Citizenship Reading and Writing Test: Vocabulary and Practice Sentences

How the English reading and writing tests work, the official USCIS reading and writing vocabulary lists, and practice sentences read aloud by Officer Michael.

Updated 2026-10-02

How the English test works

The English test has three parts, all during your interview:

Speaking: The officer reviews your N-400 with you. This is also your English speaking test.
Reading: read 1 of up to 3 sentences correctly, out loud.
Writing: write 1 of up to 3 sentences correctly. The officer reads the sentence and you write it.

The sentences use words from the official USCIS vocabulary lists below, so learning these words is the best way to prepare. If you qualify for the 50/20, 55/15 or 65/20 exemption, the English test is waived. See who qualifies.

Official vocabulary lists

Reading vocabulary

People: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington
Civics: American flag, Bill of Rights, capital, citizen, city, Congress, country, Father of Our Country, government, President, right, Senators, state/states, 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, do/does, elects, have/has, is/are/was/be, lives/lived, meet, name, pay, vote, want
Other (function): a, for, here, in, of, on, the, to, we
Other (content): colors, dollar bill, first, largest, many, most, north, one, people, second, south

Writing vocabulary

People: Adams, Lincoln, Washington
Civics: American Indians, capital, citizens, Civil War, Congress, Father of Our Country, flag, free, freedom of speech, President, right, Senators, state/states, White House
Places: Alaska, California, Canada, Delaware, Mexico, New York City, United States, Washington, Washington, D.C.
Months: February, May, June, July, September, October, November
Holidays: Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving
Verbs: can, come, elect, have/has, is/was/be, lives/lived, meets, pay, vote, want
Other (function): and, during, for, here, in, of, on, the, to, we
Other (content): blue, dollar bill, fifty/50, first, largest, most, north, one, one hundred/100, people, red, second, south, taxes, white

From the USCIS reading vocabulary and writing vocabulary lists.

Practice reading

Read each sentence out loud, then tap the speaker to hear how Officer Michael says it.

1.Who was the first President?
2.Who is the Father of Our Country?
3.What is the capital of the United States?
4.Who lives in the White House?
5.Where does the President live?
6.When is Labor Day?
7.When is Flag Day?
8.When is Memorial Day?
9.When is Presidents' Day?
10.When is Columbus Day?
11.When is Thanksgiving?
12.When is Independence Day?
13.What are the colors of the American flag?
14.Who is on the dollar bill?
15.Why do people come to America?
16.Why do people want to vote?
17.What is the largest state?
18.What state has the most people?
19.Who can vote?
20.Who elects Congress?
21.Where does Congress meet?
22.How many Senators does Congress have?
23.How many states are in the United States?
24.What is the Bill of Rights?
25.What is one right in the Bill of Rights?
26.Who was Abraham Lincoln?
27.Who was George Washington?
28.Who was the second President?
29.What country is north of the United States?
30.What country is south of the United States?
31.What city is the capital of the United States?
32.Where is the White House?
33.Who elects the President?
34.What is the name of the President?
35.Who can be a citizen?

Practice writing

Tap the speaker, listen, and write the sentence on paper. Then compare it with the sentence shown. Check capital letters and punctuation too.

1.Washington was the first President.
2.Adams was the second President.
3.Washington is the Father of Our Country.
4.Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States.
5.The President lives in the White House.
6.The President lives in Washington, D.C.
7.Lincoln was the President during the Civil War.
8.Congress meets in Washington, D.C.
9.The United States has 50 states.
10.Congress has 100 Senators.
11.The flag is red, white, and blue.
12.Alaska is the largest state.
13.California has the most people.
14.Canada is north of the United States.
15.Mexico is south of the United States.
16.New York City was the first capital.
17.Delaware was the first state.
18.Citizens can vote.
19.Citizens have the right to vote.
20.Citizens have freedom of speech.
21.We elect the President in November.
22.Citizens elect the President.
23.People pay taxes.
24.We pay taxes.
25.People want to be free.
26.People come here to be free.
27.American Indians lived here first.
28.Washington is on the dollar bill.
29.Presidents' Day is in February.
30.Memorial Day is in May.
31.Flag Day is in June.
32.Independence Day is in July.
33.Labor Day is in September.
34.Columbus Day is in October.
35.Thanksgiving is in November.

Official sources

This guide is based on the official USCIS materials below. Always check them, and your appointment notice, for your own case.

Reading vocabulary (PDF) (uscis.gov)
Writing vocabulary (PDF) (uscis.gov)
The Naturalization Interview and Test (uscis.gov)

Practice out loud with Officer Michael in the app

A Virtual Officer asks every civics question out loud, listens to your answer and grades it like a real interview. All 128 questions, answers for your state, and progress that tells you when you're ready.

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