Updated
· 6 min read · Built from the official USCIS question lists
On the writing test the officer reads a sentence aloud and you write it down. You
need to write one sentence out of three in a way the officer understands. Every sentence comes from the
official USCIS writing vocabulary list — 75 words and names.
Below is the full list, a set of practice sentences that use only those words, and a dictation drill:
your browser reads a sentence aloud, you type it, and it tells you whether it matches.
Press play, listen, then type the sentence exactly as you would write it on paper. On the real test you
write by hand, so after a few rounds, practise with a pen too.
Every word in these sentences is on the official writing list, and every sentence states something
USCIS itself teaches in its civics materials. They are practice sentences, not the official test forms,
which USCIS does not publish.
Washington was the first President.
Adams was the second President.
Lincoln was President during the Civil War.
Washington is the Father of Our Country.
The White House is in Washington, D.C.
The President lives in the White House.
Congress meets in Washington, D.C.
Congress has one hundred Senators.
The United States has fifty states.
California has the most people.
Canada is north of the United States.
Mexico is south of the United States.
Delaware was the first state.
New York City was the first capital.
American Indians lived here first.
The flag is red, white, and blue.
Citizens have the right to vote.
Citizens can vote.
People pay taxes.
We have freedom of speech.
People want to be free.
We elect the President in November.
Presidents' Day is in February.
Memorial Day is in May.
Flag Day is in June.
Independence Day is in July.
Labor Day is in September.
Columbus Day is in October.
Thanksgiving is in November.
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What counts as a pass
The Policy Manual says you pass the writing test when you convey the meaning of one of the three
sentences to the officer. Your sentence may have some grammar, spelling or capitalization errors, leave
out short words that do not change the meaning, and show numbers either spelled out or as digits.
You fail if you write a different sentence or different words, write an abbreviation for a dictated
word, write nothing or only one or two isolated words, or write something that cannot be read
(Policy Manual, Vol. 12, Part E, Ch. 2).
Spelling, numbers and abbreviations
Numbers: "fifty" or "50", "one hundred" or "100" — both are accepted.
Abbreviations: do not abbreviate a word the officer said. Write "Washington", not
"Wash." (The Policy Manual notes an abbreviation may be accepted only if the officer has approved it.)
Proper names: the names on the list — Adams, Lincoln, Washington, Delaware,
California — are the ones worth practising until you can spell them without thinking.
Months and holidays: seven months and seven holidays are on the list. They are the
most common source of spelling mistakes.
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 sentences do I have to write on the citizenship test?
One sentence correctly, out of up to three. The officer reads each sentence aloud and stops the writing test once you write one in a way the officer understands.
Do spelling mistakes fail the writing test?
Not by themselves. You do not fail because of spelling, capitalization or punctuation errors unless they stop the officer from understanding the sentence.
Can I write numbers as digits on the writing test?
Yes. The Policy Manual says numbers may be spelled out or written as digits.
Where is the official writing vocabulary list?
USCIS publishes it as "Writing Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test" on its Study for the Test page, as a PDF, a large-print PDF and a text-only file. The list on this page is copied from that file.
