What does the citizenship test cover?
The naturalization test has two parts, English and civics (U.S. history and government), and USCIS offers free official materials to study for both.
- Reading: you read aloud one of three sentences.
- Writing: you write one of three sentences.
- Speaking: a USCIS officer judges your spoken English during the interview.
- Civics: questions about U.S. history and government.
Which civics test version applies?
USCIS says it depends on when the Form N-400 was filed:
- Filed before October 20, 2025: the 2008 civics test (100 official questions and answers).
- Filed on or after October 20, 2025: the 2025 civics test (128 official questions and answers).
Study from the list that matches your filing date. If you are not sure which applies to you, check your N-400 receipt notice or ask an accredited representative or attorney.
What free materials does USCIS publish?
- The official civics questions and answers for the 2008 and 2025 tests.
- A study guide and a civics textbook for the 2025 test.
- The vocabulary lists for the reading and writing tests.
All of them are on uscis.gov at no cost. Nobody needs to sell you the official questions.
Where can you find a citizenship class?
Adult education programs, public libraries, community colleges and immigrant organizations often run citizenship classes along with their English classes. In this directory, open your city's page and choose "ESL & adult education" or "Public libraries", and ask whether they have a citizenship-test class. Our guide to free English classes explains what to expect at registration.
A class teaches the test. Questions about whether, when or how to apply for citizenship are legal questions; a DOJ-accredited representative or a licensed attorney can answer them.
Common questions
- Are the citizenship test questions free?
- Yes. USCIS publishes the official civics questions and answers, study guides and vocabulary lists for free on uscis.gov.
- Do I study the 100 or the 128 questions?
- USCIS says applicants who filed Form N-400 before October 20, 2025 take the 2008 test (100 questions), and those who filed on or after that date take the 2025 test (128 questions).
Official sources
Checked 2026-10-11. Rules and numbers can change; confirm with the official source.