2025 CIVICS TEST GUIDE

The 2025 Civics Test: 128 Questions, Scoring and How to Study

The 2025 civics test applies if USCIS received your Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. A USCIS officer asks you up to 20 questions from an official list of 128, and you pass with 12 correct answers.

The officer stops as soon as you reach 12 correct answers or 9 incorrect answers. This page breaks the 128 questions down by topic, lists the 20 starred questions for applicants aged 65 or older, and shows which answers change.

Checked against official USCIS pages on Oct 31, 2026. Visa Current is independent of USCIS and all government agencies.

Key takeaways

Who takes it: applicants who filed Form N-400 on or after Oct. 20, 2025.
Format: oral test, up to 20 questions from 128, selected at random by a USCIS system.
Pass mark: 12 correct. Fail mark: 9 incorrect. The officer stops at either point.
Topics: 72 government, 46 history and 10 symbols and holidays questions.
Age 65+ with 20 years as a permanent resident: 10 questions from the 20 starred questions, 6 correct to pass.
Changing answers: 8 questions depend on current officials or where you live.
Retest: if you fail civics, USCIS retests civics 60 to 90 days after your first interview.

Who takes the 2025 civics test?

USCIS gives the 2025 civics test to applicants who file Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025. If you filed before that date, you take the 2008 test instead. Your interview date does not change which version you take.

USCIS says the 2025 test is based on the 2020 civics test, with some changes to how it is given. Not sure which applies to you? Our citizenship test guide compares the 2025 and 2008 versions side by side.

How is the 2025 civics test scored?

You need at least 12 correct answers out of 20. That is the same 60 percent standard as the 2008 test.

Question selection: a USCIS system randomly selects the questions from the bank of 128, and the officer asks them out loud.
Stopping rule: the officer stops once you answer 12 correctly or 9 incorrectly. USCIS describes this as a change from the 2020 test.
Alternative phrasing: the USCIS Policy Manual counts a correct answer or an alternative phrasing of the correct answer.
Not answering: the Policy Manual treats failing to respond the same as an incorrect answer.

The civics test is one part of the naturalization test. You also take an English test unless you qualify for an exemption.

What topics are on the 2025 civics test?

The 128 official questions fall into three sections and eight topics. The table counts them from the official USCIS list.

The 128 questions of the 2025 civics test, by topic
Topic	Section	Question numbers	Questions
Principles of American Government	American Government	1–15	15
System of Government	American Government	16–62	47
Rights and Responsibilities	American Government	63–72	10
Colonial Period and Independence	American History	73–89	17
1800s	American History	90–99	10
Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information	American History	100–118	19
Symbols	Symbols and Holidays	119–124	6
Holidays	Symbols and Holidays	125–128	4

System of Government is the largest topic, with 47 of the 128 questions. Give it substantial study time because it covers more than a third of the published question bank, but prepare across all topics. The test questions are selected by a USCIS system, and this topic breakdown does not predict which questions you will receive.

Which questions are starred for the 65/20 test?

If you are 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 or more years, USCIS asks 10 questions from a special set of 20. You need 6 correct to pass, and you may take the test in the language of your choice. These are the 20 starred questions on the 2025 list, with the official answers.

2. What is the supreme law of the land? (U.S.) Constitution
7. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? Twenty-seven (27)
12. What is the economic system of the United States? Capitalism; Free market economy
20. Name one power of the U.S. Congress. Writes laws; Declares war; Makes the federal budget
30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? Changes with officeholders. Check the USCIS test updates page before your interview.
36. The President of the United States is elected for how many years? Four (4) years
38. What is the name of the President of the United States now? Changes with officeholders. Check the USCIS test updates page before your interview.
39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? Changes with officeholders. Check the USCIS test updates page before your interview.
44. Who vetoes bills? The President (of the United States)
52. What is the highest court in the United States? Supreme Court
61. Who is the governor of your state now? Depends on where you live. District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.
66. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? The United States; The flag
74. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? American Indians; Native Americans
78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? (Thomas) Jefferson
86. George Washington is famous for many things. Name one. “Father of Our Country”; First president of the United States; General of the Continental Army; President of the Constitutional Convention
94. Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one. Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation); Saved (or preserved) the Union; Led the United States during the Civil War; 16th president of the United States; Delivered the Gettysburg Address
113. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. Fought for civil rights; Worked for equality for all Americans; Worked to ensure that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”
115. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States? Terrorists attacked the United States; Terrorists took over two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City; Terrorists took over a plane and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia; Terrorists took over a plane originally aimed at Washington, D.C., and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania
121. Why does the flag have 13 stripes? (Because there were) 13 original colonies; (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
126. Name three national U.S. holidays. New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday); Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day

Each question accepts any one listed answer, except Question 126, which asks for three holidays. Anyone can use this list to start studying, but most applicants must prepare for all 128 questions.

Which 2025 civics answers change?

Some answers depend on who holds office on the day of your interview or on where you live. USCIS says you must answer with the official serving at the time of your interview.

23. Who is one of your state’s U.S. senators now?
29. Name your U.S. representative.
30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? (starred)
38. What is the name of the President of the United States now? (starred)
39. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? (starred)
57. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
61. Who is the governor of your state now? (starred)
62. What is the capital of your state?

Check the USCIS test updates page for the current President, Vice President, Speaker and Chief Justice shortly before your interview. Look up your own senators, representative, governor and state capital as well.

How to study the 128 questions

Download the official list. Use the free USCIS 128-question PDF as your master copy.
Study by topic. Work through one topic at a time, starting with System of Government.
Answer out loud. The test is oral, so practise saying each answer, not just reading it.
Learn one answer well. Most questions accept any one listed answer. Pick the one you can say clearly.
Use the USCIS study guide. “One Nation, One People” is the free 2025 study guide on the USCIS study page.
Refresh the changing answers. Recheck current officials and your local answers in the week before your interview.

What if you fail the 2025 civics test?

You get two attempts. If you fail the civics test at your first interview, USCIS retests you on civics only, between 60 and 90 days after that interview. Exceptions, including medical disability exceptions, are explained on the USCIS exceptions and accommodations page.

Practise the 2025 questions in Visa Current

Create a free Visa Current account to practise with flashcards built from the official USCIS list of 128 questions. Read a question, answer out loud, then reveal the official answers and mark yourself. Nothing is graded, and practising here does not predict your interview result.

Free includes the first 10 questions from each official civics set. Essential costs $20/month and unlocks all 128 questions from the 2025 test and all 100 questions from the 2008 test. Visa Current also offers separate interview practice prompts written by Visa Current, not USCIS.

Start practising free View membership plans

Official sources and last verification

All facts on this page were checked against these official pages on Oct 31, 2026. If anything here differs from USCIS, the USCIS page is correct.

Visa Current (visacurrent.com) is an independent online preparation workspace for people going through the U.S. immigration process. It organizes official Visa Bulletin dates, form roadmaps, case check-in reminders and practice flashcards in one place. It does not file applications, does not provide legal advice and is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. This page is information, not legal advice, and does not guarantee a test result or naturalization decision.