The 65/20 Exemption: A Shorter Citizenship Test for Long-Term Residents

If you are 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for 20 or more years, you study 20 designated USCIS civics questions. The officer asks 10, and you need 6 correct to pass.

By Marcus G. Bastawros, MBA · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-09-03

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Applicants who are 65 years of age or older and who have been permanent residents for at least 20 years when they file Form N-400 qualify for what is commonly called the 65/20 exemption. Instead of studying all 128 USCIS civics questions, you study 20 designated questions. The officer asks 10 of those questions, and you need at least 6 correct to pass.

What the Exemption Gives You

The 65/20 exemption reduces your study list from 128 questions to a designated subset. USCIS marks those questions with an asterisk (*) in the official civics question list. The USCIS officer draws interview questions exclusively from those asterisked questions.

The officer asks 10 questions from this designated 20-question list and stops once you answer 6 correctly or 5 incorrectly. You need at least 6 correct answers out of 10 — the same 60% passing score used for the standard test, but with half as many interview questions.

The English Language Exemption

The 65/20 exemption also applies to the English language requirement. If you qualify, you may take the civics portion of the interview using an interpreter of your choice. This means you can have someone translate the officer's questions into your native language and translate your answers back to the officer.

You are still responsible for bringing your own interpreter — USCIS does not provide one. Your interpreter cannot be your attorney of record, but they can be a family member, friend, or professional interpreter.

The 20 Designated Questions

These are the 20 questions marked with asterisks on the official 2025 USCIS list. Applicants who qualify for the 65/20 exemption study these questions and their accepted answers:

1. What is the supreme law of the land? — The Constitution
2. How many amendments does the Constitution have? — 27
3. What is the economic system of the United States? — Capitalism; free market economy
4. Name one power of the U.S. Congress. — Writes laws; declares war; makes the federal budget
5. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? — Use the current officeholder's name
6. The President of the United States is elected for how many years? — 4 years
7. What is the name of the President of the United States now? — Use the current President's name
8. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? — Use the current Vice President's name
9. Who vetoes bills? — The President of the United States
10. What is the highest court in the United States? — The Supreme Court
11. Who is the governor of your state now? — Answers vary by state; District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. does not have a governor
12. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? — The United States; the flag
13. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? — American Indians; Native Americans
14. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? — Thomas Jefferson
15. 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. Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one. — Freed the slaves; saved the Union; led the United States during the Civil War; 16th President; delivered the Gettysburg Address
17. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. — Fought for civil rights; worked for equality for all Americans
18. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States? — Terrorists attacked the United States
19. Why does the flag have 13 stripes? — Because there were 13 original colonies; the stripes represent the original colonies
20. Name three national U.S. holidays. — New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day

How to Tell USCIS You Qualify

You do not need to file a separate application for the 65/20 exemption. USCIS reviews your age and the date you became a permanent resident as of the date you file Form N-400. If you qualify, the interviewing officer will ask up to 10 questions from the 20 asterisked questions during your civics test.

At your interview, if you plan to use an interpreter, bring that person with you. Notify the officer at the start of the interview that you will be using an interpreter and that you are eligible for the 65/20 exemption.

Study Tips for the 65/20 Questions

Twenty questions is a very manageable study set. Here is an effective approach for learning all 20 before your interview:

• Print the 20 questions and tape them somewhere you see every day — a bathroom mirror, a kitchen cabinet
• Make one flashcard per question; carry them and review whenever you have a few minutes
• Read the questions and answers out loud — the test is oral, so your recall should be in spoken form
• Have a family member or friend quiz you every few days
• Give yourself at least 2–3 weeks to review the list comfortably before your interview

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