English Reading and Writing Test Tips

The English portion of the U.S. citizenship test requires you to read 1–3 sentences aloud and write 1–3 dictated sentences using civics vocabulary. Many applicants worry about this part, but with the right practice it is very manageable. Citizenry is the only citizenship test app that includes full English reading and writing tests inside its mock interviews, so you can practice the exact format of the real test before your appointment.

What to Expect

During your naturalization interview, the USCIS officer will test your English in two parts:

• Reading Test: You read 1–3 sentences out loud from civics-related content. You get up to 3 attempts to read one sentence correctly.
• Writing Test: The officer dictates 1–3 sentences and you write them by hand. You get up to 3 attempts to write one sentence correctly.

You do not need perfect grammar or spelling. According to the official USCIS study materials, the test uses a specific vocabulary list of civics-related words, and basic English ability is all that is required.

Reading Vocabulary Words

According to USCIS, there is an official list of vocabulary words used in the reading test. These include:

• People: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, President
• Civics: American flag, Bill of Rights, capital, Congress
• Places: America, United States, Washington D.C.
• Holidays: Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day
• Verbs: can, come, do, have, is, lives, meet, vote, want

Writing Vocabulary Words

The writing vocabulary list includes similar words, plus common words like:

• Numbers: one, two, fifty, hundred
• Months: February, May, July, September, October, November
• Days: Monday, Tuesday (all days of the week)

Tips for the Reading Test

1. Practice reading out loud every day. Pronunciation matters more than speed.
2. Take your time. There is no time limit on the reading portion.
3. If you make a small mistake, keep going. The officer is listening for overall comprehension.
4. Focus on civics-related words, as they appear most often in the test sentences.

Tips for the Writing Test

1. Practice writing by hand, not typing. The real test is on paper.
2. Write clearly and legibly. Neatness helps the officer read your answer.
3. Capitalize the first word of the sentence and proper nouns.
4. End sentences with a period.
5. Small spelling errors are acceptable as long as the word is understandable.

Sample Sentences

Here are examples of sentences you might see on the test:

• "George Washington was the first President."
• "Citizens can vote for President."
• "The American flag has red, white, and blue colors."
• "Congress meets in Washington, D.C."

Practice the Full English Test with Citizenry

Most citizenship test apps only cover the civics questions, but the English reading and writing portions are just as important to practice. Citizenry is the only app that includes the full English reading and writing tests as part of every mock interview. You will practice reading sentences aloud (with speech recognition feedback) and writing dictated sentences, exactly the way the real USCIS interview works. No other app offers this level of complete interview preparation.