Additional Resources for the Civics Test

The definitive source of information for the civics test component of the immigration process is the USCIS website. In our present page, we have used the most recent version of the 100-question list to provide a summary of the material you must memorize as well as some tools to help you with this process. We remind you that although we have made every attempt to provide you with correct information, you use the information provided in this page entirely at your own risk.

Jump to the 100-question flashcards (for those aged less than 65).

Jump to the 20-question flashcards (for those 65+ ).

Introduction

You will be asked up to 10 questions from the 100-question list as your civics test. You must correctly answer 6 of these 10 questions to pass the test.

If you are 65 years or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the US for 20 or more years, the number of questions is far smaller; we give the number of questions in this case in square brackets—for instance [20]—and we abbreviate this category below as "65+"; note, however, that to belong to this category, you must not only be 65+ in age, but you must also satisfy the second condition mentioned previously: i.e., you must have been a legal permanent resident of the US for 20 or more years. There are also other exceptions and accommodations.

The answers to some of the questions in the test can change, because these questions are about people or parties holding elected offices, or about representation that depends on the population of specific regions of the country. We will attempt to keep this information current only for federal position and for New York State positions: that is, we make no attempt to provide information that is pertinent to any other state.

The questions in the test are drawn from 3 categories, each of which has three subcategories:

American Government: 57 [12] questions in total:

Principles of American Democracy: 12 [2] questions
System of Government: 35 [7] questions
Rights and Responsibilities: 10 [3] questions

American History: 30 [4] questions in total:

Colonial Period and Independence: 13 [1] questions
1800s: 7 [1] questions
Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information: 10 [2] questions

Integrated Civics: 13 [4] questions in total:

Geography: 8 [2] questions
Symbols: 3 [1] questions
Holidays: 2 [1] questions

In two principal sections below, we provide, respectively, the 65+ questions and the full set of 100 questions. Each of these sections is subdivided into smaller groups of questions as given by the subcategories above. Working on each of the subsections in turn will provide you with a smaller set of items to memorize. When you have worked through all of the subsections, you can attempt the full set of questions (100 or 20, as appropriate). Because you only have to speak your answers and do not have to write them, we provide no written exercises in this page, and exclusively use audio flashcards.

The one hundred (100) questions

American Government: Principles of American Democracy

There are twelve (12) items in this subsection:

American Government: System of Government

There are thirty-five (35) items in this subsection:

American Government: Rights and Responsibilities

There are ten (10) items in this subsection:

American History: Colonial Period and Independence

There are thirteen (13) items in this subsection:

American History: 1800s

There are seven (7) items in this subsection:

American History: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

There are ten (10) items in this subsection:

Integrated Civics: Geography

There are eight (8) items in this subsection:

Integrated Civics: Symbols

There are three (3) items in this subsection:

Integrated Civics: Holidays

There are two (2) items in this subsection:

All items together

There are one hundred (100) items in all:

The twenty (20) 65+ questions

American Governmen: Principles of American Democracy

There are two (2) 65+ items in this subsection:

American Government: System of Government

There are seven (7) 65+ items in this subsection:

American Government: Rights and Responsibilities

There are three (3) 65+ items in this subsection:

American History:Colonial Period and Independence

There is one (1) 65+ item in this subsection:

American History: 1800s

There is one (1) 65+ item in this subsection:

American History: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

There are two (2) 65+ items in this subsection:

Integrated Civics: Geography

There are two (2) 65+ items in this subsection:

Integrated Civics: Symbols

There is one (1) 65+ item in this subsection:

Integrated Civics: Holidays

There is one (1) 65+ item in this subsection:

All items together

There are twenty (20) 65+ items in all: