English and Civics

In general, you must show that you can understand, read, write, and speak basic English. You must also have a basic knowledge of U.S. history and government (also known as civics). You are required to pass English and a civics test to prove your knowledge.

Many schools and community organizations help people prepare for their citizenship tests. You can find test questions at www.uscis.gov/citizenship and www.uscis.gov/teststudymaterials. USCIS offers a variety of free study materials, such as booklets, flashcards, practice tests, and videos. You can get information about
citizenship and English classes at www.uscis.gov/citizenship.

Exemptions to the English and Civics Requirements

Some people who apply for naturalization have different test requirements because of their age and the length of time they have lived in the United States. These exemptions are set out on the following chart:

If you do not have to take the English test, you must bring your own
translator for the civics test.