Naturalization Applicants Now Take the 2025 Civics Test: 128 Questions in the Bank, 20 Asked, 12 Correct to Pass
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sets the dividing line in its Policy Manual: anyone who files a naturalization application on or after October 20, 2025 takes the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test, while applicants who filed before that date take the 2008 test. The passing share is 60 percent under both versions, but the question bank doubles, so green card holders preparing now should first confirm which test their filing date puts them in.
The 2025 test draws on a bank of 128 questions on American government, history and civics. At the interview a USCIS officer administers the test orally, asking up to 20 questions; an applicant passes with at least 12 correct answers, and the officer stops once the applicant reaches 12 correct or accumulates nine incorrect answers, which fails the test. The 2008 test uses a bank of 100 questions, up to 10 asked, with six correct to pass.
The English test is the same under both versions and covers speaking, reading and writing: speaking is judged from the interview itself, reading requires reading one of three sentences correctly, and writing requires writing one of three dictated sentences correctly. An applicant who does not pass gets a second opportunity, retested only on the portions not passed. Age-based exceptions soften the requirements: applicants age 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or age 55 or older with 15 years, are exempt from the English requirement but must still take the civics test, which they may take in their language of choice through an interpreter. Applicants age 65 or older with 20 years of residence receive special consideration, a 10-question civics test drawn from 20 specially designated questions, with six correct to pass.
The underlying eligibility rules are unchanged: be at least 18, hold a green card with five years of continuous residence, or three years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen spouse, be physically present for at least half that period (30 months on the five-year track), live in the state or USCIS district of filing for at least three months, show good moral character, and take the oath of allegiance. USCIS publishes the full question banks and study materials for both tests free through its Citizenship Resource Center. (Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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