Independent study site. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. Read the disclaimer.

The 65/20 exemption: study 20 questions

The 65/20 rule is a special consideration for older applicants. It uses 20 marked questions from the civics test. The officer asks 10 of the 20, and 6 correct answers pass.

Do you qualify?

  • You are 65 years old or older at the time you file Form N-400.
  • You have been a lawful permanent resident for 20 or more years at the time you file.

You may also take the civics test in the language of your choice. The English speaking test still applies.

Pass rule

Questions to studyQuestions askedCorrect answers to passOfficer stops at
201066 correct or 5 wrong

Your N-400 filing date picks the test version. The 65/20 list exists for both the 2025 test and the 2008 test.

Practice the 2025 65/20 listPractice the 2008 65/20 list

2025 test: 20 questions for the 65/20 exemption

  1. 2.What is the supreme law of the land?
    • (U.S.) Constitution
  2. 7.How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
    • Twenty-seven (27)
  3. 12.What is the economic system of the United States?
    • Capitalism
    • Free market economy
  4. 20.Name one power of the U.S. Congress.
    • Writes laws
    • Declares war
    • Makes the federal budget
  5. 30.What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
    • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  6. 36.The President of the United States is elected for how many years?
    • Four (4) years
  7. 38.What is the name of the President of the United States now?
    • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.
  8. 39.What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
    • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the Vice President of the United States.
  9. 44.Who vetoes bills?
    • The President (of the United States)
  10. 52.What is the highest court in the United States?
    • Supreme Court
  11. 61.Who is the governor of your state now?
    • Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor.]
  12. 66.What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
    • The United States
    • The flag
  13. 74.Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
    • American Indians
    • Native Americans
  14. 78.Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
    • (Thomas) Jefferson
  15. 86.George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.
    • “Father of Our Country”
    • First president of the United States
    • General of the Continental Army
    • President of the Constitutional Convention
  16. 94.Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.
    • Freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
    • Saved (or preserved) the Union
    • Led the United States during the Civil War
    • 16th president of the United States
    • Delivered the Gettysburg Address
  17. 113.Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one.
    • Fought for civil rights
    • Worked for equality for all Americans
    • Worked to ensure that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”
  18. 115.What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
    • Terrorists attacked the United States
    • Terrorists took over two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City
    • Terrorists took over a plane and crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia
    • Terrorists took over a plane originally aimed at Washington, D.C., and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania
  19. 121.Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
    • (Because there were) 13 original colonies
    • (Because the stripes) represent the original colonies
  20. 126.Name three national U.S. holidays.
    • New Year’s Day
    • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
    • Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
    • Memorial Day
    • Juneteenth
    • Independence Day
    • Labor Day
    • Columbus Day
    • Veterans Day
    • Thanksgiving Day
    • Christmas Day

Source: USCIS 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version), questions marked with an asterisk.

2008 test: 20 questions for the 65/20 exemption

  1. 6.What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
    • speech
    • religion
    • assembly
    • press
    • petition the government
  2. 11.What is the economic system in the United States?
    • capitalist economy
    • market economy
  3. 13.Name one branch or part of the government.
    • Congress
    • legislative
    • President
    • executive
    • the courts
    • judicial
  4. 17.What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
    • the Senate and House (of Representatives)
  5. 20.Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?
    • Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories should answer that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]
  6. 27.In what month do we vote for President?
    • November
  7. 28.What is the name of the President of the United States now?
    • Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates for the name of the President of the United States.
  8. 44.What is the capital of your state?
    • Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]
  9. 45.What are the two major political parties in the United States?
    • Democratic and Republican
  10. 49.What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
    • serve on a jury
    • vote in a federal election
  11. 54.How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
    • eighteen (18) and older
  12. 56.When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
    • April 15
  13. 70.Who was the first President?
    • (George) Washington
  14. 75.What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
    • freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
    • saved (or preserved) the Union
    • led the United States during the Civil War
  15. 78.Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
    • World War I
    • World War II
    • Korean War
    • Vietnam War
    • (Persian) Gulf War
  16. 85.What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
    • fought for civil rights
    • worked for equality for all Americans
  17. 94.What is the capital of the United States?
    • Washington, D.C.
  18. 95.Where is the Statue of Liberty?
    • New York (Harbor)
    • Liberty Island [Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
  19. 97.Why does the flag have 50 stars?
    • because there is one star for each state
    • because each star represents a state
    • because there are 50 states
  20. 99.When do we celebrate Independence Day?
    • July 4

Source: USCIS Civics Questions for the 65/20 Exemption, cross-checked against the asterisk marks in the 2008 question list.

Also read