What is the U.S. citizenship civics test?

The U.S. citizenship civics test is an oral test during your naturalization interview: a USCIS officer asks up to 10 questions from the official list of 100, and you must answer 6 correctly to pass. There is also a short English test — read one sentence aloud, write one sentence — unless you qualify for an exemption. Every possible question comes from the public list of 100 on this page, which means you can prepare completely and walk in with no surprises.

How the U.S. citizenship test works

1

The officer asks up to 10 questionsThe civics test is oral. Every question comes from the official list of 100 — the same ones you practice here.

2

You need 6 correct to passThat’s it — 6 out of 10. Some questions accept more than one wording.

3

There’s also a short English partYou’ll read one sentence and write one sentence. Exemptions apply if you’re 50+ (20 years as a green card holder) or 55+ (15 years).

4

If you miss it, you get another tryA retake of the failed part comes 60–90 days later. Practice here first and you very likely won’t need it.

Citizenship test FAQ

How many questions are on the U.S. citizenship test in 2026?
Up to 10 of the 100 official civics questions, asked orally by a USCIS officer during your naturalization interview. You must answer 6 of the 10 correctly to pass. As of September 2026, USCIS uses the 100-question (2008) version of the test for all applicants.
What is the passing score for the citizenship test?
You need 6 correct answers out of the 10 questions you are asked — a 60% score. There is no separate time limit; the civics part of the interview usually takes only a few minutes.
What happens if I fail the civics test?
You get a second chance. USCIS schedules a re-examination, typically 60 to 90 days later, where you retake only the part you failed. If you fail a second time, your naturalization application is denied — but you can apply again with a new Form N-400.
Is the U.S. citizenship test hard?
Most people pass: USCIS reports roughly 9 in 10 applicants pass the civics test on the first try. The reason it is very learnable is that every possible question comes from one public, official list of 100 questions — practice all of them and there are no surprises.
Do the citizenship test answers change?
Some do. Answers about elections and appointments — the President, Vice President, your state’s senators and governor, the Speaker of the House, the Chief Justice — must be current on the day of your interview. This app’s answers were updated September 27, 2026. USCIS also posts current answers at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.
Can I take the citizenship test in Spanish or another language?
Only if you qualify for an English exemption: applicants 50 or older with 20+ years as a green card holder, or 55 or older with 15+ years, may take the civics test in the language they choose. Everyone else takes it in English.
What is the 65/20 rule for the citizenship test?
If you are 65 or older and have been a green card holder for 20 or more years, you study a simplified set of only 20 civics questions (marked with a star in the official list), and the officer asks you 10 of those. You still need 6 correct to pass. Turn on “65+ mode” in this app’s settings to study exactly that set.
How much does the citizenship test cost?
There is no separate civics-test fee — it is part of the naturalization application (Form N-400), which costs $710 online or $750 by paper under the 2024 fee schedule. Fee waivers and reductions are available for lower-income applicants. Check uscis.gov for current fees.
How long does the naturalization interview take?
Usually well under an hour. The officer reviews your N-400, and the English part asks you to read and write one sentence each. The civics questions themselves take only a few minutes.
Is this practice test really free? Can I use it on my phone?
Yes — it is 100% free, has no account, no paywall and no ads. Open it in your phone’s browser and choose “Add to Home Screen” to install it like an app; it then also works offline.
What are the parts of the citizenship interview?
Your naturalization interview has three parts: the officer reviews your Form N-400 answers, an English test where you read one sentence aloud and write one sentence, and the civics test with up to 10 questions from the official 100. You need 6 of 10 civics answers correct to pass.
Is the citizenship test multiple choice?
No. The real civics test is oral: a USCIS officer asks up to 10 questions and you answer out loud, with no answer options to choose from. Practicing with multiple choice (like this app) builds recognition, then flashcards train you to answer with no prompts at all.
How many times can you take the citizenship test?
You get two chances. If you fail the English or civics portion, USCIS schedules a re-examination, usually 60–90 days later, where you retake only the part you failed. Failing a second time means the application is denied, though you can file a new N-400 later.
Who is exempt from the civics test?
Applicants with a medical disability that prevents learning can file Form N-648 for an exception. Separately, the 50/20 and 55/15 rules exempt long-time residents from the English requirement, and the 65/20 rule gives seniors a simplified 20-question civics set.
How long does it take to study for the citizenship test?
There is no official study requirement, but most people who pass practice daily for a few weeks. Because every question comes from one public list of 100, steady practice typically gets you interview-ready within 2–4 weeks.
What should I bring to the citizenship interview?
Bring your green card (Permanent Resident Card), the interview appointment notice, a government-issued photo ID or passport, and any documents USCIS asked you to update. The civics questions themselves take only a few minutes.
Do I need to memorize all 100 civics questions?
You will only be asked up to 10 of the 100 — but you cannot choose which ones, so practicing all of them is the safe path. Applicants 65+ with 20 years as a green card holder only study the 20 starred questions. CivicPass tracks what you know and drills the rest.
What is the N-400 and when does the test happen?
Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is the form you file to become a U.S. citizen. The civics and English tests happen at the interview stage, after USCIS processes your N-400 — typically several months after filing, depending on field office wait times.

