Pass by the Book
English

Naturalization civics test

English test: reading and writing

At the interview you read one sentence aloud and write one that the officer dictates. The sentences here use only the words on the two USCIS lists.

0/ 34 · read aloud

Read aloud

Read the sentence on the card out loud. The microphone checks every word.

What to expect on the test

The naturalization interview tests English three ways. Speaking is judged by how you answer the officer’s questions about your application. Reading: the officer shows you up to three sentences, and you must read one aloud correctly. Writing: the officer dictates up to three sentences, and you must write one correctly. Minor spelling and punctuation errors do not fail a sentence if its meaning is clear.

USCIS does not publish the test sentences, only two word lists: the reading vocabulary and the writing vocabulary. The real sentences are made from those words, and so are the sentences here: a question to read, built from reading words, and its answer to write, built from writing words. The facts in them are the ones the civics test asks about.

Reading: tap Listen to hear the sentence, then Read it aloud and the browser checks which words it heard. Writing: tap Dictate, write what you hear, and Check marks any word that is off. The Words tab has both USCIS lists in full.

Frequently asked questions

What is on the English reading test for citizenship?

The officer gives you up to three sentences to read aloud, and you must read one correctly. The words come from the USCIS reading vocabulary list: people, civics words, places, holidays, question words, verbs and a few others.

What is on the English writing test?

The officer reads up to three sentences aloud, and you must write one correctly. The words come from the USCIS writing vocabulary list. Spelling and punctuation errors are allowed if the sentence still means the same thing.

Are these the real test sentences?

No. USCIS does not publish them. These sentences use only the words of the two official lists, so they practise the same words and the same kind of sentence.

Who is exempt from the English test?

Applicants 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, take the civics test in their own language and skip the English test. Applicants 65 or older with 20 years also get the shorter 65/20 civics test.