Civico
Citizenship test study guide
The civics test has no secret questions: USCIS publishes the whole list with the official answers, and the officer asks from that list. So the study guide is the list itself, in order, plus the few answers that change and the English sentences. Here is how to work through it in seven days.
First, know which test is yours
"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." Both tests are oral; which one is yours and how many questions you get.
The 2025 list, by section (128 questions)
- 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)
The 2008 list, by section (100 questions)
- American Government: Principles of American Democracy
- questions 1 to 12 (12)
- American Government: System of Government
- questions 13 to 47 (35)
- American Government: Rights and Responsibilities
- questions 48 to 57 (10)
- American History: Colonial Period and Independence
- questions 58 to 70 (13)
- American History: 1800s
- questions 71 to 77 (7)
- American History: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
- questions 78 to 87 (10)
- Integrated Civics: Geography
- questions 88 to 95 (8)
- Integrated Civics: Symbols
- questions 96 to 98 (3)
- Integrated Civics: Holidays
- questions 99 to 100 (2)
What changes and what to check
- Answers that change: 8 questions on the 2025 list and 10 on the 2008 list depend on elections, appointments or where you live. Today's answers, with the date we checked uscis.gov.
- 65/20: if you are 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, study only the 20 starred questions.
- English: the reading list has 64 words and the writing list 75; how that test works.
A seven-day plan
- Day 1: American Government, Principles (2025: questions 1 to 15). Read each question, say the answer out loud, then read the official answers.
- Day 2: System of Government (16 to 62 on the 2025 list, the biggest section). Split it in two sittings.
- Day 3: Rights and Responsibilities, then the answers that change: learn today's names and your own state's officials.
- Day 4: American History: Colonial Period and Independence, and the 1800s.
- Day 5: Recent American History, Symbols and Holidays. Then the reading and writing word lists.
- Day 6: two mock interviews. Write down every question you missed and reread its official answers.
- Day 7: the missed questions only, then one last mock interview. Check uscis.gov's test updates page the day before the interview.
How to practice
Say the answer before you look. The interview is oral, so reading the answers silently trains the wrong skill. Civico shows a question, waits for you to say the answer, then shows the official answers and asks whether you knew it; missed questions come back. 10 questions and one mock interview a day are free; the Pass Pack ($14.99 once) opens all questions, unlimited mock interviews and the word lists.
Sources: Study for the Test, the 2025 list, the 2008 list and the word lists on uscis.gov; The Naturalization Interview and Test on uscis.gov (USCIS last reviewed it on 10/31/2025; we read it on Oct. 26, 2026).