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US Citizenship Test Score Calculator
Check your USCIS naturalization civics test score instantly. Enter how many questions were asked and how many you answered correctly to see your pass or fail status, score percentage, retake eligibility, and personalized preparation recommendations for the N-400 interview.
✓Verified: USCIS official civics test standards & 8 CFR Part 312 — April 2026
🇺🇸 Civics Test Results
/ 10
Officer asks up to 10 questions. Stops early if you reach 6 correct.Enter 1–10 questions asked.
Minimum 6 correct out of 10 to passEnter 0–10 correct answers (cannot exceed questions asked).
65/20 applicants study only 20 designated questions
Failing the retake results in N-400 denial
💬 English Test Self-Assessment
Civics Test Score
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📋 Full Assessment & Next Steps
⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator is for self-assessment and educational purposes only. Official pass/fail determinations are made exclusively by USCIS officers at your naturalization interview. This tool does not guarantee, predict, or affect your actual USCIS application outcome. For official guidance, visit uscis.gov or consult a licensed immigration attorney.
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Sources & Methodology
✓All scoring rules, pass thresholds, retake procedures, and special exemptions verified directly against USCIS official policy (8 CFR Part 312) and the official USCIS naturalization test materials.
Official USCIS page with the 100 civics questions and answers, English test guidelines, study resources, and information on the 65/20 senior exception and disability waiver (Form N-648).
Federal regulation governing the English language and civics requirements for naturalization, including the pass threshold (6 of 10), retake procedures, disability waiver criteria, and senior exception rules.
Authoritative USCIS policy guidance detailing how officers administer the civics and English tests, scoring procedures, retake scheduling, and waiver processing used as the basis for this calculator.
Methodology: Score % = (Correct Answers / Questions Asked) x 100Pass Threshold = 6 correct answers out of up to 10 questions askedPass = Correct >= 6 (standard) | 65/20 exception: same 6/10 threshold, 20-question pool
English: Reading pass = 1 sentence read correctly (out of up to 3). Writing pass = 1 sentence written correctly (out of up to 3). Speaking evaluated throughout interview. Second attempt failure = N-400 denial. Score also displays as % of 10-question standard for clarity.
Last reviewed: April 2026 | Based on current USCIS 100-question civics test
How the US Citizenship Civics Test Works
The civics test is one of the most important components of the USCIS naturalization process. To become a US citizen, most applicants must demonstrate basic knowledge of US history and government by answering questions from the official USCIS list of 100 civics questions. Understanding exactly how the test is scored — and what happens if you fail — is critical for every N-400 applicant.
Pass = 6 or more correct answers out of up to 10 questions asked
How the test actually works at your interview:
The USCIS officer selects questions from the 100-question list and asks them one at a time. As soon as you answer 6 correctly, the test ends — you pass. If you answer incorrectly, the officer continues until you either reach 6 correct (pass) or have been asked 10 questions total without reaching 6 correct (fail). You do NOT need to answer all 10 questions if you reach 6 correct answers early.
Score Outcomes: What Each Result Means
Correct Answers
Questions Asked
Result
Next Step
6 or more
6–10
PASS ✓
Proceed to naturalization ceremony (if all else approved)
0–5
10
FAIL ✗
Retake scheduled within 60–90 days (1st attempt)
0–5
10
DENIED ✗
N-400 denied; may refile or appeal via Form N-336 (2nd attempt)
The English Test: Three Components You Must Pass
The naturalization English test has three parts evaluated separately. Speaking English is assessed throughout the entire interview — the officer evaluates your ability to understand and respond to questions during the normal interview process, not a separate speaking exam. Reading requires reading one sentence correctly in English from up to three sentences the officer provides. Writing requires writing one sentence correctly in English from up to three sentences the officer dictates. Minor errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation are acceptable as long as the answer is clearly understandable.
Component
How Tested
To Pass
Attempts
Speaking
Throughout entire interview
Demonstrate ability to communicate in English
N/A (continuous assessment)
Reading
Read 1 of up to 3 sentences
Read 1 sentence correctly
3 sentences provided
Writing
Write 1 of up to 3 sentences
Write 1 sentence correctly
3 sentences dictated
The 65/20 Senior Exception: Fewer Questions to Study
Applicants who are 65 years old or older and have been lawful permanent residents for 20 or more years qualify for the 65/20 exception. This exception allows them to study only a shorter list of 20 specially designated civics questions instead of all 100. The officer still asks 10 questions, but they are drawn only from the 20 designated questions. The passing threshold remains the same: 6 of 10 correct. Additionally, 65/20 applicants may take the civics test in their native language with an approved interpreter.
💡 Key study tip for 65/20 applicants: The 20 designated questions are available on the USCIS website. Since the officer's 10 questions come only from this pool of 20, your effective odds of seeing any given question are much higher than for standard applicants. Mastering all 20 questions thoroughly is both achievable and sufficient for the 65/20 civics requirement.
Disability Waiver: Form N-648
Applicants with a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that prevents them from meeting the English and civics requirements may apply for a medical disability exception using Form N-648. This form must be completed and signed by a licensed medical professional (physician, osteopathic physician, or clinical psychologist) who directly evaluates the applicant and certifies the nature and extent of the disability. If approved, the applicant is fully exempt from both the English test and the civics test. The medical disability exception does not affect the good moral character requirement or other naturalization eligibility criteria.
