Citizenship Interview / The civics test, asked out loud
The US citizenship civics test in 2026: which one you take, and how to practise it properly
The officer asks these out loud, gives you no feedback between answers, and stops the moment you pass.
Updated August 2026There are two civics tests in use right now, and which one you take is decided by the date on your application, not by when your interview is. If you filed Form N-400 before 20 October 2025 you take the 2008 test: ten questions drawn from a pool of 100, and you need six correct. If you filed on or after that date you take the 2025 test: twenty questions drawn from a pool of 128, and you need twelve correct. Either way the officer asks them aloud, one after another, usually without telling you whether each answer was right, and stops as soon as you have enough correct answers to pass.
This is interview practice, not legal or immigration advice. Merra does not review your application and does not predict whether you will be approved.
Merra: practise it out loud, not as a written quiz
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Practise the civics test out loud
An AI officer asks the questions out loud, follows up in conversation, and assesses your spoken English as it happens — not a written quiz.
Practise the civics test out loud2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscriptionThe process
- 1The civics questions come after the officer has reviewed your application.
- 2The officer asks them verbally, one at a time.
- 3There is usually no confirmation between questions.
- 4The officer stops as soon as you reach the pass mark.
- 5If you do not reach it, you are retested on civics only, between 60 and 90 days later.
Which test you take
Most people land on this page first, so the filing-date rule bears repeating.
- 100-question pool
- 10 questions asked
- 6 correct to pass
- 128-question pool
- 20 questions asked
- 12 correct to pass
How it is actually asked
The officer asks the questions aloud, one after another, usually without confirming whether each answer was right, and stops the moment you reach the pass mark. That silence between questions is the part most people find hardest — not the questions themselves.
The questions whose answers change
Some questions have answers that shift over time, so a study list can go stale. Always check current officeholders before your interview:
Questions with more than one right answer
On some questions the officer accepts any correct answer — for example naming one branch of government, or naming one state that borders Canada. You do not need to name every possible answer, just one.
The 65/20 reduced list
If you are 65 or older and have held a green card for 20 years, you take the civics test from a reduced set of questions, and you may take it in your own language.
Real interview questions
Grouped by area — drawn from USCIS materials.
Principles of American democracy
System of government
Answers that change
American history
Symbols and holidays
Pricing
FAQs
How many questions will I be asked?
Up to 20 on the 2025 test, up to 10 on the 2008 test, and the officer stops early once you pass.
How many do I need right?
Twelve on the 2025 test, six on the 2008 test.
Which test applies to me?
It is decided by your filing date: before 20 October 2025 means the 2008 test.
Do the answers ever change?
Yes. Questions about the President, your senators, your governor and the Chief Justice change over time, so always check current officeholders.
What if I am 65 or older?
If you are 65+ and have held a green card for 20 years, you take a reduced set of questions and may take them in your own language.
Official information
For the official application process, forms and requirements.
More citizenship interview guides
Merra is an independent interview-practice platform and is not affiliated with USCIS or the US government. Merra’s feedback is advisory only — it is not a guarantee of any interview or application outcome, and it is not legal or immigration advice.
The naturalization interview is spoken. Practise it that way.
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Practise the civics test out loud2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscription