How Many Times Can You Take The American Citizenship Test

So, you've decided to become an American. Welcome to the club! First, ☐ you need to pass the dreaded civics test, and naturally, your first thought is probably: "What if I fail? Can I just keep retaking it like a video game?"

Here's the good news: citizenship is not like those impossible Mario levels where one mistake sends you spiraling back to the beginning of the universe. The U.S. government is surprisingly chill about second chances.

The Basics: What Exactly Is This Test?

The civics portion of the naturalization exam is a 10-question oral quiz covering American history, government, and the occasional wild card question. Out of 100 possible questions, you need to nail at least six correct answers to pass — which means a whopping 60% grade.

That's the same passing score a college student would weep tears of joy for on a midterm. Imagine telling your friends you celebrated a "C" — finally, a grade worth throwing a party for.

The English language portion is a separate beast, testing your ability to read, write, and speak basic English. Together, these two sections decide whether you're ready to pledge allegiance without accidentally holding the flag upside down.

So, How Many Times Can You Fail?

Here's where it gets fun. If you bomb the test, you are not expelled from the country in a dramatic, flag-waving ceremony. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) actually encourages another attempt.

You'll be given the opportunity to retake both the civics and English portions within 60 to 90 days of your initial failure. Think of it as a built-in retry button that the naturalization process graciously provides.

All the dates you need to know! - USCIS Official 2020 US Citizenship

In total, you get two attempts per application filing. That's right — if you fail twice, you don't have to wave goodbye and disappear into the night. You simply start over with a new application.

The "Sorry, Try Again" Policy

If you've been studying with genuine effort for a year and still can't remember why George Washington crossed the Delaware, USCIS is surprisingly kind. They suspect you might just need a different examiner rather than brain surgery.

In that case, USCIS may file an early naturalization application, allowing you to skip the current examiner and get a fresh start with a new officer. It's essentially the bureaucratic version of asking for a different teacher because your current one "just doesn't vibe" with you.

This little-known loophole exists because sometimes the issue is the examiner, not the student. Perhaps Officer Johnson asks questions in the tone of a lion tamer, which is not exactly relaxing mid-exam behavior.

Citizenship Test

What If You Have a Real Disability?

What if you literally cannot take the test due to age or a medical condition? USCIS has a thing called the medical-blind exemption — and no, this isn't a loophole for people who pretend they forgot everything at exam time.

If you've been a permanent resident for 20 years or longer and are at least 50 years old, you can take the test in your native language instead of English. There's even a version for those over 55 who've resided in the U.S. for 15 years.

And if you're 65 years old with 20 years of residency, you only need to study 20 specific questions from the list. That's basically a cheat sheet the government hands you — just don't lose it.

A Surprising Fun Fact About This Test

A 2006 study revealed that many American-born citizens would fail the very same test required for immigrants. That's right — something like 44% of native-born citizens couldn't pass it, sparkling an identity crisis across the entire nation.

How to Pass the U.S. Citizenship Test on the First Try

Imagine failing a test about your own country while watching someone from halfway across the world ace it. That's the kind of humbling moment that makes you seriously reconsider how many Declaration of Independence references you actually know.

The Verdict: Fail Gracefully, Retry Boldly

So there you have it — you've got two solid tries per application, and if you truly need more tries, you can always file a fresh application with a new officer. Failure in this process is not a permanent stain on your record.

The government wants you to become a citizen as much as you do — they're just making sure you can answer "How many amendments does the Constitution have?" without going full who-what-now face.

Study hard, take a breath, and remember: millions of Americans would probably struggle with those same questions too. You've absolutely got this!