Eligibility and Exceptions

• There are several requirements that you must meet before you are allowed to sit for the Naturalization Test. You must submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. You have to be fingerprinted at a USCIS office, and you must make an appointment for a naturalization interview with a USCIS officer. The Naturalization Test will be part of your interview. You do not have to take the English language section of the test if you are at least 50 years old and have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least 20 years, or if you are at least 55 years old and have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least 15 years. The USCIS will consider exempting you from the civics test if you are at least 65 years old and have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least 20 years. You might also be excused from one or both portions of the test if you suffer a disability.
  
  

Test Content

• The Naturalization Test is composed of two sections: the English language section and the civics section. For the English language section, you will be presented with three sentences in English and you will have to read at least one of them correctly. You will also be given a choice of three sentences to write, and you must write at least one of them correctly. An example of such a sentence is, "All people want to be free." Your interview officer also will evaluate your English language ability during your naturalization interview. In order to pass the civics section, you will have to answer six of 10 questions correctly. An example of a typical question is, "How many branches are there in the U.S. government?"
  
  

If You Fail the Test

• The two sections of the Naturalization Test are graded separately, and you will have to pass both of them in order to take the oath of allegiance. If you fail one of them, you will be given the opportunity to retake the section that you failed between 60 and 90 days after you took the test the first time. If you fail a second time, you will be required to begin the entire citizenship application process over.