U.S. Citizenship QuestionsHow to study for the citizenship test
Ten minutes a day, out loud, for a few weeks. That is the whole method. Here is how to fit it to the time you actually have.
The one rule
Study by speaking, not reading. The test is spoken. People who study by reading a PDF know the answers and then freeze when a stranger asks. Every method below has you saying the answers out loud, to your phone, to a family member, to a wall. It feels silly for two days and then it works.
If you have a month or more
- Open the trainer once a day and do one round (10 to 15 cards, about five minutes). It goes through the 128 in order and remembers where you stopped. Fourteen rounds, so two weeks to see everything.
- Weeks three and four: "Review what you've missed" every day, plus one practice test every few days. When you pass three practice tests in a row, stop drilling civics and move to the N-400 questions.
- Once a week, read one sentence aloud and write one sentence from the reading and writing lists.
If you have two weeks
- Two rounds a day for the first week. That is all 128 in seven days.
- Second week: review round in the morning, practice test at night. Note the questions you miss twice; those are your list.
- Spend one evening on the N-400: read your own application aloud and practice answering "have you ever" questions with a clear "No" (or the truth, if it is yes).
If you have three days
- Day 1: go through all 128 in the trainer, as many rounds as it takes. Don't stop on the ones you miss; the app brings them back.
- Day 2: the questions people miss, then review rounds until they're solid. One practice test at night.
- Day 3: two practice tests, then stop by the afternoon. Re-read your N-400, pack your documents, sleep.
Pick one answer per question
Most questions accept several answers. You only ever need one. Choose the shortest one you can pronounce and say that one every time. Trying to remember all six ways to answer "name one power of the president" is how people end up saying none.
The four answers you must look up
The President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Chief Justice change. So do your governor, your senators, and your representative. The site shows the current national names and lets you type your state's; confirm all of them at uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates the week of your interview, because a right answer from last year is a wrong answer today.
The night before
Nothing new. One review round, then put it away. Set out your documents, charge your phone, plan to arrive early and eat first. Nervousness is the most common reason people miss questions they know; being rested and unhurried does more than one more hour of study.