All 100 civics questions and answers (2026)

The complete official list — every question USCIS can ask, with the current answers. Questions marked with a gold star (★) are the simplified set for applicants 65+ with 20 years as a green card holder. Print this page as a study sheet.

    American Government
  1. 1.What is the supreme law of the land?
    A: the Constitution
  2. 2.What does the Constitution do?
    A: sets up the government or defines the government or protects basic rights of Americans
  3. 3.The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
    A: We the People
  4. 4.What is an amendment?
    A: a change (to the Constitution) or an addition (to the Constitution)
  5. 5.What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
    A: the Bill of Rights
  6. 6.What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? ★
    A: speech or religion or assembly or press or petition the government
  7. 7.How many amendments does the Constitution have?
    A: twenty-seven (27)
  8. 8.What did the Declaration of Independence do?
    A: announced our independence (from Great Britain) or declared our independence (from Great Britain) or said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
  9. 9.What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
    A: life or liberty or pursuit of happiness
  10. 10.What is freedom of religion?
    A: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
  11. 11.What is the economic system in the United States? ★
    A: capitalist economy or market economy
  12. 12.What is the “rule of law”?
    A: Everyone must follow the law or Leaders must obey the law or Government must obey the law or No one is above the law
  13. 13.Name one branch or part of the government. ★
    A: Congress or legislative or President or executive or the courts or judicial
  14. 14.What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
    A: checks and balances or separation of powers
  15. 15.Who is in charge of the executive branch?
    A: the President
  16. 16.Who makes federal laws?
    A: Congress or Senate and House (of Representatives) or (U.S. or national) legislature
  17. 17.What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? ★
    A: the Senate and House (of Representatives)
  18. 18.How many U.S. Senators are there?
    A: one hundred (100)
  19. 19.We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
    A: six (6)
  20. 20.Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now? ★
    A: Depends on where you live — the app fills this in for your state.
  21. 21.The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
    A: four hundred thirty-five (435)
  22. 22.We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
    A: two (2)
  23. 23.Name your U.S. Representative.
    A: Your U.S. Representative — depends on your district. Look yours up here.
  24. 24.Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
    A: all people of the state
  25. 25.Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
    A: (because of) the state’s population or (because) they have more people or (because) some states have more people
  26. 26.We elect a President for how many years?
    A: four (4)
  27. 27.In what month do we vote for President? ★
    A: November
  28. 28.What is the name of the President of the United States now? ★
    A: Donald Trump (As of September 2026)
  29. 29.What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
    A: JD Vance (As of September 2026)
  30. 30.If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
    A: the Vice President
  31. 31.If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
    A: the Speaker of the House
  32. 32.Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
    A: the President
  33. 33.Who signs bills to become laws?
    A: the President
  34. 34.Who vetoes bills?
    A: the President
  35. 35.What does the President’s Cabinet do?
    A: advises the President
  36. 36.What are two Cabinet-level positions?
    A: Secretary of Agriculture or Secretary of Commerce or Secretary of Defense or Secretary of Education or Secretary of Energy or Secretary of Health and Human Services or Secretary of Homeland Security or Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Labor or Secretary of State or Secretary of Transportation or Secretary of the Treasury or Secretary of Veterans Affairs or Attorney General or Vice President
  37. 37.What does the judicial branch do?
    A: reviews laws or explains laws or resolves disputes (disagreements) or decides if a law goes against the Constitution
  38. 38.What is the highest court in the United States?
    A: the Supreme Court
  39. 39.How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
    A: nine (9) (As of September 2026)
  40. 40.Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
    A: John Roberts (As of September 2026)
  41. 41.Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
    A: to print money or to declare war or to create an army or to make treaties
  42. 42.Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
    A: provide schooling and education or provide protection (police) or provide safety (fire departments) or give a driver’s license or approve zoning and land use
  43. 43.Who is the Governor of your state now?
    A: Depends on where you live — the app fills this in for your state.
  44. 44.What is the capital of your state? ★
    A: Depends on where you live — the app fills this in for your state.
  45. 45.What are the two major political parties in the United States? ★
    A: Democratic and Republican
  46. 46.What is the political party of the President now?
    A: Republican (Party) (As of September 2026)
  47. 47.What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
    A: Mike Johnson (As of September 2026)
  48. 48.There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
    A: Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote) or You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote or Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.) or A male citizen of any race (can vote)
  49. 49.What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? ★
    A: serve on a jury or vote in a federal election
  50. 50.Name one right only for United States citizens.
    A: vote in a federal election or run for federal office
  51. 51.What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
    A: freedom of expression or freedom of speech or freedom of assembly or freedom to petition the government or freedom of religion or the right to bear arms
  52. 52.What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
    A: the United States or the flag
  53. 53.What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
