US Citizenship Civics Test & Iowa’s High School Graduation Requirement

Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, Iowa students must earn a passing score on a state-developed civics test to graduate from high school. The test is based on the civics questions developed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

What is the US Citizenship Civics Test?

To become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, applicants must demonstrate knowledge of American government and history, as well as an understanding of citizens’ rights and responsibilities. The naturalization process includes a civics test based on a bank of 128 possible questions; applicants are asked only a selection.

Could you pass the US Citizenship Civics Test?

Test your knowledge of American government, history, and citizenship with ACE’s 20-question practice quiz.

Take our quiz with questions from the US Citizenship Civics Test!

ISF Civics Quiz

1 / 20

What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?

A. The Magna Carta

B. Articles of Confederation

C. The Declaration of Independence

D. The Constitution

2 / 20

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

A. Benjamin Franklin

B. John Hancock

C. Thomas Jefferson

D. George Washington

3 / 20

Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from British

A. Taxation without representation

B. Because they wanted a new King

C. Because the British invaded France

D. They wanted control of British land

4 / 20

What is the form of Government of the United States?

A. Republic

B. Constitution-based federal republic

C. Representative democracy

D. All of the above

5 / 20

What is the supreme law of the land?

A. The Magna Carta

B. The Declaration of Independence

C. The Constitution

D. The Supreme Court

6 / 20

Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.

A. Defines powers of government

B. Writes the laws

C. Tells citizens what they must do

D. Controls the military

7 / 20

What is the “rule of law”?

A. No one is above the law

B. Leaders must obey the law

C. Everyone must follow the law

D. All of the above

8 / 20

Name the three branches of government

A. Legislative, presidential, and courts

B. Legislative, executive, and judicial

C. Executive, defense, and judicial

D. Executive, legislative, and presidential

9 / 20

What part of the federal government writes laws?

A. Court system

B. Congress

C. Executive branch

D. The President’s Cabinet

10 / 20

Who signs bills to become laws?

A. The President

B. The Vice President

C. The Secretary of Commerce

D. The Senate Majority Leader

11 / 20

What does the judicial branch do?

A. Authorize military action

B. Decides if a law violates the US Constitution

C. Writes and passes new legislation

D. Serve as local law enforcement

12 / 20

How can people become United States citizens?

A. Be born or naturalized in the United States

B. Pay a lot of money

C. Serve in the military for one year

D. By working in a national election

13 / 20

There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

A. Voting can only occur in April and November

B. Citizens 18 and older can vote

C. Naturalized citizens cannot vote in federal elections

D. To vote, you must pay a tax (a poll tax)

14 / 20

When did women get the right to vote?

A. 1920

B. 1921

C. 1922

D. 1923

15 / 20

There were 13 original states. Name five.

A. Vermont, Maryland, Florida, Utah, Connecticut

B. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Ohio, Missouri

C. New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Massachusetts

D. Massachusetts, California, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois

16 / 20

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

A. End World War II

B. Created border states

C. Freed slaves in the Confederate States

D. Ended the American Revolution

17 / 20

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

A. Thomas Jefferson

B. Bill Clinton

C. Franklin Roosevelt

D. Ronald Reagan

18 / 20

What did the civil rights movement do?

A. Fought to expand women’s rights

B. Fought to expand worker’s rights

C. Fought to end racial discrimination

D. Fought to ensure fairness in housing

19 / 20

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

A. Because there were 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence

B. Because the Founding Fathers came from 13 different colonies

C. Because there were 13 original colonies

D. Because there were 13 Founding Fathers

20 / 20

What is the name of the national anthem?

A. Land of the Free

B. Coming to America

C. The Star-Spangled Banner

D. America the Beautiful

This ACE quiz is an educational resource and is not the official Iowa high school civics test.

Iowa’s High School Graduation Requirement

In 2025, ACE proposed and successfully advocated for Senate File 369, which Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law on May 27, 2025. The law makes passage of the state’s high school civics test a condition of graduation. The Iowa Department of Education developed the test using all 128 questions in the current US Citizenship and Immigration Services civics question bank.

Begins

2026-2027 School Yr.

Who Takes It

Students in grades 9-12

Offered annually until a student passes.

Passing Score

At least 60% Correct

Only one passing score is required.

Retakes

As many as needed

Students may retake the test until they pass.

Additional Provisions

Accommodations or modifications may be provided for students with an IEP, a Section 504 plan, or English learner status.

An alternate assessment may be provided for qualifying students with significant cognitive disabilities.

The civics test is also required for an Iowa high school equivalency diploma.

Iowa Department of Education Resources

The Iowa Department of Education provides the official test materials and implementation guidance for Iowa schools. The Iowa Department of Education’s Civics Test page provides:

SF 369 Information
SF 369 Civics Test Information and FAQs
The official high school civics test in PDF and Google Forms formats
A Braille version of the test
Guidance for high school equivalency diplomas

View Iowa Department of Education Civics Test Resources

Test materials and guidance may be updated. Please check the Department’s page regularly for the most current information.

Learn more about Iowa’s voluntary Seal of Civic Excellence.