About CivicsWise
CivicsWise is an independent study site for the civics test of the U.S. naturalization interview: the official questions, each one with an explanation written in plain English.
Which test you take
When you apply for naturalization with Form N-400, a USCIS officer asks you questions about U.S. history and government from a published list. Two versions of the test are in use, and the one you take depends on when you filed your application.
| Rule | 2025 test | 2008 test |
|---|---|---|
| Applies if you filed Form N-400 | on or after October 20, 2025 | before October 20, 2025 |
| Questions on the official list | 128 | 100 |
| Questions asked at the interview | up to 20 | up to 10 |
| Correct answers needed to pass | 12 | 6 |
| The officer stops asking | at 12 correct or 9 incorrect | at 6 correct or 5 incorrect |
Each version has its own material on this site, and they are kept apart on purpose: the 128 questions of the current test and the 100 questions of the 2008 test, each with its own practice test. Study the one that matches your filing date.
If you are 65 or older and have lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for 20 or more years, you get special consideration under either version: the officer asks 10 questions from a designated list of 20, you need 6 correct answers to pass, and you may take the test in the language of your choice.
Some answers change with elections and appointments, such as the name of the President or of your state's governor. USCIS lists those changes on its test updates page. The full rules are on the 2025 civics test page and in the USCIS Policy Manual.
Where the questions come from
Every question and answer on this site comes from the official USCIS lists: the PDF 128 Civics Questions and Answers for the 2025 test and 100 Civics Questions and Answers for the 2008 test. They are works of the U.S. federal government, which places them in the public domain, and we reproduce them word for word.
What the explanations add
A list of questions and answers is easy to find, and it is also the least helpful way to study: a memorized answer fails the moment the officer phrases the question differently. Each explanation on this site gives the idea behind the answer, why the official answer is what it is, and where people usually get confused. That material is written by us, and it is the reason the site exists.
Privacy
There are no accounts and nothing to sign up for. Your practice progress stays in your own browser. The privacy policy has the details.
Corrections
If you find a mistake, an answer that is out of date after an election, or an explanation that confused you, tell us through the contact page. Corrections are the most useful message we receive.
You can also write directly to contact@civicswise.com.