Citizenship interview questions: what the officer asks

USCIS: "During your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer will ask you questions about your application and background." Unless you qualify for an exemption, the interview also includes the English test and the civics test. Here is each part, in USCIS's words, and how to prepare for it.

1. Questions about your application and background

The officer goes over the Form N-400 you filed and your eligibility. Read your own N-400 again before the interview, and be ready to answer about anything in it in English; if something changed since you filed (an address, a trip, a job), say so. USCIS: "You will be given two attempts to take the English and civics tests and to answer all questions relating to your naturalization application in English."

2. The English test

Speaking: "Your ability to speak and understand English will be determined by a USCIS officer during your eligibility interview on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization." Reading: "You must read aloud one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English." Writing: "You must write one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English." The sentences come from short official word lists (how the reading and writing test works).

3. The civics test

Which one depends on your filing date: "Aliens who file Form N-400 to apply for naturalization before Oct. 20, 2025, will take the 2008 naturalization civics test. Aliens who file Form N-400 to apply for naturalization on or after Oct. 20, 2025, will take the 2025 naturalization civics test."

2025 test

For N-400s filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025. The officer asks up to 20 of the 128 questions; you need 12 right. The officer stops at 12 right or 9 wrong.

2008 test

For N-400s filed before Oct. 20, 2025. The officer asks up to 10 of the 100 questions; you need 6 right. The officer stops at 6 right or 5 wrong.

65/20

65 or older with 20 or more years as a permanent resident: 10 questions from the 20 starred questions, in the language you choose.

Reading and writing

Read out loud 1 of 3 sentences correctly and write 1 of 3 sentences correctly. The officer judges your spoken English during the interview.

The questions are published in full, with the official answers: the 128 questions (2025 test) and the 100 questions (2008 test). Some answers change with elections; see today's answers and check uscis.gov again before your interview.

If you do not pass a part

USCIS: "You will be given two attempts to take the English and civics tests and to answer all questions relating to your naturalization application in English. If you fail any of the tests at your initial interview, you will be retested on the portion of the test that you failed (English or civics) between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview."

Exemptions

Applicants 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, are exempt from the English test and may take the civics test in their own language with an interpreter; at 65 with 20 years the civics test comes from 20 marked questions. Medical disability exceptions use Form N-648. Details: the citizenship test for seniors and taking the test in Spanish.

Practice the civics part like the interview

Civico's mock interview asks random questions from your test's list and stops exactly where the officer would (12 right or 9 wrong on the 2025 test; 6 right or 5 wrong on the 2008 test). You say each answer out loud, then compare it with the official answers. One mock interview and 10 questions a day are free.

Source: The Naturalization Interview and Test on uscis.gov (USCIS last reviewed it on 10/31/2025; we read it on Oct. 26, 2026), and Exceptions and Accommodations on uscis.gov (USCIS last reviewed it on 01/09/2026; we read it on Oct. 26, 2026). Civico is not affiliated with USCIS.