What the citizenship interview and test are like
A plain-English overview, based on the public pages on uscis.gov. Always check uscis.gov for the latest rules.
The interview
A USCIS officer asks you questions about your application and background. Unless you qualify for an exception, you also take the naturalization test. It has two parts: English and civics.
Speaking
The officer decides if you can speak and understand basic English during the interview itself.
Civics
The civics test is oral: the officer asks, you answer out loud. Which test you take depends on when you filed Form N-400.
| Filed N-400 | Test | Questions asked | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| On or after Oct. 20, 2025 | 2025 test (128 questions) | Up to 20 | 12 right (stops at 12 right or 9 wrong) |
| Before Oct. 20, 2025 | 2008 test (100 questions) | Up to 10 | 6 right (5 wrong fails) |
All 128 questions (2025) · All 100 questions (2008) · Take a mock test
If you don't pass a part
You get two tries. If you fail a part at your first interview, you are retested on that part (English or civics) 60 to 90 days after the first interview.
Exceptions
Some people have exceptions or accommodations for the English or civics parts. We can't tell you if you qualify. See Exceptions and Accommodations on uscis.gov, or talk to an attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.
Sources: The Naturalization Interview and Test and 2025 Civics Test on uscis.gov. This page is a summary, not legal advice.