Top 10 Most Challenging Questions on the U.S. Civics Test

Could you respond to the following question with your American citizenship at stake? Take a moment. According to a 2011 study, this is the toughest of the 100 possible questions asked on the United States citizenship test.

1. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
2. 14
3. 21
4. 25
5. 27

Now, questions like “Who is the president?” or “What is the capital of the U.S.?” are more straightforward than others, leading to worries about whether all applicants have the same chance to pass.

Here, we will make the forthcoming process easier and calm your worries by challenging and preparing you with questions that volunteer test-takers most often get wrong, except one: “Name your U.S. Representative,” since the correct answer changes based on where you are.

We present this quiz in a multiple-choice format to make it more engaging. Read the questions carefully, and good luck!

2. Which of these is something Benjamin Franklin is known for?
3. He was the first person to sign the Constitution
4. He discovered electricity
5. He was the nation’s first postmaster general
6. He was the nation’s second president
7. Who was the President during World War I?
8. Woodrow Wilson
9. Warren Harding
10. Calvin Coolidge
11. Franklin D. Roosevelt
12. Which statement suitably defines the “rule of law”?
13. The law is what the president says it is
14. The people who enforce the laws do not have to follow them
15. No one is above the law
16. Judges can rewrite laws they disagree with

You might be curious about how we figured out the most difficult questions. Paula Winke, a teacher at Michigan State University who researches language and language testing, carried out the 2011 study by giving the citizenship questions to volunteer participants in East Lansing, Michigan, and grading them based on how many people got the answers right. Citizenship officials have not publicly shared how they find the hardest questions.

Dr. Winke remarked, “Perhaps the greatest problem with the civics test is that it is possible that not everyone takes an equally difficult test.”

Let’s continue with the quiz:

5. Under the Constitution, which of these powers does not belong to the federal government?
6. Ratify amendments to the Constitution
7. Print money
8. Declare war
9. Make treaties with foreign powers
10. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
11. Four years
12. Six years
13. Eight years
14. Twelve years
15. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
16. John G. Roberts Jr.
17. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
18. William P. Barr
19. Brett M. Kavanaugh

How are you doing so far?

One survey found that 64 percent of American citizens would not pass the test, even when given the questions in multiple-choice format.

In contrast, immigrants taking the exam as part of their citizenship application usually score much better. According to USCIS, the overall pass rate for the civics test and an English assessment done in the same interview is 91 percent.

This information will help you prepare better, have faith, and back up your tools. Let’s get back to the questions:

8. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
9. 100
10. 435
11. 535
12. 538
13. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Which of these men was not one of the authors?
14. James Madison
15. Alexander Hamilton
16. John Jay
17. John Adams
18. When was the Constitution written?
19. 1492
20. 1776
21. 1787
22. 1865

One tricky question can make a big difference for people looking to become citizens. Dr. Winke’s study showed that the gap between a failing score of five and a passing score of six may depend more on the selection of questions than on knowledge. Interestingly, while almost all test-takers knew why the American flag has 50 stars, fewer than one in 10 knew when the Constitution was created. Only about one in eight could name one of the Federalist Papers authors.

Immigrants applying for citizenship get only two chances to pass the test before they must start the application process again, and they will face a filing fee of at least $640 once more.

Looking at another source, arguably the hardest question on the U.S. citizenship test is number 67: “The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.” This question proves elusive even for many American citizens, as the Federalist Party ceased to exist back in 1824.

In essence, the ten most complicated questions are all mentioned here to meet your needs. Paying close attention while qualifying yourself with the right tools and wisdom regarding the test’s other prerequisites will advance your chances of making it through this exam.