Which Civics Test Do I Take?
Enter the date your N-400 was filed; the version follows from that date, not from the interview.
Free · runs in your browser · nothing is uploaded
How to use the filing-date lookup
- Enter the date your Form N-400 was filed (the date USCIS received it, not your interview date).
- Read the result: the 2008 test (100 questions) or the 2025 test (128 questions).
- Check the numbers shown with the result: how many questions the officer asks, how many you must answer correctly and when the officer stops.
- Follow the link under the result to the matching practice or list page.
- If you are not sure of the filing date, check your receipt notice before you rely on the result.
The cut-off is 20 October 2025: filed before it means the 2008 test, on or after it means the 2025 test. The lookup runs in your browser and stores nothing about you.
The lookup works in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere. Because these rules are about legal status, treat the result as information that points you to the official page, and confirm anything important with USCIS or with a lawyer or accredited representative. Say each answer aloud once. Check the source link when a number matters to your case. Come back to anything you were unsure about the next day. Nothing you do here is sent to a server. Keep a note of any question you have to look up twice.
Which civics test applies if I filed before October 20, 2025?
If your N-400 was filed before 20 October 2025, you take the 2008 civics test with 100 questions. If it was filed on or after 20 October 2025, you take the 2025 test with 128 questions. The filing date decides the version, not the interview date.
| Filing date | Test version | Questions in list | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 20 Oct 2025 (for example 19 Oct 2025) | 2008 | 100 | 6 correct (up to 10 asked) |
| On or after 20 Oct 2025 (for example 20 Oct 2025) | 2025 | 128 | 12 correct (up to 20 asked) |
Worked example: the picker output for 19 October 2025 shows the 2008 test, while the output for 20 October 2025 shows the 2025 test. A filing on exactly 20 October counts as a 2025 filing.
Which USCIS civics test do you take, 100 or 128 questions?
You take the 100-question 2008 test if you filed before 20 October 2025, and the 128-question 2025 test if you filed on or after that date. Both tests are oral, and both use a 60 percent pass mark.
| Feature | 2008 test | 2025 test |
|---|---|---|
| Filing date | Before 20 Oct 2025 | On or after 20 Oct 2025 |
| Question list | 100 questions | 128 questions |
| Questions asked | Up to 10 | Up to 20 |
| Correct answers to pass | 6 | 12 |
| Officer stops at | 6 correct or 5 incorrect | 12 correct or 9 incorrect |
| Pass threshold | 60 percent | 60 percent |
Where does USCIS state the cut-off date?
The cut-off appears in three places, and they agree. USCIS Study for the Test says: “Aliens who file Form N-400 to apply for naturalization before Oct. 20, 2025, will take the 2008 naturalization civics test.” The Policy Manual says: “Aliens who filed a naturalization application before October 20, 2025, must take the 2008 Naturalization Civics Test.” The Federal Register notice (90 FR 45047, published 2025-09-18) says: “USCIS will administer the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test to aliens who file their naturalization applications on or after October 20, 2025.” All three use the filing date, which is why the interview date plays no part.
What does the filing date not decide?
The lookup decides only which civics list applies. It does not check whether you are eligible to naturalize and it does not tell you your interview date. Eligibility is a separate set of USCIS requirements, such as continuous residence and physical presence, which USCIS explains on its Commonly Asked Questions page. Use the lookup to pick your study list, and use USCIS or a lawyer for eligibility.
How this tool works and where the numbers come from
Rules and wording are taken from USCIS pages and the Policy Manual, retrieved 2026-10-26; official links were fetched and kept only if they returned HTTP 200 on 2026-10-26.
Sources
Check yourself: common questions
Does the interview date matter?
No. The version follows the filing date of your N-400. Because the version follows your filing date, a retest on the same application uses the same version as your first attempt.
Is the civics test all multiple-choice?
No. Both versions are oral. The officer asks you questions from the official list and you answer out loud.
How difficult is the US citizenship test?
USCIS publishes no miss rates, so no single question is provably the hardest. The pass mark is 60 percent in both versions (6 of 10 or 12 of 20) and the officer stops once the result is decided. By our own rules, 26 of the 128 questions on the 2025 list and 22 of the 100 on the 2008 list are flagged as harder; see hardest civics test questions.
Why did USCIS introduce the 2025 civics test?
USCIS says on its Naturalization Interview and Test page (reviewed 10/31/2025) that it is implementing the 2025 test to align with Executive Order 14161, and the page gives no other reason; the Federal Register notice (90 FR 45047) sets out a longer rationale. The change took effect for N-400 filings on or after 20 October 2025.
How can I take the citizenship test in my language?
Only some applicants may take the civics test in another language: those who qualify for the 50/20 or 55/15 English exemptions, for 65/20, or who have an approved N-648 medical exception from English, may take it in their own language and must bring an interpreter fluent in both English and that language (USCIS, Exceptions and Accommodations, reviewed 01/09/2026). Everyone else takes it in English. Our practice questions are in English only. See Citizenship test in Spanish for the checker.
What do I need to study for the U.S. 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 should I do if I am not sure which date applies?
Check your USCIS receipt notice first. If you are still unsure, ask USCIS or a lawyer. Do not rely on this lookup alone.
Related tools
- Citizenship test questions 2026: use it to see which list applies to your filing date in 2026.
- What changed in the 2025 civics test: read this if you filed on or after 20 October 2025 and want to know how the test differs.
- 128 civics questions: study this list if your N-400 was filed on or after 20 October 2025.
- 100 civics questions: study this list if your N-400 was filed before 20 October 2025.
- Civics test practice: use it to rehearse answers before your interview.
- 65/20 civics questions: check this list if you may qualify for the 65/20 exemption.