Free Citizenship Practice Tests for 2021

Prepare for your upcoming U.S. Citizenship Exam with our free citizenship practice tests - updated for 2021!  Use our free citizenship questions and answers to prepare for the US naturalization test.

All of our citizenship practice questions come straight from the U.S. government. There are 128 possible questions you could be asked when taking your citizenship test. We have all 128 practice questions for you to practice below - all for FREE. 

Summary: Quiz yourself and see what you already know.

Citizenship Practice Tests

Study all 128 official USCIS naturalization questions. Each nationalization practice test is followed by answer explanations so that you can fully prepare yourself for test day and receive the highest score possible.

Prepare for the actual Citizenship Test with our random question tests. You must get at least 12 answers correct on these practice tests to pass your citizenship test. Each practice test consists of around 20 practice questions. 

Other Citizenship Practice Test Resources

Citizenship Exam Content Overview

Review our Citizenship practice test infographic to learn how to prepare so you can pass your exam:

(click on image to enlarge)

Citzenship test changes

There were some changes made to the citizenship test that go into place starting December 2020. Some of the changes to the citizenship test include:

• The test is longer - applicants are now required to answer 12/20 questions correctly instead of the previously required 6/10 questions. 
• The test is more complex - instead of there only being 100 possible questions they could ask you, there are now 128 possible questions you could be asked.

These changes will start in December 2020. Everyone who applies to take the citizenship test after December 1 will be required to take the new version of this test. 

US Citizenship Practice Test - English Test (Reading Portion)

For the reading portion of the English section of the Citizenship Test, you will be asked to read aloud one of three sentences. The content will focus on civics and history topics and will test your ability to read in English. To study for the reading portion of the naturalization test, you should be comfortable with the following vocabulary words:

Reading Vocabulary for the Citizenship Test

US Citizenship Practice Test - English Test (Writing Portion)

For the writing portion of the English section of the naturalization test, you will be asked to write one out of three sentences correctly. The content from the test will focus on civics and history topics. To help prepare for the test, you should be comfortable with the following vocabulary words:

Writing Vocabulary for the Citizenship Test

Free Citizenship Sample Questions for the US Naturalization Civics Test

Our sample exams for the Citizenship Test require no registration, and include scoring and answer explanations. Citizenship practice tests are an effective way to study for your test and prepare for your final examination. Our free citizenship practice sample tests provide you with an opportunity to assess how well you are prepared for the actual Citizenship Test, and then concentrate on the areas you need to work on. 

After you submit answers to the naturalization test practice questions, a test score will be presented. In addition, you will be given rationales for all of the questions to help you understand any questions you may have gotten wrong. In the actual civics portion of the Citizenship Test, you will be asked up to 20 questions out of a possible list of 128 questions. You will need to answer at least 12 of the questions correctly. 

On the Test-Guide.com citizenship practice tests, you will be presented with around 20 multiple-choice questions. Each correct answer on our exams is worth 10 points. If you score a 120 or better on our exams, then you have a "passing" grade... although you should strive to get all of our questions correct so that you are fully prepared for your final, official exam.

Preparing for the naturalization test by using free online citizenship practice tests is a truly effective way to study, as you get to learn the rationales behind all of the questions and their correct answers so that you can better understand what is expected of you in the final test. The more Citizenship Test questions that you practice, the better able you are to do well on the actual test.

The official Citizenship Exam has questions on American government, American history, and integrated civics. The questions are pulled from the following specific topics:

• Principles of American Democracy
• System of Government
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Colonial Period and Independence
• 1800s
• Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
• Geography
• Symbols
• Holidays

Should I become a U.S. Citizen? - U.S. Citizenship vs. Permanent Resident

Many permanent residents wonder if becoming a U.S. citizen is worth it. Permanent residents have most of the rights of U.S. citizens but are missing some very important rights and privileges. The following list contains the most important rights that a citizen has that aren’t available to permanent residents, giving you further evidence of why completing your naturalization test is so vital.

Rights of US Citizens

• Voting – Citizens can vote in federal elections. In addition, most states do not allow permanent residents to vote in state elections.
• Jury Service – You cannot serve on a federal jury unless you are a U.S. citizen. Most states also restrict jury service to citizens.
• U.S. Passport Travel – As a citizen, you can travel worldwide with a U.S. passport. Along with this, a U.S. passport allows you to get assistance from the U.S. government if necessary.
• Ability to Work for the Federal Government – Many government jobs require U.S. citizenship, so if you have an interest in this sector, or think your skills could be put to work in the government in the future, you should strongly consider completing your Citizenship Test.
• Ability to Utilize Government Benefits – Some government benefits are not available to permanent residents, only to those who have become citizens through the nationalization test.
• Ability to Take Advantage of Federal Grants and Scholarships – Many college scholarships, financial aid grants, and other government funds are only available to U.S. citizens.
• Ability to Bring Family Members to the U.S. – As a citizen, your petition to bring family members permanently to the United States will be prioritized, something which is not the case for permanent residents.
• Ability to Become an Elected Official – To run for a federal office, such as the Senate or House of Representatives, you must be a citizen. Most state and local offices also require citizenship.
• Maintain your Residency – As a U.S. citizen, your right to remain in the U.S. cannot be revoked. If you have established work, family, and social ties to the U.S., becoming naturalized through a citizenship test is certainly beneficial.
• Obtain Citizenship for Minors – In most cases, a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen is automatically a U.S. citizen.

