How Many Questions Are on the US Citizenship Test? (2025 vs 2008)

Short answer: on the 2025 US civics test the officer asks up to 20 questions from the official list of 128, and you pass once you have answered 12 correctly. On the older 2008 test it is up to 10 questions from 100, with 6 correct needed. Which one you take depends on when USCIS received your Form N-400.

How many questions, and how many to pass

Why you may answer fewer than 20

The officer stops as soon as you reach the pass mark, and also stops once you can no longer reach it. A well-prepared applicant taking the 2025 test may therefore hear only 12 questions. The questions are chosen by the officer from the published list; they are not a random sample of the whole list, and the same question cannot be asked twice.

What the questions cover

All 128 questions are published by USCIS, with the acceptable answers. They fall into three groups: American government (principles of democracy, the branches of government, rights and responsibilities), American history (colonial period and independence, the 1800s, recent history) and symbols and holidays. Nine questions have answers that depend on where you live or who holds office now: your two senators, your representative, your governor, your state capital, and the current President, Vice President, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice. Check those shortly before your interview. Our US civics questions and answers page lists the questions by group, and our US citizenship practice test lets you practise them.

Is there also an English test?

Yes. At the same interview you take an English reading test (read one of three sentences correctly), a writing test (write one of three dictated sentences correctly) and a speaking assessment based on your answers about your application. Applicants aged 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, are exempt from the English test and may take the civics test in their own language. See our US citizenship English test guide.

What if you fail?

You get a second chance. If you fail the civics test, the English test or both, USCIS schedules a second interview, normally 60 to 90 days later, and retests only the part you failed. If you fail again, the application is denied; you can file a new N-400 and start over. There is no separate test fee; the civics and English tests are covered by the N-400 filing fee (check the current fee on the USCIS N-400 page, as it changes periodically).

How many questions should I study?

All of them. The pass mark is only 60%, but you cannot predict which 20 the officer will choose, and one weak topic can cost you several questions in a row. Most applicants are comfortable after two to four weeks of 20 minutes a day; see our step-by-step preparation plan.

Official sources

USCIS, Study for the Test and The 2025 Naturalization Civics Test (uscis.gov); USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part E (naturalization tests).