This page lists every official USCIS page and file you need for the citizenship interview, with a note on what each one is for. We opened every link on 21 October 2026; two egov.uscis.gov tools refused automated checks, as the last section explains. The four you will use most are the Study for the Test page (the 128 questions, the reading and writing lists, translations), the Check for Test Updates page (the answers that change after elections), the Policy Manual chapter on English and civics testing (how the officer marks you) and the Form N-400 page (fees and filing). Everything else here is for a specific situation: a language other than English, an exemption, a disability, or the steps after the interview. TalkDrill is not affiliated with USCIS. Where we explain a rule elsewhere on this site, the link to the source is here.
Start here: the five pages that answer most questions
If you read only five official pages, read these. Between them they cover what the test is, which version you take, what the answers are today, and who is exempt.
| Page | What it tells you | Use it for | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Naturalization Interview and Test | The four parts in plain words: speaking judged during the N-400 interview, read one of three sentences aloud, write one of three sentences, and the civics test. The 2008 test (up to 10 of 100, 6 to pass) for N-400s filed before 20 October 2025; the 2025 test (20 of 128, 12 to pass) for filings on or after that date. Two attempts, with the failed portion retested 60 to 90 days after the first interview. Reviewed 31 October 2025. | Your one-page summary of the test | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| 2025 Civics Test | The 2025 rules: 20 questions from 128, pass at 12, fail at 9 wrong, and the officer stops once you reach 12 right or 9 wrong. Reviewed 17 September 2025. | Checking the stop rule | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Study for the Test | The full list of free materials for both civics versions and the English test, filterable by topic and type. | Downloading the official files | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Check for Test Updates | The current answers for both versions. On our read: President Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Chief Justice John Roberts; your senators, representative and governor "answers will vary". Reviewed 18 September 2025. | The week before your interview | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Exceptions and Accommodations | The 50/20 and 55/15 English exemptions, 65/20 special consideration on civics, the interpreter you must bring if you take civics in your own language, the N-648 medical exception and how to ask for a disability accommodation. Updated 9 January 2026. | Finding out whether the English test applies to you | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
Civics study materials: 2025 and 2008 versions
Your civics version depends on the date USCIS received your N-400, not on your interview date. Filed on or after 20 October 2025: study the 2025 materials. Filed before: study the 2008 materials. Our version guide shows how to find your filing date on the receipt notice.
2025 version (filed on or after 20 October 2025)
| File | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 128 Civics Questions and Answers (PDF, 219.55 KB) | Form M-1778, edition 09/25. All 128 questions in three sections (American Government, American History, Symbols and Holidays), with accepted answers and an asterisk on the 20 questions for 65/20 applicants. | The official list of the bank. Our 128 questions page reproduces it with a drill method. |
| One Nation, One People: The USCIS 2025 Civics Test Study Guide (PDF, 38.92 MB) | The long-form study guide that explains the history and government behind the answers. | A large file; download it on Wi-Fi. Listed in English only on 21 October 2026. |
2008 version (filed before 20 October 2025)
| File | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Civics Questions and Answers (PDF, 377.22 KB) | The 2008 bank: up to 10 asked, 6 to pass. | Also in large print (556.99 KB) and as text on the text-only page. |
| Civics Questions for the 65/20 Special Consideration (PDF) | The 20 starred 2008 questions for applicants aged 65 or over with 20 years as a permanent resident. | The 2025 starred list is inside the 128 questions PDF. |
| 100 Civics Questions and Answers with MP3 Audio (English) | Each 2008 question and answer read aloud. | Useful for listening practice whichever version you take, because many questions repeat across the two banks. |
| Civics Practice Test (English) | An online self-test on the 2008 bank. | Check that the questions match your version before you rely on a score. |
| Civics Flash Cards (English, PDF) | Printable cards, question on one side and answer on the other. | Cut-out and reversed-colour versions are on the Study for the Test page. |
Materials in your language
USCIS translates far more for the 2008 test than for the 2025 test. On 21 October 2026 we found no official translation of the 128 questions on either the English or the Spanish Study for the Test page. If you filed on or after 20 October 2025 and you do not qualify for an English exemption, your civics test is in English anyway, so the English file is the one that matters. If you do qualify for an exemption, the translations below help you understand the questions, and the interpreter you bring does the rest.
