US citizenship civics test

• Study the questions

  Every question of the practice bank with its answer, by topic. Check yourself, reveal the answer and mark what you don’t know yet.

  Study all questions

• Timed practice exam

  20 questions drawn at random from the bank, with the real exam’s time limit and pass mark.

  Coming soon

• 🏛️ Principles of governmentThe Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, rule of lawRead the guide
• ⚖️ System of governmentCongress, the president, the courts, the statesRead the guide
• 🗳️ Rights and responsibilitiesVoting, the Oath, taxes, civic participationRead the guide
• 📜 Colonial period and independenceThe colonies, the Revolution and the FoundersRead the guide
• 🚂 The 1800sExpansion, the Civil War, slavery and reformRead the guide
• 🌎 Recent American historyThe world wars, civil rights, the Cold War, 9/11Read the guide
• 🗽 Symbols and holidaysThe flag, the anthem, national holidaysRead the guide

• Principles of American governmentThe Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the 27 amendments, the rule of law and checks and balances: the first theme of the US civics test, with a real question.Principles of governmentRead the guides
• The system of governmentCongress, the president, the Supreme Court and the states: how many senators and representatives, how long each serves, who signs and vetoes bills, and the federal and state powers, with a real civics test question.System of governmentRead the guides
• Rights and responsibilitiesWho can vote, serve on a jury and run for office, the Oath of Allegiance, taxes, the Selective Service and civic participation: the rights and responsibilities questions of the US civics test.Rights and responsibilitiesRead the guides
• American history for the civics testThe history questions of the US civics test: colonial period and independence, the 1800s and the Civil War, the world wars, the Cold War, civil rights and September 11, with a real question.Colonial period and independenceThe 1800sRecent American historyRead the guides
• Symbols and holidaysThe flag, the anthem, the Statue of Liberty, Washington D.C. and the national holidays: the symbols and holidays section of the US civics test, with a real question.Symbols and holidaysRead the guides

1. 1

   Check that you can apply

   Before you study, make sure that you meet the requirements for naturalization, so that you do not pay a fee for an application that is refused.

   • Most applicants must be 18 or older and be a lawful permanent resident (a green card holder) for 5 years, or for 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen and living with the spouse.
   • You must have lived in the United States continuously, have been physically present for enough time, and have lived in your state or USCIS district for the required period.
   • You must show good moral character, support the Constitution and be able to take the Oath of Allegiance.
   • The rules have exceptions. Check the current requirements on the USCIS website.

   USCIS: eligibility for naturalization
2. 2

   Know the format and the pass mark

   The civics test is oral and short. Knowing how it works makes it less frightening.

   • The officer asks you up to 20 questions, in English, from the official list of 128, and stops when you have 12 correct answers.
   • Many questions accept several correct answers; you only need to give one. If a question asks for a number, such as two answers, you must give the required number.
   • If you are 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 years or more, you study only 20 marked questions (the “65/20” rule), the officer asks 10 and you need 6 correct.
   • The test version depends on when you filed your application: the 2025 test applies to applications filed on or after 20 October 2025. Check your notice.
3. 3

   Get the official USCIS study materials

   USCIS publishes the list of questions and answers, and free study materials. They are the source of every question.

   • The list of the 128 questions and answers is a PDF on uscis.gov. There are also flash cards, audio and videos.
   • Use our guides next to them: they explain the same topics in simple English and Arabic, with the key words that appear in the questions.
   • Learn the official answers as they are written; the officer compares your answer with the list.

   USCIS: 2025 civics test and study materials
4. 4

   Read the seven topic guides

   Our seven guides cover the topics of the question bank: principles of government, system of government, rights and responsibilities, and four parts of American history and symbols.

   • Each guide has photos, short sections, a list of key words with their meaning and a box of things to remember.
   • Read one guide a day. Seven guides in a week is a good rhythm for most people.
   • Start with the principles of government: the Constitution and the three branches explain many other answers.

   Start with the principles of government
5. 5

   Learn the numbers, dates and names

   The test asks for a lot of short facts. They are the easiest marks once you have learned them.

   • Numbers: 27 amendments, 3 branches, 100 senators (6 years), 435 representatives (2 years), 9 Supreme Court justices, 13 stripes and 50 stars.
   • Dates: 1776 (Declaration), 1787 (Constitution), 1861–1865 (Civil War), 1941 (Pearl Harbor), 1964 (Civil Rights Act), 2001 (September 11).
   • Names: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr.
   • Write them on cards and say them aloud, because the real test is spoken.
6. 6

   Check the answers that change

   Some questions have answers that depend on the day or on where you live. They are not in a fixed list, so you must look them up before your interview.

   • The names of the president, the vice president, the Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
   • Your state: the names of your two senators, your representative, your governor and the capital of your state.
   • The parties of the president and the Speaker, and the current answers on the USCIS “test updates” page.

   USCIS: answers that have changed
7. 7

   Study the questions by topic

   After each guide, study the questions of that topic. You see the question and its answer, with Arabic help, and you can mark the ones you do not know yet.

   • Open the study page from the guide: it goes straight to the questions of that topic.
   • Say the answers aloud, as you will at the interview, and mark the questions you got wrong.
   • Check the marked questions again two or three days later.

   Study all the questions
8. 8

   Take the timed practice exam

   The practice exam is a multiple-choice version of the test, to check what you remember.

   • 20 questions, with a timer, drawn from the bank. Do it in one go, without notes.
   • You get the score and a review of every answer. Aim for at least 16 out of 20 to be safe over the 12 needed.
   • Repeat it until you pass several times in a row. Remember that the real test is spoken, so also practise answering without the options.
9. 9

   The interview, the result and the Oath

   On the day of the interview, the civics test is one part of a longer meeting with a USCIS officer.

   • Bring your appointment notice, your green card, your passport and any other documents listed in the notice. The officer checks your application, and you take the English test and the civics test.
   • If you pass, USCIS tells you what happens next. If a decision is made, you get an invitation to the naturalization ceremony, where you take the Oath of Allegiance and become a citizen.
   • If you fail a part, you get a second chance: USCIS tests you again on the part you failed, normally 60 to 90 days after the first interview.
   • After the ceremony you receive your Certificate of Naturalization, and you can apply for a U.S. passport and register to vote.

• USCIS: the 2025 civics test and study materials
• USCIS: the 128 questions and answers (PDF)
• USCIS: answers that have changed

The USCIS questions are US government material in the public domain. Rules and fees change: always check uscis.gov. Asagno is not affiliated with USCIS or the US government.