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The 65/20 Civics Test: 20 Questions, 10 Asked, 6 to Pass

If you’re 65 or older and have been a green card holder for at least 20 years, you study 20 questions instead of 128, and you can take the test in your own language.

Last verified Sep 29, 20265 min read

65/20 Mode

Practice the 65/20 civics test

10 questions from the 20 below, asked like the officer asks them. 6 correct to pass.

The 20 questions for 65/20 applicantsNumbered as on the official list of 128

Printable PDF of all 128
0 of 20 marked “I know this”

  1. 265/20

    What is the supreme law of the land?

    Answer

    • (U.S.) Constitution

    The U.S. Constitution is the highest law in the country. Every other law, federal or state, has to agree with it.

  2. 765/20

    How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?

    Answer

    • Twenty-seven (27)

    The Constitution has 27 amendments. The first ten are the Bill of Rights; the most recent, the 27th, was ratified in 1992.

  3. 1265/20

    What is the economic system of the United States?

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • Capitalism
    • Free market economy

    The U.S. has a capitalist, free market economy: most businesses are privately owned and prices are mainly set by supply and demand.

  4. 2065/20

    Name one power of the U.S. Congress.

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • Writes laws
    • Declares war
    • Makes the federal budget

    Congress writes federal laws, declares war, and controls federal spending through the budget.

  5. 3065/20Changes

    What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • Mike Johnson
    • Johnson

    As of September 29, 2026. This answer changes; check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates before your interview.

    The Speaker leads the House of Representatives and is second in line to become President after the Vice President. The answer changes when a new Speaker is chosen, so check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates.

  6. 3665/20

    The President of the United States is elected for how many years?

    Answer

    • Four (4) years

    A presidential term is four years. Presidential elections are held every four years in November.

  7. 3865/20Changes

    What is the name of the President of the United States now?

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • Donald J. Trump
    • Donald Trump
    • Trump

    As of September 29, 2026. This answer changes; check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates before your interview.

    The President is the head of the executive branch. This answer changes after elections, so check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates right before your interview.

  8. 3965/20Changes

    What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • JD Vance
    • Vance

    As of September 29, 2026. This answer changes; check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates before your interview.

    The Vice President is first in line to become President and also serves as President of the Senate. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the current answer.

  9. 4465/20

    Who vetoes bills?

    Answer

    • The President (of the United States)

    The President can veto (reject) a bill passed by Congress. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

  10. 5265/20

    What is the highest court in the United States?

    Answer

    • Supreme Court

    The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court. Its decisions on federal law and the Constitution are final.

  11. 6165/20Changes

    Who is the governor of your state now?

    Official answer

    • Answers will vary.

    District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.

    Depends on where you live. Look up yours on USA.gov.

    Name the current governor of the state where you live. Governors change after elections, so check your state’s official website before your interview.

  12. 6665/20

    What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • The United States
    • The flag

    The Pledge is a promise of loyalty to the flag and to the country it stands for, “one Nation under God, indivisible.”

  13. 7465/20

    Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • American Indians
    • Native Americans

    American Indians, also called Native Americans, lived throughout North America for thousands of years before Europeans arrived.

  14. 7865/20

    Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

    Answer

    • (Thomas) Jefferson

    Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776; he later became the third president.

  15. 8665/20

    George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • “Father of Our Country”
    • First president of the United States
    • General of the Continental Army
    • President of the Constitutional Convention

    Washington led the Continental Army, presided over the Constitutional Convention, and became the first president, earning the title “Father of Our Country.”

  16. 9465/20

    Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
    • Saved (or preserved) the Union
    • Led the United States during the Civil War
    • 16th president of the United States
    • Delivered the Gettysburg Address

    Lincoln, the 16th president, led the country through the Civil War, preserved the Union, issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and gave the Gettysburg Address.

  17. 11365/20

    Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • Fought for civil rights
    • Worked for equality for all Americans
    • Worked to ensure that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”

    Dr. King led the civil rights movement using nonviolent protest and called for equality in his “I Have a Dream” speech.

  18. 11565/20

    What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • Terrorists attacked the United States
    • Terrorists took over two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City
    • Terrorists took over a plane and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia
    • Terrorists took over a plane originally aimed at Washington, D.C., and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania

    On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four planes, hitting the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania.

  19. 12165/20

    Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

    Acceptable answers · you only need one

    • (Because there were) 13 original colonies
    • (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies

    The 13 red and white stripes stand for the 13 original colonies that became the first states.

  20. 12665/20

    Name three national U.S. holidays.

    Name any three

    • New Year’s Day
    • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
    • Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
    • Memorial Day
    • Juneteenth
    • Independence Day
    • Labor Day
    • Columbus Day
    • Veterans Day
    • Thanksgiving Day
    • Christmas Day

    Name any three holidays from the official list, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Juneteenth (June 19) is on the 2025 list too.

On this page

Who qualifies for 65/20

You need both of these on the day you file Form N-400:

  • You are 65 or older, and
  • You have lived in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years.

Both are counted on the filing date, not the interview date. If you're a few months short, it can be worth waiting to file; the difference is 20 questions versus 128.

