Failing part of the naturalization examination usually gives you a second opportunity on that application. USCIS generally schedules reexamination on the failed portion between 60 and 90 days after the initial examination. The result depends on which requirements you did not satisfy and any applicable exception. [1]
Prepare for the portion you missed
Review the written result and distinguish English reading, writing, speaking, and civics. Use USCIS materials for the test version that applies to your filing and examination circumstances. Do not assume a practice website uses the correct current question set.
Age and residence exceptions can change English requirements, and a qualifying medical disability exception has separate documentation standards. Difficulty learning English alone is not the same as meeting a medical exception. Request an appropriate accommodation if needed.
After a second failure
A second unsuccessful attempt can result in denial. You can request an N-336 hearing within the applicable deadline, generally 30 days after service under the regulation, or later submit a new N-400 when eligible. A hearing request is distinct from starting another application. [2]
Read the denial rather than assuming every denial concerns the test. Missing documents, residence problems, or good-moral-character findings can require a different response. Keep examination notices and study records, and ask for clarification if the written result does not match what occurred.
A test failure does not itself terminate lawful permanent residence. Continue meeting green card obligations while deciding whether review or another application makes sense.
Example: one failed component
An applicant who satisfies civics but does not pass the required English writing component should review the written result carefully. The reexamination generally focuses on the failed requirement; the applicant should not assume the first interview has been erased or that a third attempt is guaranteed on the same application. Other eligibility questions can still arise if facts change.
Use a study plan matched to the actual issue. Reading practice, spoken interview comprehension, and writing a dictated sentence involve different skills. Official practice materials help, but memorizing sample answers cannot cure an inaccurate application history.
If a health condition interfered with the examination, address accommodation or medical-exception eligibility with appropriate documentation rather than simply missing the next appointment. Notify USCIS through the designated process if attendance is impossible. Keep the rescheduling response. Failure to appear can create a different problem from failing a test, and a pending request does not necessarily cancel the original appointment. [1]
After a denial, compare a hearing request with reapplying. Before taking a trip, also review travel during a pending citizenship application.
Primary sources
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.