Civics Questions and Answers for the 65/20 Special Consideration (2020 version) - Important Updates to the Naturalization Test

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

Civics Questions and Answers for the 65/20 Special Consideration explains updates to the U.S. naturalization civics test under USCIS’s revised 2020 version. It outlines the two-part test (English and Civics) and describes the 65/20 eligibility rules that reduce study from 128 questions to 20 marked with an asterisk. For qualified applicants, the civics test is oral, with a requirement to answer 10 questions and correctly answer at least 6 to pass, while acknowledging that some answers may change.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Important Updates to the Naturalization Test

Civics test structure and 65/20 eligibility

American Government

Principles of American Government

System of Government

Rights and Responsibilities

American History

Colonial Period and Independence

1800s

Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

M-1781 (11/20) Civics Questions and Answers for the 65/20 Special Consideration (2020 version) Important Updates to the Naturalization Test USCIS has revised the civics portion of the naturalization test. All applicants for naturalization with a filing date on or after December 1, 2020, will be required to take the 2020 version of the civics test. The naturalization test has two components: • English • Civics The English portion has not changed. For more information about the 2020 version of the civics test, [visit ](visit uscis.gov/citizenship/2020test)[uscis.gov/citizenship/2020test](visit uscis.gov/citizenship/2020test). Listed below are the questions and answers from the 2020 version of the civics test for those who qualify for the 65/20 special consideration. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides special consideration for applicants who, at the time of filing their Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, are aged 65 years old or older, and who have been living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years. Instead of studying all 128 civics questions, qualifying applicants are only required to study the 20 questions that have been marked with an asterisk (*) found at the end of each question. Applicants who qualify for the 65/20 special consideration are exempt from the English requirements and may take the civics test in the language of their choice. The civics test is an oral test and covers important topics about American government and history. If you qualify for the 65/20 special consideration, a USCIS officer will ask you to answer 10 out of the 20 civics test questions with an asterisk. You must answer at least 6 out of 10 questions (or 60%) correctly to pass the 2020 version of the civics test. On the civics test, some answers may change because of elections or appointments. [Visit ](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates to find any answers that may have changed on the civics test. You must)[uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates to find any answers that may have changed on the civics test. You must)[ to find any answers that may have changed on the civics test. You must](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates to find any answers that may have changed on the civics test. You must)[ ](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates to find any answers that may have changed on the civics test. You must)[answer the question with the name of the official serving at the time of your naturalization interview.](answer the question with the name of the official serving at the time of your naturalization interview.) Although USCIS is aware that there may be additional correct answers to the civics questions, applicants are encouraged to respond to the questions using the answers provided below. 1 of 4 [uscis.gov/citizenship](uscis.gov/citizenship) AMERICAN GOVERNMENT A: Principles of American Government 1. What is the supreme law of the land? * • (U.S.) Constitution 2. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? * • Twenty-seven (27) 3. What is the economic system of the United States? * • Capitalism • Free market economy B: System of Government 4. Name one power of the U.S. Congress. * • Writes laws • Declares war • Makes the federal budget 5. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? * • [Visit ](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the)[uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the)[ for the](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the) name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 6. The President of the United States is elected for how many years? * • Four (4) years 7. What is the name of the President of the United States now? * • [Visit ](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the)[uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates](Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the)[ for the](Visit uscis.go

FAQs

What change did USCIS make to the naturalization civics test in 2020?

USCIS revised the civics portion of the naturalization test. Applicants with a filing date on or after December 1, 2020 must take the 2020 version of the civics test.

What is the 65/20 special consideration and how does it affect which civics questions you must study?

Applicants aged 65 or older who have lived in the U.S. as lawful permanent residents for at least 20 years qualify for special consideration. Instead of studying all 128 civics questions, they study only the 20 questions marked with an asterisk.

How is the 2020 civics test administered and what score is required to pass?

The civics test is oral. If you qualify for 65/20, a USCIS officer asks you to answer 10 out of the 20 asterisk questions, and you must answer at least 6 of 10 correctly to pass.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver