The Naturalization Civics Test

Who this is for: Green card holders who have filed or are about to file the N-400 and must take the naturalization civics test, especially applicants born in mainland China who want to know "which version do I take, how many questions do I need to learn, and who is the answer to the President and governor questions right now."

Facts here follow the USCIS website, last checked 2026-10-14. Answers marked ⚠️ change with elections and appointments: check again the week before your interview. This guide is not legal advice.

The key points first: the two versions in one table

• The version depends only on your N-400 filing date, not your interview date. Check the Received Date on your I-797C receipt notice.
• Both versions pass at 60%. The 2025 version is essentially the set used in 2020; the only rule change is that it again stops "once you have enough" (the 2020 version required all 20 questions).
• The English reading, writing and speaking test did not change with the new civics test; see The English test.
• ⚠️ DHS's 2026 regulatory agenda lists a proposal to "strengthen naturalization education standards" (RIN 1615-AD13), with a proposed rule planned for December 2026, which may change the standards and format of the English and civics tests (including allowing third parties to administer them). As of 2026-10-14 no text has been published and the current test is unchanged.

1. How the test works

Flow: Receive the interview notice → on interview day, take the oath and review the N-400 → civics test (the officer asks aloud, order not fixed) → the 2025 version stops at 12 correct or 9 wrong, the 2008 version at 6 correct or 5 wrong → a pass is recorded on the N-652; if you fail, you retake only the civics part within 60–90 days, and failing again means the application is denied

• The officer asks from a standardized test randomly generated by the system, and you answer aloud; it isn't multiple choice.
• You can answer with other wording of the answers in the bank (officially, alternative phrasing) as long as the meaning is right. USCIS also encourages preparing with the answers listed in the bank.
• Officers give "due consideration" to your age, education and time in the U.S. in how they phrase questions and judge answers, but this isn't a guarantee of a lower standard.
• If you can't hear a question, ask the officer to repeat it: "Could you repeat the question, please?"
• Failing isn't an immediate denial: if you fail at the first interview, USCIS schedules a retest 60–90 days after the first interview covering only the part you failed; if you fail again, the application is denied (see If you did not pass: retests, requests for documents and second interviews).

2. The structure of the 2025 version's 128 questions

The official list is numbered M-1778 (09/25) and has three main parts:

Compared with the 2008 version, the new one has many more "why" questions, for example:

• 26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators? (To more closely follow public opinion)
• 28. Why does each state have two senators? (Equal representation / The Great Compromise)
• 37. Why can the President serve only two terms? (The 22nd Amendment / to keep the President from becoming too powerful)
• 56. Why do Supreme Court justices serve for life? (To be independent / to limit outside political influence)
• 101. Why did the United States enter World War I?

For questions like these, memorizing keywords alone can leave you stuck. Understand the meaning, then memorize one or two of the shortest official answers.

65/20 applicants only need the 20 starred questions; see the full list and explanations in Taking the test in Chinese: 50/20, 55/15, 65/20 and N-648.

3. Questions whose answers change (⚠️ October 2026)

The official rule: answer with whoever is in office on the day of your interview. USCIS publishes the national answers on its "Check for Test Updates" page; you look up the state and district answers yourself.

1. National answers

(* marks a 65/20 designated question. Sources checked: the USCIS Check for Test Updates page and the websites of the White House, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court, all opened 2026-10-14.)

2. Answers that depend on your state

If you live in Washington, D.C.: for the senator question answer "D.C. has no U.S. senators," and for the governor question "D.C. does not have a governor."

3. States with large Chinese communities: senators, governors, capitals (⚠️ checked 2026-10-14)

The senators come from the U.S. Senate website (data updated 2026-10-08), and the governors from the National Governors Association (NGA) website. For other states, use the official sources above.

4. ⚠️ Check again after the November 2026 midterm elections

November 3, 2026 is the federal midterm election: all representatives, about a third of senators and governors in most states are up for election. The new Congress takes office on January 3, 2027, when the House elects a Speaker again; most new governors take office in January 2027 (dates vary by state). For example, California's Governor Newsom reaches the end of his term limit, so California will definitely have a new governor from January 2027.

If your interview falls between November 2026 and January 2027, pay special attention to "who is in office on the day of your interview": people who have won but not yet taken office aren't the answer yet; answer with the current officeholder. Check the USCIS update page and senate.gov, house.gov and your state government's website again the week before your interview.

4. How to study

How much time: the 2025 version is long and requires understanding, so allow at least 4–8 weeks at 20–30 minutes a day (our suggestion).

1. Use only the official question bank to define what to study

• 2025 version: the USCIS 128 questions (M-1778) and the official study guide One Nation, One People (2025 edition);
• 2008 version: the USCIS 100 questions (rev. 08/21).
• Chinese translations circulating online are third-party; USCIS has no official Chinese version of the 2025 test. You can use Chinese to help understand, but answer in English, using the official English for names and terms.

2. Study in groups and memorize one short answer per question For example, for "Name one power of Congress" just memorize Writes laws; for "What is the supreme law of the land" just The Constitution. For questions with several answers, pick the one you pronounce best.

3. Say it out loud The test is oral, and understanding isn't the same as being able to say it. Practice answers as short phrases or sentences, and record yourself to check pronunciation.

4. Practice hearing different wordings The officer may phrase a question differently. For example, question 43 "Who signs bills to become laws?" might be asked as "Who signs bills into law?". Have family members ask you at random, at different speeds and with different wording.

