The civics test changed for people who filed on or after October 20, 2025. Here is which test you take and what you need, from USCIS.
2025 test: answer 12 of 20 correctly. 9 wrong is a fail. The officer stops as soon as you reach either one.
Which test you get depends on when you filed Form N-400. Filed on or after October 20, 2025: the 2025 test, up to 20 questions from a list of 128. Filed before: the 2008 test, up to 10 questions from a list of 100, and you need 6. Both are spoken: the officer asks, you answer out loud.
Checked October 18, 2026 against the official sources listed at the bottom of this page.
Take the free 2025 civics practice testAll 128 questions, no sign-up| You filed N-400 | Test | Asked | Pass | Fail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On or after Oct 20, 2025 | 2025 civics test (128 questions) | Up to 20 | 12 right | 9 wrong |
| Before Oct 20, 2025 | 2008 civics test (100 questions) | Up to 10 | 6 right | 5 wrong |
| 65 or older with 20+ years as a permanent resident (2025 test) | The 20 starred questions | 10 | 6 right |
You read aloud one of three sentences correctly, and write one of three sentences correctly. Your speaking is judged during the interview itself.
You get two tries at the English and civics tests. If you fail any part at your first interview, you're retested on just that part between 60 and 90 days after the first interview (USCIS; 8 CFR 312.5 and 335.3). The real test is spoken, so practice saying the answers out loud, not just reading them.
On the 2025 civics test, 12 correct out of up to 20. On the 2008 test (for N-400s filed before October 20, 2025), 6 correct out of up to 10.
Yes. On the 2025 test, USCIS officers stop asking questions once you answer 12 correctly or 9 incorrectly.
You get a second chance. USCIS retests you on the part you failed between 60 and 90 days after your first interview.
It depends on your N-400 filing date: on or after October 20, 2025 is the 2025 test; before that date is the 2008 test.