The 2025 US Civics Test: What Changed and Who It Applies To

Short answer: if you filed Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 civics test: up to 20 oral questions from a list of 128, with 12 correct needed. If you filed before that date, you take the 2008 test: up to 10 questions from 100, with 6 correct needed. The English test and the two-attempt rule are unchanged.

Which version will you take?

The date that counts is the date USCIS received your N-400, shown as the receipt date on your Form I-797C receipt notice, not the date of your interview. Applicants whose interview was scheduled long after filing still take the version that matches their filing date.

What changed in the questions

The 2025 list keeps the three topic areas (American government, American history, and symbols and holidays) and most of the 2008 questions, then adds new ones. Several new questions ask why rather than what: why the Founders chose a republic, why the Constitution was replaced the Articles of Confederation, or why the colonists declared independence. Others ask you to name examples, such as two Cabinet-level positions, two national US holidays or three of the 13 original states. These need a little more than one-word recall, so practice giving full answers. Questions whose answers change with time (the current President, Vice President, Speaker, Chief Justice and your state’s officials) are still on the list, and you must give the current answer at your interview.

What stays the same

The test is still oral: a USCIS officer asks the questions during your naturalization interview, and you answer in your own words; there are no answer choices. The officer stops as soon as you reach 12 correct, so a strong applicant may answer only 12 questions. You still get two chances: if you fail at your first interview, you are re-examined on the part you failed at a second interview, usually 60 to 90 days later. The English reading, writing and speaking tests did not change, and the age-based exemptions (50/20 and 55/15 for English, 65/20 for the shorter civics list) and the N-648 medical exception still apply.

Why the pass rate matters more now

Under the 2008 test you needed 60% of 10 questions; under the 2025 test you need 60% of 20. The percentage is the same, but with twice as many questions there is less room for luck, and one weak topic area is more likely to be exposed. Treat the whole list as required, not just the questions you find easy.

How to prepare for the 2025 test

• Download the official 2025 list of 128 questions and answers from the USCIS study page and work from that, not from older 100-question lists.
• Look up the answers that depend on where you live (your two senators, your representative, your governor and state capital) and the current national office holders.
• Practice with our US citizenship practice test, then answer out loud, in sentences, as you would to an officer.
• Applicants aged 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident should study the 20 marked questions on the 2025 list.
• Give yourself extra time. The longer list and the oral format reward steady daily practice over a few weeks; see our step-by-step preparation plan and our guide to the naturalization interview.

Official sources

USCIS, Study for the Test and the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test page (uscis.gov). Check the current list and office holders there before your interview.