What Happens During the Naturalization Interview?

• Your ability to speak and understand English will be determined by a USCIS Officer from your answers to questions normally asked during the eligibility interview on the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400.
• For the English portion, you will be given both a reading test and a writing test. You must read 1 out of 3 sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English. You must write 1 out of 3 sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English.
• For the civics portion, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test.

Certain applicants, because of age and time as a permanent resident; or others because of a disability, have different English and civics requirements; see the “Exceptions Accommodations” web page for details.

Preparing for the Test

Under the “Study for the Test” section of the Citizenship Resource Center, you can find free study materials for the English and civics portions of the test:

• Study Materials for the Civics Test
• Study Materials for the English Test

• Vocabulary Flash Cards to help you study for the English reading and writing portions of the naturalization test.
• Lists of the 100 Civics Questions and Answers in English, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
• Civics Flash Cards to help you prepare for the civics portion of the naturalization test.

After reviewing the educational products we offer, try the Naturalization Self Test as a means to test your knowledge. Please note that the actual civics test is NOT a multiple choice test, but an oral test. This “Self Test” was prepared as a learning tool to help you assess your progress.

What Happens if You Don’t Pass?

You will be given two opportunities to take the English and civics tests and to answer all questions related to your naturalization application in English. If you fail any of the tests during your initial interview, you will be retested on the portion of the test that you failed (English or civics) between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview.

What is the Pass Rate?

For those applicants taking both the English and civics tests, the overall national pass rate as of June 2011 is 92 percent. To view scoring guidelines and background data, and other information, visit the “Applicant Performance on the Naturalization Test” page.