What happens if you fail the citizenship test?

Failing on your first attempt does not end your naturalization case. USCIS schedules a second interview, typically 60 to 90 days later, to retest you.

At the second interview, you only retake the portion(s) you failed — civics, English reading, English writing, or English speaking — not the entire interview from scratch.

If you fail the same portion again at the second interview, USCIS denies the N-400 application, though you can generally file a new one and start the process again.

The most effective way to avoid a second interview is running through the full question bank for your test version until you consistently answer above the required threshold.