Citizenship and Naturalization Requirements

If you were not born in the United States, naturalization is the process that a person goes through to become a United States citizen. To complete the naturalization process, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be 18 Years Old – at the time of filing your N-400 Naturalization Applications.
• Be a Permanent Resident – having a green card for at least 5 years.
• Have Continuous Residence – maintaining a permanent home in the United States for at least 5 years before filing your application.
• Adequate Physical Presence – you  must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the last 5 years
• State/District Residence – you must prove that you have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you apply.
• Good Moral Character.
• Support the principles and ideals of the United States Constitution.
• Able to read, write, and speak basic English.
• Understand U.S. Civics – you must have a basic understanding of U.S. History and government (as tested by the civics portion of the U.S. Citizenship Test)
• Take an oath of allegiance to the United States.

Applying for Citizenship – 10 Step Naturalization Process

To become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you should follow the following 10 step process:

 1. Determine if you are already a United States Citizen

• If you were born in the United States or a U.S. territory you may already be a U.S. citizen
• If at least one of your parents is a U.S. citizen (by birth or naturalization) you may already be a U.S. citizen

2. Determine your eligibility to become a U.S. citizen

• Review the Citizenship and Naturalization requirements listed earlier in this article
• Review the USCIS Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet

3. Prepare your Naturalization Application (Form N-400).

• Complete the N-400 and sign
• Get two passport style photographs taken (if you live outside the U.S.)
• Gather the required documents.  See the document checklist for complete list

4. Submit your Application

• Include biometric service fees if applicable
• If you are seeking an exemption from the English and/or civics requirements because of a disability or impairment, include Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
• Include any required documentation necessary to prove your eligibility
• Include two passport style photographs if you reside outside of the United States
• You can check on the status of your application by calling 1-800-375-5283

5. If applicable, go to your biometrics appointment

• Applicants for U.S. citizenship are required to pass a FBI criminal background check. You will need to provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph)
• You will receive a notice for the biometrics appointment
• You must attend the biometrics appointment and have your photograph and fingerprints taken

6. Complete the Interview Process

• Once the preliminary processes are complete, you will be contacted by the USCIS to schedule an interview
• You will be asked questions about your N-400 application form
• You will take the English and civics portions of the Citizenship Test (unless you are exempt)
• Following your interview, you will be provided a “Notice of Interview Results”
• In some cases, your case will need to be continued. In most cases this is because you failed either the English or civics portion of the naturalization test or you did not supply the required evidence/documentation

7. Receive a written notice of decision – the decision will show one of the following statuses:

• Granted – Form N-400 is approved
• Continued – If you fail your English/Civics tests or don’t provide sufficient evidence/documentation
• Denied – Your form can be denied if USCIS deems that your record establishes that you are not eligible for naturalization

8. Receive a notice to take the Oath of Allegiance

• If your form N-400 is approved, you will participate in a naturalization ceremony where you will swear an Oath of Allegiance.  The naturalization ceremony can be on the same day or scheduled at a later date.

9. Take the Oath of Allegiance

• You are not an official U.S. citizen until you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony.
• You must complete Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony
• At the ceremony, you will
  - Have your N-445 form reviewed by USCIS
  - Turn in your Permanent Resident Card
  - Recite the Oath of Allegiance
  - Receive your Certificate of Naturalization

10. Understand U.S. Citizenship – As a U.S. Citizen, you have the following rights and responsibilities

Rights

• Freedom to express yourself.
• Freedom to worship as you wish.
• Right to a prompt, fair trial by jury.
• Right to vote in elections for public officials.
• Right to apply for federal employment requiring U.S. citizenship.
• Right to run for elected office.
• Freedom to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Responsibilities

• Support and defend the Constitution.
• Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.
• Participate in the democratic process.
• Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
• Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
• Participate in your local community.
• Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to federal, state, and local authorities.
• Serve on a jury when called upon.
• Defend the country if the need should arise.

Citizenship FAQS

Best of Luck with Your Citizenship Practice Tests!

With the help of worthwhile citizenship practice tests, you can hone your skills and prepare yourself for your final exam. As we outlined above, there are many key advantages to becoming a United States citizen compared to a permanent resident, so we wish you well on your Citizenship Test!

And if you know of any other resources for citizenship practice exams, or naturalization test study guides or prep materials, please let us know and we can include them on our site.

Last Updated: 8/10/2021