, you will take a civics test at your naturalization interview. In 2025 the test changed. This guide explains how the 2025 version works, who takes it, and what to study.
What the civics test is
The civics test is spoken. A USCIS officer asks you questions about American government, American history, and national symbols and holidays. You answer out loud. You do not write anything for this part.
It is one part of your naturalization interview. The interview also includes an English test (reading, writing and speaking) and a review of your application. Read more in our guide to what to expect at the interview.
The numbers at a glance
| Standard 2025 test | 65/20 special consideration | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions in the bank | 128 | 20 (marked with a star) |
| Questions the officer asks | Up to 20 | Up to 10 |
| Correct answers to pass | 12 | 6 |
That is 60 percent in both cases. See how many questions you need to pass for how the interview can end early, and the 65/20 rule for who qualifies.
Which version of the test do you take?
The 2025 version applies to applicants who filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. If you filed before that date, you take the earlier version of the test, which has 100 questions. The officer asks up to 10 of them and you need 6 correct.
Not sure which one applies to you? Look at the date on your receipt notice. If it is on or after October 20, 2025, study the 128 questions.
How the 2025 test compares with the earlier one
| Earlier test (filed before Oct 20, 2025) | 2025 test (filed on or after Oct 20, 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions in the bank | 100 | 128 |
| Questions asked | Up to 10 | Up to 20 |
| Correct answers to pass | 6 | 12 |
| 65/20 special consideration | 10 asked, 6 correct | 10 asked, 6 correct, from 20 starred questions |
The bank is bigger and the officer asks more questions. The share you need to get right is the same, 60 percent. The bigger bank means you cannot rely on luck. Learn all of it.
What is on the test
The 128 questions fall into three groups and eight sections.
| Group | Section | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| American Government | Principles of American Government | 15 |
| American Government | System of Government | 47 |
| American Government | Rights and Responsibilities | 10 |
| American History | Colonial Period and Independence | 17 |
| American History | 1800s | 10 |
| American History | Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information | 19 |
| Symbols and Holidays | Symbols | 6 |
| Symbols and Holidays | Holidays | 4 |
Most questions have more than one correct answer. Some ask for a number of answers, such as "Name three national U.S. holidays." Here are three examples, exactly as they appear on the list:
Question 7 *
How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
- Twenty-seven (27)
Question 21
How many U.S. senators are there?
- One hundred (100)
Question 119
What is the capital of the United States?
- Washington, D.C.
Answers that change or depend on you
Eight questions need special attention. Four have answers that change after elections or appointments: the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice. See the current answers.
The other four depend on where you live: your senator, your representative, your governor and your state capital. See how to answer the state questions, including special rules for D.C. and the territories.
Common worries
"My English is not strong." The civics test is separate from the English test. Some applicants are exempt from English and may take the civics test in their own language. See the age rules and the English test guide.
"I will forget everything when the officer speaks." Nerves are normal. Practice by listening to questions, not only reading them, and take several mock interviews before the day.
"I failed a part." You usually get one more chance on the part you failed. See what happens if you fail.
"Can I even apply?" Check the citizenship requirements first, then see the steps from filing to the oath. If you want to test in your own language, read who may.
How to prepare
- Study a few questions a day, out loud. The test is spoken, so practice speaking your answers.
- Review the ones you miss. Come back to them a day later, then a few days later.
- Learn the answers that change and the four that depend on where you live.
- Take mock interviews. Practice stopping at 12 right answers, as the real test can.
- Check for updates just before your interview.
Our 14-day study plan turns this into a schedule, and this free practice set lets you start today.
Common questions
How many questions are on the 2025 citizenship test?
The bank has 128 questions. The officer asks up to 20 of them out loud, and you must answer at least 12 correctly to pass.
Is the citizenship test written or oral?
The civics test is oral. The officer asks and you answer out loud. The English test has reading and writing parts, covered in our guide to the English test.
Do I have to memorize all 128 questions?
The officer decides which questions to ask, so you should be ready for any of them. If you qualify for the 65/20 rule, you study only 20.
What if I filed my application before October 20, 2025?
Then you take the earlier version of the civics test, with 100 questions. The officer asks up to 10 and you need 6 correct.