Citizenship test 2026: which test you take and what is on it

In 2026 there are two civics tests in use, and your N-400 filing date decides yours. USCIS: "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." Most interviews in 2026 are for applications filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025, so the 2025 test, but if you filed before that date you take the 2008 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 2025 test (filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025)

USCIS: "The 2025 naturalization civics test is an oral test consisting of 20 questions from the list of 128 civics test questions. You must answer 12 questions correctly to pass the 2025 test. You will fail the test if you answer 9 of the 20 questions incorrectly." The 128 questions are public and so are the official answers; Civico shows them word for word (all 128 questions and answers). They are grouped like this:

American Government: Principles of American Government

questions 1 to 15 (15)

American Government: System of Government

questions 16 to 62 (47)

American Government: Rights and Responsibilities

questions 63 to 72 (10)

American History: Colonial Period and Independence

questions 73 to 89 (17)

American History: 1800s

questions 90 to 99 (10)

American History: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

questions 100 to 118 (19)

Symbols And Holidays: Symbols

questions 119 to 124 (6)

Symbols And Holidays: Holidays

questions 125 to 128 (4)

Twenty of them are marked for the 65/20 special consideration (the starred questions), and 8 have answers that change with elections and appointments (today's answers).

The 2008 test (filed before Oct. 20, 2025)

USCIS: "The 2008 naturalization civics test is an oral test, and the USCIS officer will ask you up to 10 questions from the list of 100 civics test questions. You must answer 6 questions correctly to pass the 2008 test. You will fail the test if you answer 5 of the 10 questions incorrectly." All 100 questions and answers.

The English test

USCIS: "You must read aloud one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English." "You must write one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English." And: "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." The official reading and writing word lists are short; Civico's Pass Pack includes both.

If you do not pass

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."

Practice the way the interview works

The civics test is oral: the officer asks, you answer in your own words, and there are no choices to pick from. Civico asks you to say the answer out loud, then shows the official answers so you can judge yourself; the mock interview follows the stop rules above. 10 questions and one mock interview a day are free.

Sources: The Naturalization Interview and Test on uscis.gov (USCIS last reviewed it on 10/31/2025; we read it on Oct. 26, 2026); Study for the Test and the official lists on uscis.gov. Civico is not affiliated with USCIS.