The New U.S. Citizenship Test (2025 Edition): What to Expect in 2026

What Changed in the 2025 Edition

USCIS announced the 2025 version of the naturalization civics test on September 18, 2025, and it applies to N-400 applications filed on or after October 20, 2025. If you filed your N-400 before that date, you will generally be tested using the prior version of the test — check your interview notice and current USCIS guidance to confirm which version applies to your case.

The current N-400 filing fee is $760 if filed on paper or $710 if filed online, with no separate biometric services fee. As with all USCIS fees, confirm the current amount at uscis.gov/n-400 before filing, since fee schedules are periodically updated.

Civics Test Format

The civics test is administered orally by a USCIS officer as part of your naturalization interview. The officer selects questions from the 128-question pool and reads them aloud; you answer verbally. Testing typically stops as soon as you have answered 12 questions correctly, since that is the passing threshold — the officer is not required to ask all 20 once you have reached that mark, though practice can vary by officer.

The 128 questions cover American government, American history, and topics such as integrated civics — including geography, symbols, and holidays. Because the full pool is published in advance, the most effective preparation is simply working through every question and answer using the official USCIS study materials rather than guessing which topics might come up.

English: Reading, Writing & Speaking

In addition to civics, most applicants must demonstrate a basic ability to read, write, and speak English:

There is no separate standalone "speaking test" — the officer evaluates your speaking ability as a natural part of the overall interview conversation, including when you review your application and answer eligibility questions.

Age & Residency Exemptions

Some long-term lawful permanent residents are exempt from part or all of the English requirement, and may receive extra accommodation on the civics test:

These exemptions apply to the English-language requirement; every applicant, regardless of age or exemption, must still pass the civics portion of the test, either in English or — for those who qualify — in their native language with the aid of an interpreter.

Study Resources

USCIS publishes the complete, current civics question pool, sample reading and writing vocabulary lists, and free study tools directly on its citizenship resource center. Because the question pool changes with each new test edition, always study from the current official materials rather than older third-party study guides that may reference a prior version of the test.

The Retest Rule and Form N-648

If you do not pass the English or civics portions of the test at your first interview, you are not immediately denied. USCIS gives applicants a second opportunity: you will be retested only on the portion(s) you failed, typically at a follow-up appointment scheduled between roughly 60 and 90 days after the initial interview.

What Happens at the N-400 Interview

The civics and English tests are only part of the naturalization interview. A USCIS officer will also place you under oath and review your Form N-400 line by line, asking about your background, residence history, travel outside the United States, employment, marital history, and moral character. Bring the documents listed on your interview notice, along with valid identification.

If the officer approves your application, you will typically be scheduled for an oath ceremony, sometimes on the same day. If the officer needs additional evidence, you may receive a Request for Evidence or a continued interview. If your case is denied, you generally have the right to request a hearing before an immigration officer and, after that, judicial review.

If your naturalization path involves derivative citizenship rather than the standard N-400 process — for example, because a parent naturalized while you were a minor lawful permanent resident — a Certificate of Citizenship under Form N-600 may be the more appropriate filing instead of the N-400 process described in this guide.

U.S. Citizenship Test FAQ