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The English Reading and Writing Test for U.S. Citizenship: How It Works and How to Practice

Read 1 of 3 sentences, write 1 of 3: how the English test works, what counts as a mistake, the official word lists and how to practice dictation.

By the Citizo Team5 min read

A hand writes a sentence with a pencil in a lined notebook, next to a phone.

In short

  • Reading: you read 1 of 3 sentences out loud correctly. When you read one correctly, the reading test stops.
  • Writing: the officer reads a sentence and you write it. You must write 1 of 3 sentences in a way the officer understands.
  • Small spelling, capitalization or punctuation mistakes are OK if the meaning is clear. Abbreviations are not.
  • The sentences use words from the official reading and writing vocabulary lists. The 2025 civics test did not change the English test.
  • Speaking is tested during the whole interview, when you answer questions about your N-400.
In this guide
  1. The three parts of the English test
  2. Reading: what counts
  3. Writing: what counts
  4. The official word lists
  5. Practice sentences
  6. How to practice, step by step
  7. Practice reading and dictation with Citizo
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources

The three parts of the English test

PartWhat happensTo pass
SpeakingThe officer talks with you about your N-400Understand the questions and answer in a way that makes sense
ReadingYou read sentences out loudRead 1 of 3 correctly
WritingThe officer dictates and you writeWrite 1 of 3 so the officer understands

You may ask the officer to repeat or rephrase. You may make some mistakes in pronunciation, spelling and grammar and still pass. If you are exempt from English (50/20 or 55/15), or have a medical exception, see the 65/20 rule and language exemptions or the N-648 exception.

Reading: what counts

You pass if you read one sentence without long pauses, so that the meaning is clear and the officer understands it. You must read all the important words. Skipping a short word or making a pronunciation error is OK if it does not change the meaning.

You do not pass a sentence if you:

  • skip an important word or say a different word instead;
  • pause for a long time while reading; or
  • pronounce words so that the meaning is lost.

Writing: what counts

You pass if the officer can understand your sentence. These are OK:

  • some grammar, spelling or capitalization mistakes;
  • leaving out short words, if the meaning stays clear;
  • writing numbers as words or as digits (for example, "fifty" or "50").

You do not pass a sentence if you write:

  • a different sentence or different words;
  • an abbreviation for a word the officer said (for example, "Pres." for "President");
  • nothing, or only one or two separate words; or
  • something no one can read.

The official word lists

USCIS publishes two short lists (revision 08/08). They are the same for the 2008 and 2025 civics tests.

ListWordsGroups
Reading vocabulary64People, Civics, Places, Holidays, Question Words, Verbs, Other (function), Other (content)
Writing vocabulary75People, Civics, Places, Months, Holidays, Verbs, Other (function), Other (content)

The reading list has many question words (How, What, When, Where, Who, Why), because reading sentences are often questions. The writing list has months, places such as Alaska, California, Canada, Delaware and Mexico, and words such as "taxes," "freedom of speech" and "Civil War."

Practice sentences

The sentences below were written by the Citizo Team for practice, using only words from the official lists. They are not the official test sentences.

Read this question out loudThen write this answer
Who was the first President?Washington was the first President.
Who lives in the White House?The President lives in the White House.
What is the capital of the United States?Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States.
When is Labor Day?Labor Day is in September.

How to practice, step by step

  1. Read the full lists once and mark the words you do not know.
  2. Learn the spelling of the hard words, such as February, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, Delaware and "freedom of speech."
  3. Read one sentence out loud every day. Record yourself and listen.
  4. Do dictation. Have someone read a sentence, or use audio, and write it without looking.
  5. Check every word. Never abbreviate. Write "United States," not "U.S."
  6. Write by hand sometimes, so your letters are clear.

Practice reading and dictation with Citizo

Citizo's reading and writing screen lets you read sentences out loud and write the ones you hear, using the official word lists. Combine it with the flashcards for civics. For a full routine, see how to study for the citizenship test. For the speaking part, practice your N-400 answers with citizenship interview questions.

Frequently asked questions

Did the English test change with the 2025 civics test?

No. The Federal Register notice for the 2025 civics test says it does not change the English parts: reading, writing, speaking and understanding.

What if I fail the writing test but pass everything else?

At your second appointment, 60 to 90 days later, the officer tests you again only on the part you failed. If you fail it a second time, USCIS denies the application.

Do I need perfect spelling?

No. Spelling, capitalization and punctuation mistakes are OK unless the officer cannot understand the sentence.

Is "U.S." OK in the writing test?

Be careful. The rules say you fail if you write an abbreviation for a word the officer dictated. If the officer says "United States," write "United States."

About this guide

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney or an accredited representative. Citizo is an independent app. It is not part of the U.S. government and has no connection to USCIS. The official information is at uscis.gov. Written by the Citizo Team. Facts checked on October 29, 2026.

Sources