Starting October 20, 2025, USCIS will be rolling out a revised civics test for anyone filing Form N-400. The setup is straightforward, with only 20 questions drawn from a pool of 128.
The interview ends once 12 answers are correct or nine are incorrect, with a minimum of 12 correct required to pass.
The English reading, writing, and speaking portions of the naturalisation process remain unchanged.
Concessions for selected applicants
Applicants aged 65 and above, with at least 20 years of permanent residency, will continue to face a shorter civics test: 10 questions drawn from a pool of 20. Passing requires six correct answers. This group may also take the test in their preferred language, as per the USCIS website.
Preparing for the change
The full set of 128 questions and study guides sits right on the USCIS website. What they’re really aiming for here is simple: helping new citizens build a stronger grasp of civic life by going deeper into the basics of the Constitution and the values that shape democracy.
To help candidates prepare, USCIS has released examples from the updated bank. They cover the Constitution, the rule of law, branches of government, voting rights, and presidential powers, basically the core building blocks of how the US government works.
Here are a few key questions
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
2. What does the Bill of Rights protect?
The basic rights of Americans; the basic rights of people living in the United States
3. What is the rule of law?
Everyone must follow the law; leaders must obey the law; government must obey the law; no one is above the law
4. There are three branches of government. Why?
So one part does not become too powerful; checks and balances; separation of powers
5. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one.
Citizens 18 and older can vote; you do not have to pay a poll tax; any citizen can vote (women and men); a male citizen of any race can vote
