Learn About the United States - Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test - M-638 rev. 08/21

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda

Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test helps applicants prepare for the civics and English portions of the USCIS naturalization interview. The booklet explains that the civics test contains 100 history and government questions, with up to 10 asked and 6 required to pass; certain seniors study only 20 questions marked with an asterisk. It also describes English speaking, reading, and writing testing requirements, plus current-answer guidance and study resources for practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons

Civics test structure and passing requirements

English portion: speaking, reading, and writing

Important note and keeping answers current

More resources to help you study

American government overview

Learn About the United States Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test (2008 version) M-638 (rev. 08/21) Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons Thank you for your interest in becoming a citizen of the United States of America. Your decision to apply for U.S. citizenship is a very meaningful demonstration of your commitment to this country. As you prepare for U.S. citizenship, Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons will help you study for the civicsand English portions of the naturalization interview. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly 6 of the 10 questions to pass the civics test. Applicants who are age 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for at least 20 years at the time of filing the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, are only required to study 20 of the 100 civics test questions for the naturalization test. These questions are flagged with an asterisk (*) in this booklet. Learn About the United States contains short lessons based on each of the 100 civics questions. This additional information will help you learn more about important concepts in American history and government. During your naturalization interview, you will not be tested on the additional information in the short lessons. There are three components to the English portion of the test: speaking, reading, and writing. Your ability to speak English is determined by the USCIS Officer based on your answers to questions normally asked during the eligibility interview on the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. For the reading test, you must read one (1) out of three (3) sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English. There is a reading vocabulary list with all the words found in the English reading portion of the naturalization test included in the back of this booklet. For the writing test, you must write one (1) out of three (3) sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English. There is a writing vocabulary list with all the words found in the English writing portion of the naturalization test included in the back of this booklet. 􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫 IMPORTANT NOTE: On the naturalization test, some answers may change because of elections or appointments. As you study for the test, make sure that you know the most current answers to these questions. Answer these questions with the name of the official who is serving at the time of your eligibility interview with USCIS. The USCIS Officer will not accept an incorrect answer. 􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫􀀫 More Resources to Help You Study Visit the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center at [uscis.gov/citizenship](uscis.gov/citizenship) to find additional educational materials. Be sure to look for these helpful study tools: • 100 Civics Questions and Answers for the Naturalization Test The official list of civics questions and answers for the naturalization test is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The English version is also available in large print and text-only format. Audio is available in English and Spanish. • Civics Flash Cards for the Naturalization Test These easy-to-use cards include each of the 100 civics questions and answers on the naturalization test. The Civics Flash Cards are available in English and Spanish. • Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship This online resource provides videos and interactive activities on the 100 civics questions and answers. It also highlights museum objects from the Smithsonian Institution. • Civics Practice Test Online study tool to help test your knowledge of U.S. history and government. • The USCIS Naturalization Interview and Test Video This short v

FAQs

How many civics questions are on the naturalization test, and how many must be answered correctly to pass?

There are 100 civics questions in total. During the interview, USCIS asks up to 10 questions from the list, and you must answer 6 of the 10 correctly to pass.

Are senior applicants required to study all 100 civics questions?

No. Applicants age 65 or older who have been permanent residents for at least 20 years at filing are only required to study 20 of the 100 questions.

What does the booklet say about the English portion of the test?

The English portion has speaking, reading, and writing components. Reading requires reading 1 out of 3 sentences correctly, and writing requires writing 1 out of 3 sentences correctly; vocabulary lists are provided in the back of the booklet.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda