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Preparing for the American Immigration Test: Key Questions and Study Tips

If you’re reading this, then you very likely have questions about the American immigration test. The American immigration test questions are yet another hurdle that you must overcome in your never-ending quest for American citizenship. Otherwise known as the U.S. citizenship test, this test is part of the naturalization process for becoming a United States citizen. It features two key components: the civics test, which assesses your knowledge of U.S. government, history, and civics; and the English test, which checks your ability to read, write, and speak English.

With the civics test, you typically have to answer questions about the Constitution, important historical events, and the structure of the American government, whereas the English test features reading and writing exercises along with an oral segment where you’ll be expected to respond to questions in English.

Note that it is important to prepare for the American immigration test and immigration interview questions as this enhances your understanding of the U.S. government, history, and civics, all of which are essential for becoming a citizen. When you prepare adequately, you increase your chances of passing these tests and integrating successfully into American society.

In this guide, we have provided you with a list of typical American immigration test questions along with their answers. You will also find effective study methods to pass the test.

Other resources are available, like the USCIS study materials and practice tests. For personalized help, speak with an immigration attorney at ImmigrationQuestion.com.

Key Questions to Focus On

1. What is the supreme law in the U.S.? The Constitution.

2. What does the Constitution do? It establishes the government and protects rights.

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? “We the People.”

4. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? Speech.

5. How many amendments does the Constitution have? 27.

6. What did the Declaration of Independence do? Declared independence from Britain.

7. What are the two rights in the Declaration of Independence? Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

8. What is freedom of religion? The right to practice any religion.

9. What is the economic system of the U.S.? Capitalist economy.

10. What is the “rule of law”? The rule of law states that everyone must follow the law.

11. Mention one branch of the government that you know. Legislative.

12. What prevents one branch of the federal government from becoming too powerful? Checks and balances.

13. Who is in charge of the U.S. executive branch? The President.

14. Who makes laws at the federal level? Congress.

15. What are the two parts of Congress in the United States? Senate and House of Representatives.

16. How many U.S. Senators are currently serving in office? 100.

17. For how long do we elect a U.S. senator to remain in office? 6 years.

18. Who is one of your state’s current senators? It depends on state, e.g., Senator Schumer in NY

19. Which number represents members that vote in the House of Representatives? 435

20. How many years does a U.S. Representative serve before they can be re-elected? 2 years

More Questions on American Immigration Test

21. Who is your U.S. Representative? It depends on the district, e.g., Representative Ocasio-Cortez in NY.

22. Who does a U.S. Senator represent? The citizens of their state.

23. Why do some states have more representatives than other states? Because the total number of Representatives is dependent on population,

24. What is the highest court in the United States? The highest court is the Supreme Court.

25. How many justices are on the Supreme Court? 9. 

26. Who is the current Chief Justice of the United States? John Roberts. 

27. What is the capital of the United States? Washington, D.C.

28. Where can you find the Statue of Liberty? New York Harbor.

29. Why are there 13 stripes on the flag? Because the 13 stripes represent the original 13 colonies.

30. Why are there 50 stars on it? They stand for the 50 states that make up America.

31. Provide the name of the national anthem? The Star-Spangled Banner.

31. When do we celebrate Independence Day? 4th July.

32. Name one group in the United States. Cherokee.

33. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. Mississippi.

34. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? Pacific Ocean.

35. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States? Atlantic Ocean.

36. Name one U.S. territory? Puerto Rico

37. Name one state that borders Canada? Michigan

38. Name one state that borders Mexico? Texas

39. What is the capital of your state? This will depend on the state, e.g., Albany in New York

More Questions on American Immigration Test

40. What is the largest city in your state? This will depend on the state, e.g., New York City for NY.

41. What are the two leading political parties in the United States? The Democrats and Republicans.

42. What political party does the current president belong to? Democratic party. 

43. Who is the current President? Joe Biden.

44. Who is the current Vice-President? Kamala Harris.

45. If a president cannot do his or her job, who becomes president? The vice-president

46. If both the president and vice president can no longer serve, who serves as president? The Speaker of the House

47. Who is the current governor of your state? This will depend on the state, e.g., Kathy Hochul for NY.

48. What is the capital of the U.S.A.? Washington D.C.

49. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? The Senate and House of Representatives.

Effective Study Tips for American Immigration Test Questions

Here are some effective study tips for the American Immigration Test. Following them will not only prepare you for the American immigration test questions but also increase your confidence.

