Failed the Citizenship Test? Here's Exactly What Happens Next

Failing a question at your naturalization interview can feel like the end of the road. It is not. USCIS builds a second chance into the process, and knowing how it works turns panic into a clear plan.

One miss is not a denial

Here is the part most people never hear: missing the civics test or the English portion at your interview does not mean your application is denied. USCIS gives you two attempts to pass the US Citizenship Test.

If you do not pass on your first try, the officer notes which part you missed and schedules a second examination. You walk out of that first interview without a final answer, not with a denial.

When the re-test happens

The second examination is generally scheduled about 60 to 90 days after your initial interview. This timing is a general guideline, not a guarantee, so treat your official USCIS notice as the source of truth and confirm any specifics directly with USCIS.

That gap is not dead time. It is a focused study window handed to you on purpose.

You are only re-tested on what you failed

This is the fact that changes everything: you are re-tested only on the portion you did not pass, not the entire interview.

The naturalization interview has separate parts, and they are graded separately:

• The civics test · up to 10 questions on U.S. history and government, where you must answer 6 correctly.
• The English component · made up of reading, writing, and speaking. Speaking is assessed through your normal conversation with the officer during the interview.
• The N-400 questions · the officer's review of your actual application. These are separate from the tests above.

So if you passed English but missed the civics test, you only re-take the civics test. If you struggled with the reading or writing portion but your civics answers were solid, you focus there instead. You do not start from zero.

What happens if you fail the second time

It is important to be honest about this: the second attempt is your last one for that application. If you do not pass the portion you failed on the second examination, USCIS can deny that N-400.

A denial is not the same as a lifetime ban. In many cases you can re-apply by filing a new application later, and there may be other limited options depending on your situation. Still, the cleanest path by far is to pass within those two attempts, which is exactly why the re-study window matters so much.

How to use the gap before your re-test

The single biggest mistake people make is re-reading everything out of fear. With 60 to 90 days and a known weak spot, that is the wrong move. Spread-thin review wastes the one advantage you have: you already know precisely what tripped you up.

Do this instead:

• Pin down the exact portion you failed. Was it civics, reading, writing, or speaking? Your notice and interview help clarify this.
• Drill only that area. If it is civics, work the specific question categories you missed, such as the system of government or American history.
• Practice out loud for English. Reading and speaking improve fastest when you actually say the words, not just scan them.
• Test under realistic conditions. Short, repeated quizzes beat one long cram session, and they build the recall speed you need on interview day.

A few weeks of targeted practice on your weak topics is far more powerful than months of unfocused reading. You are not learning the test again. You are closing one specific gap.

The bottom line

A failed attempt is a setback, not a verdict. USCIS expects some people to need a second try, which is why the re-test exists and why it covers only the part you missed. Confirm your dates and details with USCIS, then put your energy where it counts.

The best way to walk into that second examination ready is a quick readiness check plus focused drills on your weak topics, so you spend your time on what actually moves the needle.

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