2025 civics test · Question 81 · Colonial Period and Independence

There were 13 original states. Name five.

Give 5 of these answers

  • New Hampshire
  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
  • Connecticut
  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • Delaware
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Georgia

What this means

There were 13 original states, the former British colonies that became the first United States. The 2008 test asks you to name three, and the 2025 test asks for five. The full list is:

  • New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
  • New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
  • Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

Pick whichever names are easiest for you to say. A simple set to remember is Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Just name the number the test asks for.

Why this is on the test

The thirteen original states became the first United States, and both tests ask you to name several of them.

How this question is asked

On the 2025 civics test, the officer asks up to 20 of the 128 questions out loud and you pass by answering 12 correctly. You answer in your own words. There is no multiple choice and nothing to write down for the civics portion. This question is one where you must give 5 correct answers, not just one.

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