The English Reading and Writing Test at the Citizenship Interview: How It Works and What Words to Learn

In the English portion of the citizenship interview, you need to read aloud 1 of 3 sentences correctly, and write 1 of 3 sentences correctly as the officer reads them to you. Once you read or write one sentence correctly, the officer stops that part of the test. The sentences focus on history and civics, and USCIS publishes separate vocabulary lists for reading and writing so you can study ahead.

This article explains how the test works, how the officer grades it, the USCIS word groups, and practical ways to study.

What the English test covers

According to USCIS, the English test checks your ability to read, write, speak, and understand basic English. There is no separate speaking test. The officer judges your speaking and understanding by how you answer questions about your Form N-400 during the interview. Reading and writing each have their own test, using standardized USCIS test forms.

According to the USCIS Policy Manual, you only need English in ordinary usage, which may still include errors in pronunciation, spelling, or grammar, and you may ask the officer to repeat a question.

Reading: read aloud 1 of 3 sentences correctly

The officer gives you one English sentence at a time, up to 3, and you read it aloud. Reading 1 sentence correctly is enough to pass, and the officer stops the reading test right away.

You read correctly when you do not pause for long, keep the meaning, and the officer understands you. You must read all the content words, but may skip short words or mispronounce some, as long as the meaning stays the same.

According to USCIS, you do not read a sentence correctly if you:

• Leave out a content word or replace it with a different word.
• Pause for a long time while reading.
• Make pronunciation or intonation errors so serious that the meaning is lost and the officer cannot understand the sentence.

Writing: write 1 of 3 dictated sentences correctly

In the writing test, the officer reads a sentence and you write it down, up to 3 sentences. Once you write one sentence the officer understands, the writing test stops.

Spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors do not make you fail the writing test unless they keep the officer from understanding the sentence. Your writing can still pass with some grammar, spelling, or capitalization errors, short words left out without changing the meaning, or numbers written as words or digits.

According to USCIS, you do not write a sentence correctly if you write:

• A different sentence, or words different from what the officer read.
• An abbreviation for a dictated word, unless the officer approved the abbreviation.
• Nothing, or only one or two isolated words.
• A sentence that is completely illegible.

What if you fail reading or writing?

If you fail reading or writing at your first interview, USCIS will schedule a retest between 60 and 90 days later, and you only retake the part you failed, with a different test form. If you fail the same part a second time, your Form N-400 will be denied.

The USCIS reading and writing vocabulary

USCIS publishes two vocabulary lists: the Reading Test Vocabulary List and the Writing Test Vocabulary List. The content focuses on history and civics. The reading list sorts words into groups, for example:

• People: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington.
• Civics: American flag, Bill of Rights, capital, citizen, Congress, Father of Our Country, President, Senators, White House...
• Places: America, United States, U.S.
• Holidays: Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving.
• Question words: How, What, When, Where, Who, Why.
• Verbs: can, come, elects, lives/lived, meet, name, pay, vote, want...

The writing list shares many groups with the reading list, but it has no question words and adds a few groups worth noting:

• Months: February, May, June, July, September, October, November.
• Places: Alaska, California, Delaware, Canada, Mexico, New York City, Washington, D.C.
• Numbers: fifty/50, one hundred/100.
• Other words: red, white, blue, taxes, free, freedom of speech, dollar bill...

So practice reading short questions aloud, and practice writing short sentences with months, state names, holidays, and numbers.

How to study for reading and writing

• Study from the two USCIS vocabulary lists, a little every day.
• Practice writing by hand on paper. Ask a family member to read sentences slowly so you can write them, then compare with the original.
• Practice reading the whole sentence without long pauses. If you reach a hard word, keep reading to the end of the sentence.
• Reread your own Form N-400 and practice answering in English, since this is also the speaking test. Always answer truthfully.
• If you do not hear clearly, you may ask the officer to repeat, for example: "Could you please repeat that?"

Who is exempt from reading and writing?

People who are 50 or older and have had a Green Card for at least 20 years (50/20), or 55 or older with a Green Card for at least 15 years (55/15), as of the date they file Form N-400, are exempt from the entire English test, including reading and writing. They still take the civics test, but may take it in the language of their choice with an interpreter. If you are not sure which group you fall into, ask an immigration attorney or a Department of Justice recognized organization.