The Citizenship Reading and Writing Test: How It Works and How to Pass

Federal regulations say speaking is judged from your answers to questions normally asked during the examination, and that reading and writing are tested the way USCIS prescribes (8 CFR 312.1). Pass reading on the first sentence and the officer moves on. Same for writing.

Nothing changed in 2025. The Federal Register notice that created the 2025 civics test says it "does not change the English language parts of the naturalization test (reading, writing, speaking, and understanding)."

USCIS publishes a Reading Vocabulary list and a Writing Vocabulary list. Both are at the top of this page, with a practice tool built only from those words. Every word you could be asked to read or write is on them.

Look at what's on each list and you can predict the test:

• The reading list has question words (How, What, When, Where, Who, Why) and verbs like do/does. Expect to read a question, such as "Who was the first President?"
• The writing list has months, holiday names and answer words like Delaware, Alaska, fifty and one hundred. Expect to write a short statement, such as "Alaska is the largest state."

The sentences in our practice tool are original, built only from list words. They're practice, not leaked test items.

• Read every word. Skipping a word or swapping in a different one is the fastest way to miss a sentence.
• Don't stall. A long pause in the middle can break up the meaning. If a word stumps you, sound it out and keep going.
• Master the question words. Who, How and Where trip up a lot of readers. Say them out loud until they're automatic.
• Know the long words: Independence, Thanksgiving, government, Congress, Senators, Presidents' Day, Father of Our Country, Bill of Rights.
• Practice reading aloud, not silently. The test is spoken. Read each practice sentence out loud three times.

• Learn to spell every word on the writing list. There are only 75 entries. The ones people miss: February, Thanksgiving, Columbus, Delaware, Independence, citizens, freedom of speech, Senators, taxes, during.
• Capitalize names, places, months and holidays: Lincoln, Washington, D.C., New York City, July, Labor Day. It's correct English and it makes your sentence easy to read.
• Numbers: the list includes both fifty/50 and one hundred/100, so practice both forms.
• Write every word you hear, including small ones (the, of, in, to). Dropping one can change the meaning.
• Capital vs. Capitol: the list word is capital (the city). Don't write "Capitol."
• Write clearly. Print if your cursive is hard to read.

The writing list has seven holidays and exactly seven months, and they line up. Learn them as pairs and you've covered a whole family of likely sentences ("Labor Day is in September."):

A handy way to practice both tests at once: read a question from the reading list out loud, then write its answer using only writing-list words. A few pairs from our practice set:

Speaking is the part people forget to practice, and it runs through the whole interview. The officer asks about the information on your N-400: your addresses, jobs, travel, family and the yes/no eligibility questions. If you can't understand those questions in English, memorized civics answers won't save you.

Practice by having someone ask you questions from your own N-400, in English, at normal speed. Learn to say "Could you please repeat the question?" It's fine to ask; it's better than guessing.

1. Days 1–3: read both vocabulary lists out loud. Circle every word you can't read or spell.
2. Days 4–7: read 10 practice sentences aloud each day. Write 10 dictated sentences each day: have a friend read them, or record yourself reading them and write along on playback.
3. Days 8–12: only the words and sentences you missed. Add N-400 speaking practice: 10 minutes a day.
4. Days 13–14: full mock: three reading sentences, three writing sentences, then 20 civics questions in Interview Mode.

• Bring your reading glasses if you use them. You'll be reading a printed sentence.
• For writing, listen to the whole sentence before you start. If you didn't catch it, ask the officer to repeat it instead of guessing.
• Read at a normal pace. Rushing causes skipped words; crawling causes the long pauses that break up a sentence.
• If you miss the first sentence, reset. You still have two more chances, and you only need one.

You're exempt from the English test if, on the day you file, you're over 50 with 20 years as a permanent resident (50/20), over 55 with 15 years (55/15), or 65+ with 20 years (65/20). A disability exception with Form N-648 can also waive it. Exempt applicants still take civics, in their language with an interpreter. See 65/20 and our Spanish page.