Failed the Citizenship Test? How the Retest Works

If you fail the English test or the civics test at your first U.S. citizenship interview, you still have one more try. USCIS will schedule you to be retested between 60 and 90 days after your first interview, and you only retake the part you failed.

Failing part of the test can happen, especially when you are nervous. What matters is that you understand the process, know which part you failed, and use the time before the retest to study the right material.

How many tries do you get?

According to the USCIS Policy Manual, an applicant has two opportunities to pass the English and civics tests: the initial examination and the re-examination. If you fail any portion of the tests after two attempts, USCIS denies the naturalization application.

The test has two components. The English part checks your ability to read, write, speak, and understand English. The civics part checks your knowledge of U.S. history and government. You can pass one part and fail the other.

When is the retest?

If you fail any portion of the English test, the civics test, or both at your first interview, USCIS reschedules you for a second examination between 60 and 90 days after the first interview.

At the end of the interview, whatever the outcome, the officer gives you a notice of results. If your case is continued, the notice gives the outcome and the next steps. Keep this notice in a safe place and reread it to see which part you need to study.

Which parts are retested?

At the retest, the officer only retests the parts you failed. The USCIS Policy Manual gives an example: if you passed the speaking, reading, and civics portions but failed writing, you only take the writing test at the retest.

The officer at the retest also must not use the same test forms that were used at your first interview. So do not study only the questions you were asked before. Review the whole question list.

Situations that can count as failing

According to the USCIS Policy Manual, these situations can also count as a failed attempt:

• Not appearing for the retest, unless USCIS excuses you.
• Refusing to be tested or not answering questions on the reading, writing, or civics test.
• Not answering the eligibility questions because you did not understand them, even after the officer repeated or rephrased them.

So if an emergency keeps you from attending on time, follow the instructions on your USCIS notice as soon as possible.

What if you fail a second time?

If you fail any portion of the test a second time, the officer denies the application because you have not met the English and civics requirements. According to the USCIS Policy Manual, after a denial you or your representative may request a USCIS hearing on that decision. At the hearing, the officer must give you the portions you failed again.

How to study for the retest

You have about two to three months before the retest. That is enough time to strengthen your weak area if you study a little every day.

• Failed civics: review the whole question list by group, take practice tests many times, and write down the questions you often miss so you can review them separately. If you filed your N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, you take the 2025 test and must answer 12 of 20 correctly. If you filed before that date, you take the 2008 test and must answer 6 of 10 correctly.
• Failed reading: practice reading short sentences out loud using words from the USCIS reading vocabulary list. You must read 1 of 3 sentences correctly.
• Failed writing: ask a family member to read sentences slowly so you can write them down. You must write 1 of 3 sentences correctly, without abbreviations.
• Failed speaking and understanding: practice listening to words that appear often on Form N-400, and practice asking the officer to repeat, such as “Could you please repeat the question?”

On the civics test, you can give the listed answer or another way of saying the same thing. Some answers, such as the name of the President or your governor, can change because of elections, so check the USCIS updates page at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates before your retest.

If, when you filed, you were 65 or older and had been a permanent resident for 20 or more years, you only need to study the 20 questions marked with an asterisk. The officer asks 10 of them, and you must answer 6 correctly. You may also take the civics test in the language of your choice.

Failing once does not mean your chance is gone. Knowing your weak area and studying steadily every day will help you walk into the retest with more confidence.