| Language | 100 questions (2008) | 65/20 list (2008) | 10 Steps to Naturalization brochure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Word file, 104.84 KB | ||
| Chinese | Simplified, Traditional | ||
| Vietnamese | |||
| Tagalog | |||
| Arabic | |||
| Korean | |||
| Haitian Creole | Not listed | ||
| Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Spanish speakers get the most: the Spanish Study for the Test page (Estudie para el Examen), the Spanish interview and test page (El Examen de Naturalización), the Spanish exceptions page (Excepciones y Ajustes), MP3 audio of the 100 questions in Spanish, Spanish flash cards, a Spanish practice test and a Spanish pocket study guide. Every one of these is for the 2008 bank or for the process in general. Our Spanish speakers' guide covers the English you still need. USCIS publishes nothing in Hindi, Gujarati or Punjabi for the test; our Indian languages guide fills part of that gap, and the Tagalog, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Arabic guide covers four more.
English test materials: reading, writing, interview vocabulary
The English test is the same whichever civics version you take. These are the official files for it. The two vocabulary lists are short, public and worth printing: the interview and test page names them as the study aids for the reading and writing tests and says their content focuses on civics and history. The test sentences themselves are not among the study materials USCIS lists.
| File or tool | What it is | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Test Vocabulary List (PDF, rev. 08/08) | 64 entries in eight columns: people, civics, places, holidays, question words, verbs, function words, content words. | Read every word aloud daily; our reading test page turns it into practice sentences. Large print available. |
| Writing Test Vocabulary List (PDF, rev. 08/08) | 75 entries in eight columns, including seven months, nine places and the numbers fifty and one hundred. | Copy each word three times; then write dictated sentences. Our writing test page has the sentences. Large print available. |
| Reading Vocabulary Flash Cards and Writing Vocabulary Flash Cards | Printable word cards. | Shuffle and read; ask someone to read them to you for spelling. |
| Reading Vocabulary Copy Sheets and Writing Vocabulary Copy Sheets | Lined sheets for copying the words. | Best for applicants who are new to writing the Latin alphabet. |
| Vocabulary for the Naturalization Interview: Self-Test 1 and Self-Test 2 | Interactive checks on the words used in the interview itself. | Do both before your first mock interview. |
| Understanding Commands: Self-Study Flash Cards and Practice Exercise | The short instructions you hear in the interview room, each with a picture: "Please be seated." "Please hand me your passport." "Raise your right hand." "Please remain standing." "Sign your name here." "Read this sentence." "Write this sentence here." | Learn to act on each one without translating. |
| The USCIS Naturalization Interview and Test (video file) | USCIS's own video about the interview and the test, also playable on the Study for the Test page with a teacher guide. | Watch it before your first mock interview so the room and the order of events hold no surprises. |
For the speaking part there is no official list, because the officer's questions come from your own N-400. Our N-400 interview questions page groups them by form part, and the AI mock interview lets you answer them aloud.
The rules: Policy Manual, exceptions, Form N-648
The USCIS Policy Manual is the guidance officers follow. When a law firm blog and the Policy Manual disagree, the Policy Manual wins.
| Source | What it settles | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Manual, Vol 12, Part E, Chapter 2: English and Civics Testing | The speaking standard ("generally understands and responds meaningfully to questions relevant to his or her naturalization eligibility"); reading one of three sentences "without extended pauses"; writing one of three sentences "in a manner that the officer understands", with some grammar, spelling and capitalisation errors allowed and numbers in words or digits both accepted; no abbreviations; the 12 of 20 rule and stop rule; 65/20 at six of ten; the second examination between 60 and 90 days after the first; and that officers repeat and rephrase questions. | Current as of 2 October 2026; read 21 Oct 2026 |
| Policy Manual, Vol 12, Part E, Chapter 3: Medical Disability Exception (Form N-648) | Who may certify the form, what it must contain, that the condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 months, when a late or second N-648 is accepted, and the difference between an exception and an accommodation. Includes the 13 June 2025 policy alert on veracity and fraud. | Current as of 2 October 2026; read 21 Oct 2026 |
| Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions | Edition 09/25/24. "Only a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist licensed to practice in the United States may certify Form N-648." No filing fee, though the clinician may charge. File it with the N-400 or later. The page warns about fraudulent certifications. Updated 5 June 2026. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Accommodation request (linked from the Exceptions page as uscis.gov/accommodations; the form sits at egov.uscis.gov/e-request/accom) | Ask for a disability accommodation for biometrics, the interview or the ceremony. The Exceptions page says to ask as soon as you receive your appointment notice. | The egov site refuses automated checks; we could not re-check it this week |
Our exemptions guide explains who qualifies for 50/20, 55/15 and 65/20, and what an N-648 has to show.