5. Make a separate card for your state and district Write your senators, representative, governor and capital on one card and update it the week before the interview.

6. Take mock tests under the real rules For the 2025 version, draw 20 random questions and stop at 12 correct or 9 wrong; for the 2008 version, draw 10. If you can reliably get 12 correct within the first 14–15 questions several times in a row, you're in good shape (our suggestion).

📱 Practice: The PathToUS Citizenship Test app lets you choose the 2025 or 2008 question bank by your filing date, asks questions at random, and lets you answer aloud with AI scoring.

5. Notes for applicants from China

1. Confirm your version before you start memorizing. If you filed before October 20, 2025 and are only now interviewing, you take the 2008 version; don't study the wrong set because everyone online is talking about 128 questions.
2. If you qualify for 50/20 or 55/15, you can take the civics test in Chinese (with your own interpreter), but the questions are the same; 65/20 applicants take only the 20 designated questions. Eligibility is based on your filing date; see Taking the test in Chinese.
3. Pronouncing names: names like Vance, Johnson and Roberts are easy, but governors' and senators' names can be tricky; look up the pronunciation and practice. For questions where the last name is enough (such as Trump, Vance, Johnson), the official answers accept just the last name.
4. Don't translate concept questions word for word: for example "rule of law" (No one is above the law), "consent of the governed" and "checks and balances". Understand the meaning first, then memorize the short English answer.
5. Dates and people in history questions often don't match Chinese-language materials (for example, the English names of holidays and wars). Always go by the official English answers.

6. What applicants report (since 2025)

Common themes from public posts in 2025–2026 on Reddit r/USCIS, 1point3acres, Chinese-language community news sites and World Journal community reports. Individual experiences, not guarantees.

• Firsthand reports on the new version are still few. Many interview reports shared from 2025 through the first half of 2026 came from people who filed before 2025-10-20 and took the 2008 version (for example, someone stopped after getting all 6 right). When reading a report, first check which version the person took.
• "Memorizing answers" isn't enough for the new version. Chinese community posts generally find the 2025 version puts more weight on understanding "why"; the question bank doubled, and 9 wrong answers means failing, so a shaky start can make people nervous.
• Officers often start with easy questions, such as who the President is, the flag or the capital, before moving to questions that require understanding (as compiled by test-prep sites; not an official rule).
• The changing questions people most often get wrong are "your state's senator or representative": if you moved or your district was redrawn, check carefully in advance.
• Some Chinese community members have built free bilingual practice sites (covering the 128 questions and automatically showing senators and governors by state). They can help, but the official answers are what count.

FAQ

1. I filed on October 15, 2025 and interview in 2026. Which version do I take? The 2008 version (10 questions drawn from 100, pass with 6). Only the filing date matters.

2. Will all 20 questions of the 2025 version be asked? No. It stops at 12 correct or 9 wrong.

3. What if the President or Speaker changes around my interview? Answer with whoever is in office on the day of your interview. Check the USCIS "Check for Test Updates" page before your interview.

4. Do I have to name both senators? No. The question asks for "one of your state's U.S. senators," so one is enough.

5. Can I answer in Chinese? Only people who qualify under 50/20, 55/15 or 65/20, or have an approved N-648, can take the civics test in Chinese (with their own interpreter). Everyone else answers in English.

6. If my answer isn't the exact wording in the bank, does it count? Other wording with the correct meaning counts, but preparing with the official answers is safest.

7. If I fail civics but pass English, do I retake English? No. You retake only the civics part you failed.

8. Do 65/20 applicants taking the 2025 version need to learn all 128 questions? No. Only the 20 starred questions of the 2025 version: 10 are asked and 6 correct passes, and you can take it in Chinese.

9. Is the number-of-justices question still in the new version? Yes. Question 53 of the 2025 version asks how many seats are on the Supreme Court (answer: 9).

10. Will the new "education standards" rule make my current preparation useless? As of 2026-10-14 it's only a plan on the agenda, with no text. Even if it's published later, it would normally go through public comment, a final rule and an effective date, and usually applies by filing date. Prepare for the version that applies to you now.

Official links (last checked 2026-10-14)

• The 2025 civics test: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-test-and-study-resources/2025-civics-test
• 2025 test, 128 questions and answers (M-1778): https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/2025-Civics-Test-128-Questions-and-Answers.pdf
• 2025 study guide, One Nation, One People: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/brochures/USCIS-2025-Civics-Test-Study-Guide.pdf
• 2008 test, 100 questions and answers: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/OoC_100_Questions_2008_Civics_Test_V1.pdf
• Check for Test Updates: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/check-for-test-updates
• Study for the Test: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/study-for-the-test
• Policy Manual: English and civics testing: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-e-chapter-2
• Federal Register: implementation of the 2025 civics test: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/18/2025-18050/implementation-of-2025-naturalization-civics-test
• Regulatory agenda RIN 1615-AD13 (naturalization education standards proposal): https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?RIN=1615-AD13&pubId=202510
• U.S. senators: https://www.senate.gov/
• Find your representative: http://www.house.gov/
• State governors and capitals: https://www.usa.gov/states-and-territories
• Governors list (National Governors Association, not a government site): https://www.nga.org/governors/

Related guides: N-400 step by step · Naturalization interview day · Taking the test in Chinese · English test · If you did not pass

Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and is not legal advice. Test versions and the answers to changing questions can change; follow the latest from USCIS. For your own case, consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.