US Citizenship Test Study Guide
The naturalization interview has four parts: a review of your N-400, the civics test, an English reading test, and an English writing test. Here is what happens in each — and how to prepare.
1. The N-400 review
The officer places you under oath and goes through your application — your trips abroad, work history, and the moral-character questions. Answer exactly as your form says; report anything that changed since you filed.
2. The civics test (oral)
The officer reads questions aloud from the official list and you answer from memory — no multiple choice. Which list and how many questions depends on your filing date; see the version guide below. Short answers are fine: for "Who vetoes bills?", saying "the President" passes.
3. The reading test
You read one to three sentences aloud from a tablet. You pass as soon as you read one sentence acceptably. The vocabulary is published by USCIS — mostly civics words like "citizens", "Congress", and "America".
4. The writing test
The officer dictates one to three sentences and you write them on the tablet. One correctly written sentence passes. Spelling matters less than being understandable; capitalization and punctuation errors don't fail you.
A study plan that works
- Do one 10-question practice round daily — the same format as the real oral test.
- Read each question's page after you miss it; the explanation is what makes the answer stick.
- Memorize answers that change (your governor, senators, the President) last — they must be current on interview day.
- The week before: switch to English-only practice, even if you studied in your own language.
Requirements current as of mid-2026 — always verify at uscis.gov before your interview.