What Happens If You Fail the Civics Test
Attempt
Result
What Happens
Timeline
1st interview
Fail
USCIS schedules retake interview
Within 60–90 days
2nd interview (retake)
Pass
Proceed to naturalization ceremony
Ceremony scheduled
2nd interview (retake)
Fail again
N-400 application denied
Denial notice issued
After denial
Appeal
File Form N-336 within 30 days of denial
Hearing with USCIS officer
After denial
Refile
File new N-400 with new filing fee
Process restarts
The 100 USCIS Civics Questions: Topic Breakdown
Section
Questions
Key Topics
Principles of American Democracy
1–12
Constitution, rule of law, Bill of Rights, economic system
System of Government
13–47
Legislative, executive, judicial branches; elections; political parties
Rights and Responsibilities
48–57
Amendments, voting rights, responsibilities of citizens
Colonial Period & Independence
58–70
Colonial history, Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War
1800s American History
71–77
Civil War, Reconstruction, westward expansion
Recent History & Other
78–85
World Wars, Cold War, civil rights movement
Integrated Civics
86–100
Flag, national anthem, state/territory questions, current officeholders
Current Officeholder Questions: These Change Over Time
Several civics questions have answers that change depending on who currently holds office. These include: the current President (Question 28), the current Vice President (Question 29), the current Speaker of the House (Question 23), the number of Justices on the Supreme Court (Question 39, currently 9), the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Question 40), your state's governor (Question 43), and one of your state's US senators (Question 20). USCIS updates the official answer lists when officeholders change. Always study from the most current USCIS materials at uscis.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must answer 6 out of 10 civics questions correctly to pass. The officer asks questions from the official 100-question USCIS list. If you answer 6 correctly before all 10 are asked, the officer stops and you have passed. If you answer fewer than 6 correctly from all 10 questions, you fail and will be scheduled for a retake within 60 to 90 days.
The passing score is 6 correct answers out of 10 questions (60%). This threshold applies to all applicants using the standard 100-question test. The same 6-of-10 threshold applies to 65/20 senior exception applicants, except their questions are drawn from a shorter pool of 20 designated questions instead of all 100.
If you fail the civics test or English test at your first interview, USCIS schedules a second interview (retake) within 60 to 90 days. At the retake, you are only tested on the component(s) you failed. If you passed the civics test but failed the English test, you only retake the English test. You keep studying the civics questions between interviews. If you pass the retake, your application proceeds to the ceremony.
If you fail the civics or English test at your second (retake) interview, USCIS denies your N-400 application. You will receive a written denial notice. You then have two options: file Form N-336 within 30 days to request a hearing before an immigration officer to appeal the denial, or file a brand new N-400 application and pay the filing fee again, restarting the entire process. Denial does not affect your permanent resident status.
Applicants who are 65 or older and have been lawful permanent residents for 20 or more years qualify for the 65/20 exception. They study only 20 specially designated civics questions instead of all 100, and may take the civics test in their native language with an approved personal interpreter. The pass threshold remains 6 of 10 correct, but the 10 questions come from the pool of 20, not all 100.
Yes, through Form N-648 Medical Disability Exception. If a licensed medical professional certifies that you have a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that prevents you from meeting the English and civics requirements, USCIS may exempt you from both tests. The medical professional must have directly evaluated you and describe how your condition prevents you from meeting the requirements. USCIS reviews all N-648 forms carefully.
USCIS provides free official study materials at uscis.gov including the complete 100 questions and answers, flashcards, audio recordings, and a free civics practice app. Study all 100 questions, paying special attention to current officeholder questions (president, vice president, governor, senators) which change over time. Use flashcards to drill yourself. Practice saying answers aloud — the test is oral, not written. Most applicants study for 2 to 6 months and aim to know all 100 questions confidently before the interview.
The English test has three parts: speaking (assessed throughout the entire interview), reading (must read 1 sentence correctly from up to 3 provided), and writing (must write 1 sentence correctly from up to 3 dictated). You do not need to speak perfect English — you need to show you can communicate in English. Minor spelling and grammar errors in the writing test are acceptable if the answer is understandable. Failing any component means that component must be retaken at the second interview.
Yes, unless you qualify for the 65/20 senior exception. For standard applicants, the officer can ask any of the 100 civics questions. You cannot predict which 10 questions will be asked, so thorough preparation across all 100 gives you the best odds. Focus especially on: the three branches of government, amendments and the Bill of Rights, Civil War and World War history, current officeholders in your state, and the 13 original colonies. Some topics have multiple acceptable answers — learn all of them.
Most naturalization interviews last 20 to 40 minutes. The officer reviews your N-400 application, asks questions about your background (good moral character, attachment to the Constitution, willingness to take the Oath), administers the English test, and administers the civics test. If you pass all components, you may receive same-day notification. Some offices issue approval notices separately. After approval, you receive a ceremony notice to take the Oath of Allegiance and receive your Certificate of Naturalization.
No official data is published on question-by-question failure rates. However, questions requiring specific knowledge of current officeholders (state governor, US senators, Speaker of the House) are frequently missed because those answers change and applicants may not keep their study materials current. Questions about the number of amendments (27), the purpose of the Constitution, and specific historical dates also require precise memorization. Questions about the Civil War, Declaration of Independence author (Thomas Jefferson), and the Bill of Rights are generally better-known topics.
The naturalization ceremony is the final step in becoming a US citizen. You take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States, renouncing allegiance to other nations. USCIS collects your permanent resident card (green card) at the ceremony. You receive your Certificate of Naturalization, which is proof of US citizenship. After the ceremony, you can apply for a US passport, register to vote, and petition for immediate relatives to immigrate. Ceremonies can be judicial (in a courthouse) or administrative (at a USCIS office) and range from small groups to large public events.