Citizenship Test Study Guide
What to study for the naturalization test, in order, for either version.
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How to use the study quiz
- Choose the list above the quiz: 2025 (128 questions) or 2008 (100 questions). Use the list that matches the date your N-400 was filed.
- Press Start. A round is 10 random questions.
- Read the question and say your answer out loud before you look, as you would to the officer.
- Press Reveal. The full USCIS answer list appears with the question number. If the question asks for two or three answers, give that many; an alternative phrasing of a correct answer counts.
- Mark your answer as right or wrong, then press Next.
- At the end you see your score and the questions you missed. Start the review round to repeat only those.
Your score history and missed questions are stored only in this browser. Questions that depend on where you live or on an office-holder carry a note pointing to the USCIS Test Updates page.
A good routine is two or three short rounds a day rather than one long one: do a round, read the answers you missed, and run the review round the next day. When you can clear a round without a miss, switch to a harder category or to the exam-format mock. Saying the answer out loud matters, because the real test is oral and the officer cannot see what you are thinking. This routine is ours; USCIS publishes the questions and answers only.
What should I study for the citizenship test?
Study every question on the list that matches your N-400 filing date, and nothing from the other list. The 2008 list has 100 questions in three categories, while the 2025 list has 128 questions across the same kinds of topics plus a larger government section.
| Category | 2008 list (100 questions) | 2025 list (128 questions) |
|---|---|---|
| American Government | 57 | 72 |
| American History | 30 | 46 |
| Integrated Civics (2008) / Symbols and Holidays (2025) | 13 | 10 |
On the 2025 list, American Government breaks into Principles (15), System of Government (47), and Rights and Responsibilities (10). On the 2008 list, the same section breaks into Principles (12), System (35), and Rights and Responsibilities (10).
How many questions must I answer correctly to pass?
You pass the civics test by answering 60 percent of the questions correctly. On the 2008 test, that means 6 correct answers out of up to 10 questions. On the 2025 test, it means 12 correct out of up to 20 questions.
| Test | Questions on list | Questions asked | Correct to pass | Officer stops at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 civics test | 100 | Up to 10 | 6 | 6 correct or 5 incorrect |
| 2025 civics test | 128 | Up to 20 | 12 | 12 correct or 9 incorrect |
English is tested separately. You must read one of three sentences aloud correctly and write one of three correctly. An officer also judges your ability to speak and understand English during your interview.
What do the English tests ask for?
Unless you qualify for an exception, you also take an English test. For reading you must read aloud one out of three sentences correctly; for writing you must write one out of three sentences correctly. Speaking is judged by the officer during the interview. The sentences come from published vocabulary lists: 64 words for reading and 75 words for writing. See the USCIS reading vocabulary and naturalization writing test pages.
What should I do in the last week?
Run the exam-format mock for your version, review every question you missed, and check the Test Updates page for the questions whose answers depend on an office-holder or on where you live. Bring your appointment notice to the interview, as USCIS asks. This plan is ours; the USCIS pages cited below are the source for the rules.
How this tool works and where the numbers come from
Questions and answers are taken from the USCIS PDFs retrieved 2026-10-26 and shown unchanged; counts by category are computed from them; the pass and stop rules are quoted from USCIS Study for the Test and the Policy Manual.
Sources
Check yourself: common questions
What is the best way to prepare for the citizenship test?
Study the list that matches the date your N-400 was filed: the 100-question 2008 list for filings before 20 October 2025, or the 128-question 2025 list for filings on or after that date. Also prepare for the English reading, writing and speaking parts. See the citizenship test study guide for an order to follow.
What are the 100 questions on the citizenship test?
The 100 questions belong to the 2008 civics test, which applies to N-400s filed before 20 October 2025. They fall into 57 American Government, 30 American History, and 13 Integrated Civics questions. Read them by category in this guide.
What are the 10 most common questions asked for the citizenship test?
USCIS does not publish how often any question is asked, and a USCIS system picks the questions at random from the whole list, so there is no reliable top ten. Study the full list for your version, and give extra time to the questions flagged as hard on the hardest civics test questions page.
Do the 65/20 rules change what I study?
Yes, if you were 65 or older and a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years when you filed. You study only the 20 questions marked for you, the officer asks 10 of them, and 6 correct answers pass. You may also take the test in your language of choice with an interpreter you bring.
Do I have to pass the English test as well?
Yes. You must read one of three sentences correctly and write one of three correctly. Your speaking and understanding are judged by a USCIS officer during your eligibility interview.
Where can I find official free study materials?
USCIS offers free study materials at its Citizenship Resource Center at uscis.gov/citizenship. This guide is not endorsed by USCIS.
Related tools
- Which civics test do I take?: Use it first if you are not sure whether your N-400 filing date puts you on the 2008 or 2025 list.
- Civics test practice: Use it to drill civics questions one at a time before you attempt a full exam-format run.
- US citizenship practice test: Use it when you want an exam-format mock (the real test has no time limit) to check your readiness.
- Citizenship test flashcards: Use it to memorize questions and answers by repetition.
- USCIS reading vocabulary: Use it to practice the words you will see in the reading and writing sentences.
- Naturalization interview questions: Use it to prepare for the questions the officer asks beyond the civics test.