Study guide

Reading test vocabulary for the citizenship test

Updated 20 October 2026 · 5 min read · Built from the official USCIS question lists

The reading test asks you to read one sentence out of three, out loud, correctly. Every sentence the officer can show you is built from the official USCIS reading vocabulary list — 64 words and names in total. If you can read all of them, nothing on the reading test is new.

The list below is copied from the official USCIS text-only list, grouped exactly as USCIS groups it. The practice sentences underneath use only words from that list; this site checks that automatically every time it is built.

On this page

How the reading test works
The official reading vocabulary list
Practice sentences
What counts as a pass
The writing test is different

How the reading test works

The officer gives you a sentence to read aloud. Read it correctly and the reading test is over. If not, you get a second sentence, and then a third. You need one correct reading out of three (USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part E, Ch. 2).

The official reading vocabulary list

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

Source: USCIS Reading Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test (PDF) and its text-only version. Words separated by a slash, like is/are/was/be, are forms of the same entry.

Practice sentences

Read each one out loud, at a normal pace, without stopping between words. These are our practice sentences, not the real test forms — USCIS does not publish those — but every word in them is on the official list.

Who was the first President?
Who is the Father of Our Country?
What is the capital of the United States?
Where is the White House?
Who lived in the White House?
When is Labor Day?
When is Flag Day?
When is Thanksgiving?
Why do people come to America?
Why do people want to vote?
How many Senators does Congress have?
Where do the Senators meet?
What are the colors of the American flag?
What is on the dollar bill?
What is one right in the Bill of Rights?
Who can vote?
Who elects Congress?
What state has the most people?

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What counts as a pass

According to the Policy Manual, you pass when you read one of the three sentences without extended pauses, so that the meaning comes across and the officer understands it. You must read all the content words, but you may leave out short words or make pronunciation or intonation mistakes that do not change the meaning.

You fail a sentence if you leave out a content word or replace it with another word, pause for a long time, or make pronunciation errors serious enough that the officer cannot understand the sentence.

The writing test is different

The writing test uses its own, separate list — it includes months, more place names and words like taxes and freedom of speech. See the writing test vocabulary page, which also has a dictation practice that reads sentences aloud to you.

Practise the real questions free The free citizenship practice test has every official question of both versions, a 20-question mock interview and flashcards. Study by topic, check the answers for your state, or print the 2025 / 2008 flashcards.

Frequently asked

How many words are on the citizenship reading test vocabulary list?

The official USCIS reading list has 64 entries, grouped into people, civics, places, holidays, question words, verbs and other words. Every reading test sentence is built from them.

How many sentences do I have to read on the citizenship test?

You must read one sentence correctly out of up to three. Once you read one correctly, the officer stops the reading test.

Can I make mistakes on the reading test?

Yes. You may leave out short words and make pronunciation or intonation errors that do not change the meaning. You fail a sentence if you leave out or replace a content word, pause for a long time, or the officer cannot understand the sentence.

Who is exempt from the English reading test?

Applicants who are 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or 55 or older with 15 years, at the time of filing. USCIS also lists applicants 65 or older with 20 years as exempt from English. A medical disability exception is requested with Form N-648.

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Keep going

More free guides built from the same official question lists.

Writing test vocabulary and practice sentencesThe official writing list, sentences built only from it, and a dictation drill that reads them aloud.Read the guide →The English test for citizenshipThree parts, a published vocabulary list, and a much lower bar than most people expect.Read the guide →Citizenship interview questionsThe civics questions are only part of it. Here is everything the officer asks, in order.Read the guide →The citizenship test in SpanishWho can take the test in Spanish, and how to study bilingually if you cannot.Read the guide →N-400 interview questions, explainedThe topics the officer must cover from your Form N-400, straight from the USCIS Policy Manual.Read the guide →

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