US citizenship test study guide: the official free materials

Filed on or after October 20, 2025

Start with the question list. The study guide explains the background in plain language, but the extra background isn’t tested. Learn the answers on the list.

Filed before October 20, 2025

You take the 2008 test. Many of its questions overlap with the 2025 list, but the numbers and some answers differ, so use the 2008 materials. USCIS also has audio, flash cards and an online practice test for this version.

For the English test

The reading and writing sentences use words from two short official lists. Practice reading a few sentences out loud, and writing a few by hand as someone reads them to you.

Two things the PDFs can’t tell you

• Current names. Answers about the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice change. Check the USCIS test updates page before your interview.
• Your own state. You’ll need one of your U.S. senators, your U.S. representative, your governor and your state capital. Look them up where you live.

If you’re 65 or older

Under the 65/20 rule you only need the questions marked with an asterisk (*). Each version has its own 20 starred questions, and they’re not the same. On the 2025 list they’re marked in the 128-question PDF.