U.S. Citizenship Test in 2026: Civics Questions and English Rules

(U.S.) — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is maintaining the 2008 version of the citizenship civics and English tests in April 2026, keeping the naturalization process unchanged after earlier proposals to toughen the exam stalled.

Applicants seeking U.S. citizenship must answer 6 out of 10 civics questions correctly from a fixed bank of 100 questions on U.S. history and government. They also must read one sentence aloud in English, write one sentence dictated by an officer, and complete a simple conversational assessment during the interview.

The current format has remained in place since USCIS reinstated it in December 2024. No nationwide change to the test structure followed a 2025 proposal by then-USCIS Director Joseph Edllo to expand the civics bank to 128 questions and raise the passing score to 12 out of 20.

That leaves naturalization applicants in 2026 facing a stable test, but a broader immigration system with stricter screening. USCIS has shifted attention toward vetting, fraud detection and wider social media reviews, changes that can affect how naturalization cases move through the pipeline.

The present civics test dates to a 2008 overhaul that introduced a standardized 100-question bank and basic English requirements. USCIS made that change to replace older versions that relied more heavily on officer discretion and less uniform questioning.

A later redesign under the first Trump administration temporarily made the test harder in 2020. That version expanded the civics bank to 128 questions, required 12 correct answers out of 20, and added layered questions intended to test deeper understanding rather than memorization.

The Biden administration reversed those changes in December 2024 and restored the 2008 model after a pilot drew criticism from advocacy groups and public commenters. More than 1,300 public comments had raised concerns that the redesign created barriers for low-literacy applicants, older immigrants and refugees with disrupted education.

USCIS officers still use the civics test as the centerpiece of the naturalization interview. During the in-person session, an officer selects 10 questions randomly from the official 100-question bank, which USCIS makes available in English and 13 other languages with audio through the Citizenship Resource Center.

Applicants pass by getting 6 right. The questions cover the structure of American government, the system of government, rights and responsibilities, American history and integrated civics.

Examples include “What is the supreme law of the land?” with the answer “The Constitution,” and “Name one branch or part of the government.” Acceptable answers to that question include Congress, the President or courts.

The bank also asks “What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?” and “Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?” with Thomas Jefferson as the answer. Another question asks, “What does the Constitution do?” and accepts answers including sets up the government, defines the government, or protects basic rights.

USCIS provides study materials, flashcards and practice tests for the exam. Officers can administer the civics questions orally when needed, and applicants may ask for clarification, but officers do not give hints.

When an applicant fails the civics portion, USCIS retests only that part within 60-90 days. The English portion must be passed on the first attempt unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption.

English testing in the naturalization process remains basic and integrated into the interview rather than handled as a separate oral exam. Officers assess reading, writing, speaking and listening at a level USCIS describes as sufficient for daily life.

For reading, an applicant must read one of three simple sentences aloud. One example is “The President lives in the White House.”

For writing, the applicant must write one of three dictated sentences. One example is “Citizens can vote.”

Speaking and listening are measured during the conversation about the `Form N-400` application, eligibility and civics answers. Officers note accents but pass applicants who can communicate functionally in English.

That approach differs from the 2020 redesign and later 2025 proposal, which contemplated photo descriptions and broader speaking prompts. Those ideas included prompts such as “Describe this scene of a family picnic” and weather summaries aimed at more practical fluency, but USCIS never adopted them nationwide.

The current rules also include exemptions tied to age, years of permanent residence, disability and some military service. Those exceptions remain a central part of how USCIS handles fairness concerns for applicants who may struggle with standard testing.

A permanent resident age 50 or older with 20 years in that status may take the civics portion in a native language with an interpreter, while English remains required. The same rule applies to a permanent resident age 55 or older with 15 years as a permanent resident.

Applicants age 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident may use a simplified 20-question civics bank in a native language, with English still required. USCIS also allows disability-based waivers through `Form N-648`, the medical certification used when a doctor confirms that conditions such as Alzheimer’s, stroke or intellectual disabilities prevent learning the material.

That waiver process remains available in 2026, though the agency’s broader vetting environment has become stricter. `Form N-648` requests are approved in about 80% of cases and require detailed evidence.

Some veterans can also qualify for streamlined processes and exemptions. Even when a testing exemption applies, applicants still must complete the interview and oath requirements.

USCIS has not changed the baseline eligibility rules for naturalization. Applicants generally must have held a green card for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen, while also meeting continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character and basic knowledge requirements.

For many people in 2026, the test itself may be the most predictable part of the process. Processing backlogs continue as USCIS applies stricter screenings, including expanded social media vetting and tougher reviews of criminal and immigration records.

Interviews now probe `Form N-400` answers more deeply, with small errors risking delays or denials. USCIS expanded social media vetting to more categories on March 30 and launched a Vetting Center in December 2025 to screen for terrorism and crime.

Naturalization timelines have stretched as a result. Processing averages 10-14 months, with biometrics, interviews and oath ceremonies slowed by staffing shortages and enhanced screening.

Costs remain another part of the equation. The filing fee is $725, with waivers available for low-income applicants, and biometrics add $85.

The stable civics questions may benefit applicants who have spent months preparing under the current system. Older immigrants, refugees and people with low literacy were among the groups most likely to benefit from the restored 2008 format and existing exemptions.

For community groups and legal aid providers, the lack of new civics questions means training materials do not need another rewrite. Organizations can continue teaching the 100-question bank and basic English drills while adding preparation for deeper vetting and more exacting interview review.

Nonprofits, legal aid groups and ESL programs support about 700,000 annual applicants. Those groups are reporting steady demand and continued reliance on oral practice to help applicants pass.

That support comes as immigration policy elsewhere has tightened. The broader 2026 environment includes immigrant visa pauses for 75 countries, Employment Authorization Document validity capped at 18 months, increased ICE activity and H-1B reforms.

None of those developments changed the civics questions directly. They do, however, shape the atmosphere in which applicants enter the naturalization process, especially when officers review travel history, social media and evidence tied to good moral character.

Edllo’s 2025 proposal to raise the civics burden remains on hold as of April 2026. No pilot or rollout has occurred, leaving applicants who file now subject to the familiar 2008 framework rather than a tougher national exam.

USCIS continues to present that framework as a balance between rigor and access. For applicants, it means the rules governing civics questions and basic English remain familiar even as the rest of the naturalization process draws heavier scrutiny.

That combination defines citizenship testing in 2026: a settled exam, a longer wait, and a naturalization process that asks immigrants to prepare not only for 100 civics questions, but for a more searching review of every part of their case.