Quick check
Your situation when you fileWhat applies
Age 67, green card for 22 years65/20: English test waived; 10 questions from the 20-question list
Age 66, green card for 18 yearsNot 65/20. But you meet 55/15: English test waived; full civics test (from all 128) in your language
Age 52, green card for 21 years50/20: English test waived; full civics test in your language
Age 70, green card for 12 yearsNo age exemption. Standard English and civics tests, unless a disability exception applies

How the 65/20 test works

The officer asks 10 questions from the special list of 20 and you need 6 correct. It's oral, like the regular civics test: the officer asks, you answer.

The Federal Register notice for the 2025 test says USCIS "will continue to administer a test with 10 questions from a specially selected bank of 20 test questions," and 65/20 applicants "will only need to answer six questions correctly." Which list you use depends on your filing date:

  • N-400 filed on or after Oct. 20, 2025: the 2025 65/20 list (below).
  • Filed before Oct. 20, 2025: the 2008 65/20 list, which is a different set of 20. Get it from USCIS.

Six out of ten means you can miss four and still pass. Aim to know all 20 cold anyway. Nerves are real, and interpreters add a step between you and the officer.

Taking the test in your own language

Anyone who qualifies for 65/20 also meets the 50/20 rule (over 50, 20 years as a permanent resident), so you're exempt from the English test. Federal regulations say the civics test is given in English except for applicants who are exempt from the English requirement (8 CFR 312.2). That means you can take the civics test in your own language, with an interpreter.

Your interview notice and USCIS's instructions explain the interpreter requirements. Read them early so you're not scrambling the week of the interview.

Studying in Spanish? Our Spanish page has all 128 questions side by side in English and Spanish, with the 65/20 questions marked.

The 20 questions, grouped so they stick

The full list with every official answer is below. Here's the same 20 grouped by theme, with the easiest answer to remember:

How the government works (7)

  • 2. Supreme law of the land: the Constitution
  • 7. Number of amendments: 27
  • 12. Economic system: capitalism (or free market economy)
  • 20. One power of Congress: writes laws
  • 36. President is elected for: four years
  • 44. Who vetoes bills: the President
  • 52. Highest court: the Supreme Court

People in office now (4)

  • 30. Speaker of the House: Mike Johnson (as of Sept. 29, 2026)
  • 38. President: Donald J. Trump (as of Sept. 29, 2026)
  • 39. Vice President: JD Vance (as of Sept. 29, 2026)
  • 61. Governor of your state: look up your own

History (6)

  • 74. Who lived in America before the Europeans: American Indians (or Native Americans)
  • 78. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence: Thomas Jefferson
  • 86. George Washington is famous for: "Father of Our Country" or first president
  • 94. Abraham Lincoln is famous for: freed the slaves or led the U.S. during the Civil War
  • 113. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for: fought for civil rights
  • 115. What happened on September 11, 2001: terrorists attacked the United States

Symbols and holidays (3)

  • 66. Loyalty in the Pledge of Allegiance: the United States (or the flag)
  • 121. Why 13 stripes: 13 original colonies
  • 126. Three national holidays: Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

Four answers you must update

Questions 30, 38 and 39 change after elections and leadership votes, and question 61 depends on your state. Check uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates the week of your interview, and your state's official website for the governor. D.C. residents answer that D.C. does not have a governor.

What the test sounds like

Here's the rhythm of a 65/20 civics test with an interpreter. The questions are from the official list; the exchange is an illustration, not a transcript.

Officer: Who vetoes bills?
Interpreter: (repeats the question in your language)
You: The President.

Officer: Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
You: Because there were 13 original colonies.

Officer: Name three national U.S. holidays.
You: Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

Short, clear answers win. You don't get extra credit for explaining, and a long answer gives you more chances to say something that isn't on the list. If you didn't understand a question, ask for it to be repeated.

A 10-day plan

  1. Days 1–2: the 7 government questions.
  2. Day 3: the 4 people-in-office questions. Write the names down big and put them on the fridge.
  3. Days 4–5: the 6 history questions.
  4. Day 6: the 3 symbols and holidays questions.
  5. Days 7–10: have a family member ask you 10 random questions from the list each day, in the language you'll use at the interview. Or run 65/20 Mode on our practice test. You're ready when you get 9 or 10 right three days in a row.

Practice with the answers said out loud, in full sentences if that helps you remember ("The President vetoes bills"). The officer only needs the key answer, but saying it in a sentence makes it easier to recall under pressure.

If memory or health makes studying impossible

If a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months keeps you from learning even these 20 questions, you may qualify for a disability exception. That requires Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, completed by a qualified medical professional. See 8 CFR 312.2 and the form instructions on uscis.gov.

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Frequently asked questions

How many 65/20 questions do I need to get right?

6 out of 10. The questions come from a special list of 20.

Do I need to speak English for my interview?

If you qualify for 65/20, you're exempt from the English reading, writing and speaking test and can take civics in your language with an interpreter. Check your interview notice for the interpreter rules.

I’m 65 but have had my green card for 18 years. Do I get 65/20?

No, you need 20 years as a permanent resident. You probably qualify for 55/15 instead: no English test, but you study the full list of 128, and you can take it in your language.

Is the 2025 65/20 list the same as the old 2008 one?

No. Both have 20 questions with 10 asked and 6 to pass, but the questions differ. Your filing date decides which list you get.

When do the age and years count?

On the date you file your N-400, not the date of your interview.

Sources & official links