New 2025 Civics Test for U.S. Naturalization

October 1, 2025

Overview & Timing

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has unveiled a new civics exam for naturalization applicants scheduled to take effect October 20, 2025. Those who file Form N400 on or after that date will face the updated test; applications filed earlier—including those already pending—will still adhere to the 2008 version. 

What’s Different About the 2025 Civics Test

Here are the key modifications:

• Number of questions and scoring: The new test is oral and will present 20 questions drawn from a list of 128 potential civics questions. Applicants must correctly answer at least 12 to pass. If an applicant answers 9 incorrectly, the exam terminates and is considered failed. 
• Specialcategory test (age 65+, long-term residents): For those aged 65 or older who have held permanent residency for 20+ years, USCIS will continue to offer a reduced test. They will receive a subset of 20 questions (from either the 2008 or 2025 pool, depending on eligibility) and need only 6 correct answers to pass. 
• Transition support: USCIS plans to keep the study materials for the 2008 test accessible temporarily, specifically to aid applicants whose cases fall under the older standard. Concurrently, new study resources aligned with the 2025 version will be published. 

Our firm will continue to closely monitor this change and update our clients accordingly.