    A: give up loyalty to other countries or defend the Constitution and laws of the United States or obey the laws of the United States or serve in the U.S. military (if needed) or serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed) or be loyal to the United States
  54. 54.How old do citizens have to be to vote for President? ★
    A: eighteen (18) and older
  55. 55.What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
    A: vote or join a political party or help with a campaign or join a civic group or join a community group or give an elected official your opinion on an issue or call Senators and Representatives or publicly support or oppose an issue or policy or run for office or write to a newspaper
  56. 56.When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? ★
    A: April 15
  57. 57.When must all men register for the Selective Service?
    A: at age eighteen (18) or between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
    58. American History
  58. 58.What is one reason colonists came to America?
    A: freedom or political liberty or religious freedom or economic opportunity or practice their religion or escape persecution
  59. 59.Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
    A: American Indians or Native Americans
  60. 60.What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
    A: Africans or people from Africa
  61. 61.Why did the colonists fight the British?
    A: because of high taxes (taxation without representation) or because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) or because they didn’t have self-government
  62. 62.Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
    A: Thomas Jefferson
  63. 63.When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
    A: July 4, 1776
  64. 64.There were 13 original states. Name three.
    A: New Hampshire or Massachusetts or Rhode Island or Connecticut or New York or New Jersey or Pennsylvania or Delaware or Maryland or Virginia or North Carolina or South Carolina or Georgia
  65. 65.What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
    A: The Constitution was written. or The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
  66. 66.When was the Constitution written?
    A: 1787
  67. 67.The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
    A: James Madison or Alexander Hamilton or John Jay or Publius
  68. 68.What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
    A: U.S. diplomat or oldest member of the Constitutional Convention or first Postmaster General of the United States or writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac” or started the first free libraries
  69. 69.Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
    A: George Washington
  70. 70.Who was the first President? ★
    A: George Washington
  71. 71.What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
    A: the Louisiana Territory or Louisiana
  72. 72.Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
    A: War of 1812 or Mexican-American War or Civil War or Spanish-American War
  73. 73.Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
    A: the Civil War or the War between the States
  74. 74.Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
    A: slavery or economic reasons or states’ rights
  75. 75.What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? ★
    A: freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) or saved (or preserved) the Union or led the United States during the Civil War
  76. 76.What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
    A: freed the slaves or freed slaves in the Confederacy or freed slaves in the Confederate states or freed slaves in most Southern states
  77. 77.What did Susan B. Anthony do?
    A: fought for women’s rights or fought for civil rights
  78. 78.Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s. ★
    A: World War I or World War II or Korean War or Vietnam War or (Persian) Gulf War
  79. 79.Who was President during World War I?
    A: Woodrow Wilson
  80. 80.Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
    A: Franklin Roosevelt
  81. 81.Who did the United States fight in World War II?
    A: Japan, Germany, and Italy
  82. 82.Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
    A: World War II
  83. 83.During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
    A: Communism
  84. 84.What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
    A: civil rights (movement)
  85. 85.What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? ★
    A: fought for civil rights or worked for equality for all Americans
  86. 86.What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
    A: Terrorists attacked the United States.
  87. 87.Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
    A: Cherokee or Navajo or Sioux or Chippewa or Choctaw or Pueblo or Apache or Iroquois or Creek or Blackfeet or Seminole or Cheyenne or Arawak or Shawnee or Mohegan or Huron or Oneida or Lakota or Crow or Teton or Hopi or Inuit
    88. Integrated Civics
  88. 88.Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
    A: Missouri (River) or Mississippi (River)
  89. 89.What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
    A: Pacific (Ocean)
  90. 90.What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
    A: Atlantic (Ocean)
  91. 91.Name one U.S. territory.
    A: Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands or American Samoa or Northern Mariana Islands or Guam
  92. 92.Name one state that borders Canada.
    A: Maine or New Hampshire or Vermont or New York or Pennsylvania or Ohio or Michigan or Minnesota or North Dakota or Montana or Idaho or Washington or Alaska
  93. 93.Name one state that borders Mexico.
    A: California or Arizona or New Mexico or Texas
  94. 94.What is the capital of the United States? ★
    A: Washington, D.C.
  95. 95.Where is the Statue of Liberty? ★
    A: New York (Harbor) or Liberty Island
  96. 96.Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
    A: because there were 13 original colonies or because the stripes represent the original colonies
  97. 97.Why does the flag have 50 stars? ★
    A: because there is one star for each state or because each star represents a state or because there are 50 states
  98. 98.What is the name of the national anthem?
    A: The Star-Spangled Banner
  99. 99.When do we celebrate Independence Day? ★
    A: July 4
  100. 100.Name two national U.S. holidays.
    A: New Year’s Day or Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or Presidents’ Day or Memorial Day or Independence Day or Labor Day or Columbus Day or Veterans Day or Thanksgiving or Christmas