Forms, fees and the process from filing to the oath
| Page or file | What it says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Form N-400, Application for Naturalization | Edition 01/20/25. Fees: USD 760 if filing by paper, USD 710 if filing online, USD 380 reduced fee with supporting documents, or no fee with Form I-912. Fee reduction and fee waiver requests must be filed on paper. Updated 16 June 2026. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver | The fee waiver form named on the N-400 page. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Fee Schedule (G-1055) and Filing Fees | The full fee schedule for every USCIS form; the N-400 instructions point here for fee details. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Document Checklist (M-477) | The checklist the 10 Steps page links as "the document checklist". It is dated Rev. 11/21/2016 and still mentions a separate biometric services fee; for fees, the N-400 page is the current source. | 21 Oct 2026, 206 |
| Naturalization Eligibility Tool | A short questionnaire on whether you can apply yet. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| 10 Steps to Naturalization | The whole sequence: file, biometrics, interview, decision (granted, continued or denied), the oath notice, Form N-445 and the Oath of Allegiance. Says you may be able to take the oath on the same day as the interview, and that you are not a citizen until you take the oath. The brochure is also in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, Korean and Haitian Creole. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Commonly Asked Questions | Original documents to bring, the 24-month green card extension on the N-400 receipt notice, the retest, that applicants may ask the officer to repeat or rephrase, and that there is no limit on how many times you can apply (each N-400 needs its fee). | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Naturalization Ceremonies | What happens at the oath ceremony. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Free Naturalization Information Sessions | Free public sessions on the naturalization process, listed by state. On 21 October 2026 the table showed no upcoming events, so check back. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
| Check Case Processing Times | How long your field office is taking. We do not quote a figure because it varies by office and changes often. | The egov site refuses automated checks; we could not re-check it this week |
| Find Legal Services | How to find an attorney or an accredited representative, and how to avoid people who are not authorised to give immigration advice. | 21 Oct 2026, 200 |
Our fees and timeline page walks through the same sequence with a checklist, and the results page covers what happens after the interview.
How to tell what is official, and what to ignore
USCIS pages carry the banner "An official website of the United States government" and the line "Official websites use .gov". If a page sells you the 128 questions, a "guaranteed pass" or a faster interview, it is not USCIS. Five checks we use ourselves:
- The domain ends in .gov. Every link in the tables above is on uscis.gov or egov.uscis.gov.
- The file has a form number and an edition date. The 128 questions PDF says M-1778 (09/25). The vocabulary lists say rev. 08/08. A copy without them may be edited.
- The officials are dated. Any list that names the President or the Speaker should say when it was checked. If it does not, use Check for Test Updates.
- The version matches your filing date. Many websites, apps and videos still teach the 100-question bank. That is right only if you filed before 20 October 2025.
- The rule has a source. If a blog states a rule about passing, failing, exemptions or interpreters, it should name the Policy Manual chapter or the USCIS page. Ours do.
What official sources do not give you is practice speaking: answering a stranger's questions about your own life in English, under time, with no script. That is the part TalkDrill builds for, starting with the citizenship test hub and the AI mock interview.
How we check these links
On 21 October 2026 we opened every URL on this page with a normal browser user agent and recorded the result. A web page returning 200 means it loaded; a PDF returning 206 means the first part of the file was served, which is how a browser starts reading a large PDF. Where we quote a rule or a figure, we read it on the page named in the same row, and we note that page's own "Last Reviewed/Updated" date where it shows one. Two tools on egov.uscis.gov (processing times and the accommodation request) refuse automated requests, so we mark them as not re-checked rather than guess.
We re-check this list when USCIS changes the test, the forms or the fees. If a link breaks before we notice, the Study for the Test page is the place to start again: almost every study file on this page is linked from it.