US Citizenship Test

Theu.S.Naturalizationtest

The naturalization test is given by a USCIS officer during your naturalization (eligibility) interview, after you file Form N- 400, Application for Naturalization, and attend a biometrics appointment. It measures two requirements of citizenship law: an understanding of the English language, including the ability to speak, read, and write basic English, and a knowledge of the fundamentals of U.S. history and government (civics). There is no written multiple-choice exam: the English and civics tests are given face to face, and you receive a written result at the end of the interview.

Exam Pattern

Part	HowItIsGiven	PassingStandard
English:Speaking	Judgedbytheofficerthroughouttheinterview ,	Youunderstandandanswertheofficer'squestionsin
	mainlyasyouanswerquestionsaboutyourN-	English
	400
English:Reading	Youreadsentencesaloud usuallyonatablet ,	Readoneofthreesentencescorrectly
English:Writing	Theofficerreadsasentencealoudandyouwrite	Writeoneofthreesentencescorrectly
	it usuallyonatablet ,
Civics	Oral:theofficerasksquestionsfromtheofficial	Answer12ofupto20questionscorrectly
	bank andyouansweraloud ,

The civics test ends as soon as you have answered 12 questions correctly (you pass) or 9 questions incorrectly (you do not pass that attempt), so most applicants hear fewer than 20 questions. Answers do not have to repeat the official wording word for word, but USCIS encourages applicants to answer with the answers on the official list, which Section 7 reproduces in full.

Civics Test Versions

The version of the civics test you take depends on when you filed your N-400. Applicants who filed after the current test took effect take the 128-question version. Applicants who filed before that date take the earlier 100-question version. The USCIS Study for the Test page shows which version matches your filing date.

Feature	CurrentVersion(128Questions)	EarlierVersion(100Questions)
Questionsinthebank	128	100
Questionsasked	Upto20	Upto10
Correctanswerstopass	12	6

Feature	CurrentVersion(128Questions)	EarlierVersion(100Questions)
Teststopsearly	At12corrector9incorrect	At6correct
65/20specialconsideration	Study20starredquestions;10asked 6correct ,	Study20starredquestions;10asked 6correct ,
	topass	topass

Exemptions and Accommodations

Some applicants are exempt from the English test because of age and years as a permanent resident at the time of filing. They still take the civics test, and they may take it in their own language with an interpreter they bring.

Rule	WhoQualifei s	WhatChanges
50/20	Age50orolderandapermanentresidentfor20	NoEnglishtest;civicsinyourownlanguage
	years
55/15	Age55orolderandapermanentresidentfor15	NoEnglishtest;civicsinyourownlanguage
	years
65/20	Age65orolderandapermanentresidentfor20	NoEnglishtest;civicsinyourownlanguageonthe
	years	20starredquestionsonly(10asked 6correctto ,
		pass)
Medicaldisability	Aphysicalordevelopmentaldisabilityormental	ExceptionfromtheEnglishand/orcivics
exception	impairmentthatpreventslearningEnglishor	requirement requested with Form N-648 completed ,
	civics	byalicensedmedicalprofessional
Accommodations	Applicantswithdisabilities	Reasonable accommodations such as sign- ,
		languageinterpretationorextratime requestedin ,
		advance

Exam at a Glance

ExamAspect	Details
Administeredby	US CitizenshipandImmigrationServices(USCIS) anagencyoftheDepartmentofHomeland . . ,
	Security
Application	Form N-400 Application for Naturalization filed online or on paper , ,
Filingfee	$710onlineor$760onpaper whichincludesbiometrics;areducedfeeof$380isavailableonpaper ,
	foreligiblehouseholdincomes Feeschangeperiodically soconfirmthecurrentamountontheUSCIS . ,
	feeschedulebeforefiling .
Where	AtaUSCISfieldoffice attheschedulednaturalizationinterview ,
Length	Interviewscommonlytakeabout20to30minutes includingbothtests ,

ExamAspect	Details
Format	Facetofaceandoral;readingandwritingareusuallydoneonadigitaltablet
Result	GiveninwritingattheendoftheinterviewonFormN-652
Ifyoudonotpass	Asecondopportunityisscheduled usuallywithin60to90days toretestonlythepartyoudidnot , ,
	pass(English civics orboth) , ,
Ifyoudonotpasstwice	Theapplicationisdenied;youmayrequestahearingonFormN-336within30daysorfileanewN-
	400
Afterapproval	YoutaketheOathofAllegianceatanaturalizationceremony sometimesonthesameday ,

Several civics questions ask for officials by name: the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the Chief Justice. Answer with the person serving on the day of your interview. USCIS lists the current names at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates. Your state's senators, your representative, your governor, and your state capital depend on where you live.