U.S. Citizenship Test Questions Explained for Arabic Speakers (2025)
Find out which version of the test you'll take, study from the official list, and get ready for the reading and writing sentences.
In short: The civics part of the U.S. citizenship interview is an oral test. If your N-400 was filed on or after 20 October 2025, the officer asks up to 20 questions from an official list of 128 and you pass with 12 correct. If you filed before that date, you take the 2008 version: up to 10 questions from a list of 100, and 6 correct answers pass. Below you'll find 20 official questions with the accepted answers, a four-week study plan and how the English reading and writing test works.
Which version of the test will you take?
Your filing date decides the version, not your interview date. Check the received date on the receipt notice USCIS sent you.
| 2008 version | 2025 version | |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | N-400 filed before 20 Oct 2025 | N-400 filed on or after 20 Oct 2025 |
| Questions on the official list | 100 | 128 |
| Questions asked at the interview | Up to 10 | Up to 20 |
| Correct answers needed to pass | 6 | 12 |
| You fail once you miss | 5 | 9 |
| Age 65+ with 20 years as a permanent resident | Shorter test from a special list | 10 of the 20 starred questions; 6 correct to pass |
There's no multiple choice. The officer reads the question aloud and you answer out loud, so practice saying the answers, not just recognizing them on paper.
How does the test run during the interview?
The test happens during the same interview in which the officer reviews your N-400. On the 2025 version you pass as soon as you reach 12 correct answers and fail once you reach 9 wrong ones, so the questioning can end before all 20 are asked.
If you fail civics or English, you are retested only on the part you failed, 60 to 90 days after the first interview.
Some answers change with elections or depend on where you live: the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, your governor and your state's U.S. senators. USCIS posts current answers on its official study page, and you must name whoever holds the office on the day of your interview.
20 official questions from the 2025 list
These come from the USCIS list with their official numbers. Starred (*) questions are also on the 65/20 list. One accepted answer is enough unless the question asks for more than one.
American government
- 1. What is the form of government of the United States? Republic, or representative democracy.
- 2*. What is the supreme law of the land? The (U.S.) Constitution.
- 7*. How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have? Twenty-seven (27).
- 12*. What is the economic system of the United States? Capitalism, or free market economy.
- 16. Name the three branches of government. Legislative, executive, and judicial.
- 19. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? The Senate and the House (of Representatives).
- 21. How many U.S. senators are there? One hundred (100).
- 22. How long is a term for a U.S. senator? Six (6) years.
- 25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives? Two (2) years.
- 36*. The President of the United States is elected for how many years? Four (4) years.
- 44*. Who vetoes bills? The President.
- 52*. What is the highest court in the United States? The Supreme Court.
- 53. How many seats are on the Supreme Court? Nine (9).
Rights and responsibilities
- 64. Who can vote in federal elections, run for federal office, and serve on a jury in the United States? Citizens. This is also a practical reminder: green card holders must not register to vote.
- 66*. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? The United States, or the flag.
History and symbols
- 74*. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? American Indians, or Native Americans.
- 78*. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? (Thomas) Jefferson.
- 79. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? July 4, 1776.
- 121*. Why does the flag have 13 stripes? Because there were 13 original colonies.
- 123. What is the name of the national anthem? The Star-Spangled Banner.
Tip: Pick the shortest accepted answer you can pronounce confidently and stick with it. "Capitalism" is easier under pressure than "free market economy."
A four-week plan for 128 questions
This is our editorial team's suggestion for about 30 minutes a day. Adjust it to your interview date.
- Week 1: Principles and system of government (questions 1–62). Start with the number answers; they stick fastest.
- Week 2: Rights and responsibilities, plus history through the Civil War (63–99).
- Week 3: The rest of history, symbols and holidays (100–128). Write your state-specific answers on a separate card.
- Week 4: Mock interviews. Have a family member read 20 random questions in English while you answer out loud.
USCIS offers free material: the full list as a PDF, a 2025 study guide, flash cards and interactive practice tests. The same page has an official Arabic translation of the 100 questions from the 2008 version. As of September 2026 we did not find an Arabic translation of the 2025 list on the official study page.
How do the English reading and writing tests work?
- Speaking: judged by the officer throughout the interview, including when you answer questions about your application.
- Reading: you read a sentence aloud and pass if you read 1 of 3 correctly.
- Writing: the officer dictates a sentence and you pass if you write 1 of 3 correctly.
USCIS publishes official reading and writing vocabulary lists. Practice spelling months, holidays and numbers; those are frequent slip-ups for native Arabic speakers.
Can you skip English or take the test in Arabic?
In some cases. You are exempt from the English test if, at the time of filing, you are:
- 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident (50/20);
- 55 or older with 15 years as a permanent resident (55/15);
- 65 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident (65/20), which also gives you the shorter civics test.
You still take the civics test, but you may take it in your own language with an interpreter. Applicants with a physical, developmental or mental impairment that prevents learning can request an exception on Form N-648, completed by a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy or licensed clinical psychologist.
Common mistakes
- Studying the wrong list. If you filed after 20 October 2025 and studied only the old 100 questions, you've missed more than a quarter of the material.
- Outdated names. Officials change. Check the updates page a few days before your interview.
- Translating in your head. Thinking in Arabic and translating slows you down; memorize the English answer as it is.
- Skipping writing practice. Many fluent speakers stumble on the dictated sentence.
- Paying for "leaked questions." The complete list is public and free. There are no secret questions for sale.
What next after you pass?
Passing the test doesn't mean automatic approval; the officer still decides the rest of your eligibility. If everything is in order, you'll be scheduled for the oath, sometimes the same day.
For eligibility, fees and the full process, read our N-400 citizenship guide. Traveling before the interview? Check the green card travel guide so a long trip doesn't break your continuous residence, and if your card is about to expire, see renewing a green card.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the 2025 civics test?
The official list has 128 questions. The officer asks up to 20, and you pass with 12 correct answers.
Are the old 100 questions still used?
Yes, if you filed your N-400 before 20 October 2025. You take the 2008 version: up to 10 questions from 100, with 6 correct to pass.
Can I take the test in Arabic?
Only if you qualify for an age-and-residence exemption (50/20, 55/15 or 65/20). Then you take the civics test in your language with an interpreter.
What happens if I fail?
You are retested only on the part you failed, 60 to 90 days after your first interview.
How is the English test scored?
You pass reading by reading 1 of 3 sentences correctly and writing by writing 1 of 3 correctly. Speaking is judged during the interview.
Official sources we reviewed
- USCIS — Study for the Test ↗
- USCIS — 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version, M-1778) ↗
- USCIS — The Naturalization Interview and Test ↗
- USCIS — Exceptions and Accommodations ↗