The U.S. government announced a major update to the naturalization civics test, making it longer and more challenging for applicants seeking citizenship. Beginning October 20, 2025, applicants will face up to 20 questions drawn from a wider pool, and they must answer more correctly to pass.
The changes, published Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will not affect applicants who already filed or submit their N-400 (Application for Naturalization) before the deadline. These individuals will continue to take the simpler 2008 version of the test.
“This 2025 version carries forward the major elements of the 2020 test, including making the test longer, expanding the pool of possible questions, and increasing the number of correct answers necessary to pass,” said Erik Finch, director of global operations at Boundless and a former USCIS officer. “Unlike the 2020 proposal, the officer will now stop administering the test once the applicant has either passed or failed, rather than asking all 20 questions.”
Key Changes
| Feature | 2025 Version (Effective Oct. 20) | 2008 Version |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | Up to 20 | Up to 10 |
| Question pool | 128 questions | 100 questions |
| Correct answers required to pass | 12 | 6 |
| Automatic stop once pass/fail | Yes | Yes |
Special provisions remain for applicants 65 or older with at least 20 years as permanent residents, who will continue to take a simplified 10-question version, needing 6 correct answers to pass.
USCIS also announced stricter naturalization standards, including tighter reviews of disability exceptions, enhanced assessment of “good moral character,” and the resumption of neighborhood checks to verify eligibility. The English language component of the test remains unchanged.
What Applicants Should Know
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Before October 20, 2025: Applicants who file by this date or have pending applications will take the simpler 2008 test. Those hoping to avoid the harder version have just 30 days to submit their paperwork.
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After October 20, 2025: Applicants must prepare for the more comprehensive test and factor in additional study time, particularly for those whose first language is not English.
The updated test represents the first major revision in years and restores key elements of the short-lived 2020 test, raising the bar for civic knowledge in the naturalization process.
