U.S. Citizenship Interview: What Happens and How the Civics Test Works

What happens at the interview

During your naturalization interview, a USCIS officer asks you questions about your application and background. The officer reviews the answers you gave on your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and may ask follow-up questions to confirm details. You can ask for a question to be repeated or rephrased.

At the same interview you take the naturalization test, unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver. The test has two parts: an English test and a civics test. USCIS will inform you of the results.

The English test: speaking, reading, writing

The English test has 3 components:

• Speaking: the speaking test takes place during the eligibility review, while the officer goes over your application with you.
• Reading: you must read 1 out of 3 sentences correctly.
• Writing: you must write 1 out of 3 sentences correctly.

The 2025 civics test did not change the English parts of the naturalization test.

Civics test: 2025 or 2008 version

Which civics test you take depends on when you filed Form N-400:

• Filed on or after October 20, 2025: the 2025 civics test. Questions come from a bank of 128 questions and answers. The officer asks up to 20 questions, and you need 12 correct answers to pass. The officer stops as soon as you answer 12 correctly, or once you answer 9 incorrectly, which means you failed the test.
• Filed before October 20, 2025: the 2008 civics test. You are asked up to 10 questions out of a list of 100, and you must answer 6 correctly to pass.

Some answers change because of elections or appointments, so check the current answers on USCIS shortly before your interview.

To practice, PermitLingo has all 128 questions of the 2025 civics test with answers in the citizenship section of our site.

If you fail part of the test

Unless you qualify for an exception, you get two opportunities to meet the English and civics requirements. If you fail any part of the test at your first interview, you will be retested during a new interview on the portion of the test that you failed. The retest is scheduled between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview.

There is no limit to the number of times you can apply for naturalization, but you must pay the filing fee for each new Form N-400.

Exceptions for age and disability

Age and years as a permanent resident (Green Card holder) are counted at the time you file for naturalization:

• 50/20: age 50 or older and a permanent resident for 20 years. You are exempt from the English requirement.
• 55/15: age 55 or older and a permanent resident for 15 years. You are exempt from the English requirement.
• 65/20: age 65 or older and a permanent resident for at least 20 years. You get special consideration on the civics test: the officer asks 10 questions from a specially selected set of 20, and you need 6 correct, whichever test version applies to you.

With the 50/20 or 55/15 exception you must still take the civics test, but you may take it in your native language. In that case you must bring an interpreter who is fluent in both English and your native language.

Disability (Form N-648): if a physical or developmental disability or a mental impairment prevents you from meeting the English and civics requirements, you may be eligible for an exception. Submit Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. It must be completed by a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy or licensed clinical psychologist. Separately, USCIS provides accommodations for applicants with physical or mental impairments; you are encouraged to list your needs on Form N-400.

What to bring to the interview

• Your interview notice
• Your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
• A state-issued ID, such as a driver's license
• All valid and expired passports and travel documents issued to you that show your trips outside the U.S. since you became a permanent resident
• Original documents such as birth, marriage, divorce, final adoption and naturalization certificates, and court orders
• An interpreter, if you take the civics test in your native language under an exception

Form M-477, Document Checklist, lists other documents you may need. If your application is approved, you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.