Your US Citizenship Test Questions, Answered

The naturalization test has two parts: a civics test about American government and history, and an English test. Both are given at your naturalization interview with a USCIS officer. Milestone helps you prepare for the civics test. Every civics question and its accepted answers come from an official list published by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The civics test is oral. A USCIS officer asks you the questions, and you answer out loud.

It depends on the date your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, was filed. If it was filed on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 version. If it was filed before October 20, 2025, you take the 2008 version.

Not sure? Check the received date on your Form N-400 receipt notice, then choose your version on Milestone.

The 2025 version has 128 questions on the official list. The officer asks you up to 20, and you must answer at least 12 correctly. The 2008 version has 100 questions on the official list. The officer asks you up to 10, and you must answer 6 correctly.

The 2025 version applies to applications filed on or after October 20, 2025. The official list grew from 100 to 128 questions, the officer asks up to 20 questions instead of up to 10, and you must answer at least 12 correctly instead of 6. Some questions and answers are new or worded differently, so study the list for your version. Compare the questions.

Yes. USCIS publishes every possible civics question and the answers it accepts. The officer asks questions from that list, so you can study every question before your interview. Milestone shows the full list in Civics Questions.

USCIS says there may be other correct answers, but encourages you to answer using the answers provided on the official list. Words in brackets are optional — for example, “(Thomas) Jefferson” means “Jefferson” is also correct.

Yes, unless you are exempt. The English test has three parts: speaking, reading and writing. The officer assesses your speaking during the interview. Some applicants are exempt from the English test because of their age and how long they have been permanent residents. Milestone covers the civics test only. USCIS publishes study materials for the reading and writing tests at uscis.gov/citizenship.

If you are 65 years old or older and have been a lawful permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the 20 civics questions marked with an asterisk (*). On both the 2025 and 2008 versions, the officer asks you 10 of those 20 questions, and you must answer at least 6 correctly. You may also take the civics test in the language of your choice.

Practice the 65/20 questions.

Applicants who qualify for the 65/20 special consideration may take the civics test in the language of their choice. Other age and residence exemptions from the English test may also allow this. USCIS or an immigration attorney can confirm whether you qualify and how interpretation works at your interview.

Some applicants with a medical condition or disability may qualify for an exception, using Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. USCIS or an immigration attorney can confirm whether this applies to you. Milestone cannot give advice about individual cases.

Some answers depend on elections and appointments, such as the names of the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice. You must answer with the name of the official serving at the time of your interview.

USCIS lists current answers at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates. Milestone shows the current names next to these questions in Civics Questions, with the date they were last checked.

Questions about your U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, your governor and your state capital depend on where you live. Choose your state on Milestone to see your answers. The official list includes special answers for residents of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories — for example, D.C. residents answer that D.C. has no U.S. senators.

If you notice an answer that has changed — such as a new senator, governor or other official — please tell us. We check every report against official sources. If an answer on Milestone ever differs from the official USCIS list, the official list is correct.

Not always. The officer stops asking civics questions once your result is clear. On the 2025 test, that is when you have answered 12 questions correctly, or 9 incorrectly. On the 2008 test, the officer stops once you have answered 6 correctly. Prepare as if you will be asked all of them. Milestone’s Mock Interview also stops once your result is clear.

USCIS gives applicants a second opportunity to take any part of the test they did not pass, usually at a later interview. USCIS will explain the next steps at your interview.

Yes. Everything on Milestone is free. There is no account or signup.

Learn the answers in Key Facts, review every question in Civics Questions, practice each topic in Practice by Topic, and finish with a Mock Interview when you know most answers.

There is no set time — it depends on how much you already know. Aim to answer every question on your list without help, then take mock interviews until you pass them comfortably. Short, regular sessions work better than one long one.

Yes. Choose your version on the US Citizenship Test home, or use the 2025 / 2008 switch on each study page. Your choice is saved on your device and works even if you accept only essential cookies.

In the Mock Interview you can answer by speaking, if your browser supports speech recognition. Some browsers send the audio to their provider (such as Google or Apple) to turn it into text. Milestone does not receive or store your voice. You can always type your answer instead.

No. Milestone is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or any government body. We cannot give immigration or legal advice.