Can you retake the civics test?
Answer
Yes, if you fail
Explanation
Yes, applicants who fail the civics portion of the naturalization test at their first interview are given a second opportunity to retake the test. Under 8 CFR section 312.5(a), USCIS schedules a re-examination interview between 60 and 90 days after the original interview date. At the re-examination, the applicant retakes only the portion or portions of the test that they failed: just the civics test if they failed civics, just the English reading or writing test if they failed those, or all of them if they failed multiple parts.
The re-examination is scheduled at the same USCIS field office and is typically held with the same officer or another officer at that office. There is no additional fee for the re-examination; the original Form N-400 filing fee covers both the initial interview and one re-examination. If the applicant passes all required portions of the test at the re-examination, the application proceeds to the oath ceremony.
If the applicant fails the re-examination as well, USCIS denies the application under section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act for failure to meet the English or civics requirements. After denial, the applicant may either appeal to a USCIS officer (Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings, with a $830 fee under the April 2024 fee schedule), file a new Form N-400 application after preparing more thoroughly (paying a new filing fee), or seek judicial review in federal district court under 8 U.S.C. section 1421(c) if the appeal is denied.
Most applicants who fail the first interview pass on the re-examination; USCIS publishes annual statistics showing first-time pass rates near 90 percent and re-examination pass rates well above that. USCIS encourages applicants to use the official 100-question civics study guide (or the 128-question 2025 version, when applicable), the free online practice tools at uscis.gov/citizenship, the M-1156 Vocabulary Flash Cards, and free citizenship preparation classes offered by community organizations and public libraries to prepare for the test.
Why this matters for your test
The retake opportunity gives applicants a second chance to pass without paying another fee or starting over. Knowing about the 60-to-90-day re-examination schedule reduces the anxiety of failing a portion at the first interview and clarifies that one bad day does not automatically end an applicant's path to citizenship.
Source: USCIS Application Guide (2025)
