U.S. Citizenship Civics Test — All Questions
The figures these questions turn on, laid out by section on dense colour pages you can print: U.S. Citizenship Civics Test cheat sheet PDF — $9.99 →
55 questions
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
- a.July 4
- b.January 1
- c.April 15✓
- d.December 31
Federal income tax returns are generally due by April 15 each year. Paying taxes is a responsibility of people who live and work in the United States. The 16th Amendment gave Congress the power to collect an income tax.16th Amendment
What does it mean that the U.S. Constitution can be amended?
- a.It can be changed over time to meet new needs✓
- b.It only applied to the founding generation
- c.It cannot be changed at all
- d.It must be rewritten every year
The Constitution can be changed through amendments, allowing it to adapt over time. This is why it has been amended 27 times. Article V describes the process for proposing and ratifying amendments.U.S. Constitution
Who serves as head of state, head of government, and Commander in Chief of the military?
- a.The Speaker of the House
- b.The Chief Justice
- c.The President✓
- d.The Vice President
In the United States, the President serves as head of state, head of government, and Commander in Chief all at once. Many other countries divide these roles among different people. The President's powers are described in Article II.U.S. Constitution
Who confirms the President's nominations to the Cabinet and the Supreme Court?
- a.The House of Representatives
- b.State governors
- c.The Supreme Court
- d.The Senate✓
The Senate confirms, or approves, many presidential nominations, including Cabinet members and federal judges. This is part of the system of checks and balances. The President nominates, but the Senate must consent.U.S. Constitution
Who has the power to declare war?
- a.The President alone
- b.The Supreme Court
- c.The Secretary of Defense
- d.Congress✓
The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. This is another example of checks and balances, since the President commands the military but cannot formally declare war. Article I lists this power among those of Congress.U.S. Constitution
How hard is the exam?
The USCIS civics test is oral, given during your naturalization interview. If you filed Form N-400 on or after Oct. 20, 2025, you take the 2025 test: up to 20 questions from the official list of 128, and you pass with 12 correct. The officer stops once you have 12 correct or 9 incorrect. Earlier filings take the 2008 test from the list of 100.
- Recommended study hours
- Study the official USCIS list for your test version — 128 questions for the 2025 test; most applicants review over several weeks.
- Published pass rate
- 89.7% on the first attempt; 94.4% across all attempts — USCIS, cumulative since October 1, 2023. USCIS calls the first figure the initial exam only and the second the initial exam plus re-exam. Both count applicants who were exempt from part of the test, or who had an approved Form N-648, as passing.Source: USCIS — Naturalization Statistics, “Naturalization Test Initial Pass Rate”
- Where to focus first
- American Government and American History — the two largest sections of the official list.
Fees and salaries are approximate and change over time. The pass rate above is quoted from the source linked beside it, for the period that source covers — where we have not checked a source, we say so and give no number.