  1. Be Conversant with the Test Pattern: Know what the test looks like; the kind of questions it has, and how each section is formatted or presented in a test.
  2. Use Official Study Materials: Make use of resources that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides, like the official study guide and practice tests.
  3. Develop a Plan for Studying: Draw a time-table that categorizes the content into sections that are manageable, allocating specific hours daily for study.
  4. Practice with Sample Questions: Attempt sample American immigration test questions regularly. Also, do practice tests to check your understanding as well as try to get familiar with the ways in which questions are asked.
  5. Use Flashcards: Have flashcards that summarize key information on facts, dates, or ideas so as to remember them quickly when you need them.
  6. Participate in a Study Group: Think about joining a class or study group with others who are also getting ready for the exams. This should be a place where you can talk about the test and revise with them.
  7. Go Through Essential Documents and Facts: Look at crucial documents like the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, significant historical facts and personalities, etc.
  8. Stay Informed: Be up-to-date on current affairs and recent changes in American government and political figures.
  9. Relaxation and positivity are important. You can prevent burnout by making sure that you take regular breaks and have a positive attitude towards your study sessions.
  10. Get professional help if necessary. Get tutoring services or other educational materials to improve your comprehension if you find some areas challenging.

Understanding the American immigration test Format

The test consists of two main components: an English test and a civics test.

English in American immigration test

The English test has three parts:

  1. Speaking Test: When you are interviewed for eligibility by an official of the USCIS, your capability to speak and comprehend English is evaluated on the basis of your answers to some common questions found in Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
  2. Reading Test: To prove that you can read in English, you have to correctly read out one sentence out of three. The sentences are drawn from a list of common U.S. civics topics.
  3. Writing Test: You must write one out of three sentences correctly so as to demonstrate your ability to write in American English. The sentences are mostly dependent upon popular US civil topics.

Civics in American immigration test

The civics test covers significant U.S. history and government topics, and it has two versions:

  1. 2008 Version: In this version, 10 American immigration test questions are asked from a pool of 100 possible questions. You must provide at least six correct answers to pass the test.
  2. 2020 Version: In this version, you will be required to answer 20 American immigration test questions from a question bank of 128 possible questions. To pass, you will be required to provide twelve accurate responses.

Details such as when you filed the Form N-400 and other specific factors determine which version you take. However, the 2008 form is more often administered.

Additional Resources for American immigration test

Here we’ve highlighted a number of additional resources (including practice tests and recommended study groups) that we think will help you prepare for the American immigration test.

Official Resources

  1. USCIS Citizenship Resource Center:

Practice Tests

  1. USA Hello:
  1. Citizenship Coach:
  1. Quizlet:

Study Guides

  1. American Civics Center:
  • Study Guide and Resources
  1. Civics Academy:

Recommended Study Groups

  1. Reddit:
  1. Facebook Groups:

Additional Tips

  1. YouTube Channels:

Frequently Asked Questions on the American immigration test


1. What is the American immigration test?

It is a set of American immigration test questions that the USCIS administers to prospective immigrants in order to evaluate their knowledge of America’s government and history, as well as gauge their proficiency in speaking English.

2. How many questions are on the civics test?

The civics test consists of one hundred different American immigration test questions; however, applicants are posed only 10 out of which they are expected to correctly answer 6 to pass the test.

3. What subjects are covered in the civics test?

Subjects such as U.S. government, history, integrated civics (i.e geography, symbols, holidays), and rights and responsibilities are typically tested.

4. What English skills are tested?

Your abilities in reading, writing, and speaking English are assessed under the English Test.

5. How can I prepare for the test?

Study the official USCIS materials, use practice tests, join study groups, and attend English and civics classes if necessary.

6. Is it possible to take the examination in my own language?

No, the test is typically done in English, apart from certain exemptions that are made based on age and time spent living as a resident.

7. What happens if I fail the test?

You will have another chance to retake whichever part of the test you failed within 60–90 days after your initial interview if you fail any section.

8. Are there any exemptions to the civics exam?

Yes, some applicants may be exempted based on their age plus the number of years spent as permanent residents or due to specific health disorders.

9. How long does it take to sit for the examination?

The exam is a part of naturalization interviews, which typically last between 20 minutes and an hour.

10. What types of questions are asked on the reading and writing tests?

The reading test should only involve choosing one correct sentence out of three, while the writing test typically engages candidates in choosing one right sentence from three options, with sentences carved from U.S. history and civics topics.

About ImmigrationQuestion.com

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Amelia Hernandez

Contributing Writer
Amelia is a contributing and research intern, where she brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in immigration subjects. With a background in journalism, she excels in crafting engaging, well-researched content. Amelia enjoys exploring how legal issues impact everyday lives and is committed to delivering insightful articles that inform and inspire.

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