Citizenship Reading and Writing Vocabulary List (Full)
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The English portion of the naturalization test uses two separate USCIS word lists: a reading list of roughly 60 words and a longer writing list of roughly 75 words. You read one sentence built from the reading list and write one sentence built from the writing list; each has up to three tries, and the lists overlap but are not identical (USCIS, Reading Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test; USCIS, Writing Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test).
Both lists apply no matter which civics test version you take. The 2025 civics test expanded the question pool from 100 to 128 questions for anyone who files Form N-400 on or after October 20, 2025, but USCIS has not changed the reading or writing vocabulary that goes with it. If you filed before that date, you still study from the same two vocabulary lists below.
What’s actually on the reading list?
The reading list groups words into people, civics terms, places, holidays, question words, verbs, and short function or content words. USCIS draws each test sentence from these categories, so a sentence might read “Washington is the first President” or “The flag is red, white, and blue.”
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| 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, want |
| Function words | a, for, here, in, of, on, the, to, we |
| Content words | colors, dollar bill, first, largest, many, most, north, one, people, second, south |
Source: USCIS, Reading Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test, M-715.
What’s on the writing list, and how is it different?
The writing list shares the same civics backbone as the reading list but adds specific state names, months, and a Civil War reference that the reading list skips entirely. It’s also the longer of the two, which is why writing trips up more applicants who only studied the reading words.
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| People | Adams, Lincoln, Washington |
| Civics | American Indians, capital, citizens, Civil War, Congress, Father of Our Country, flag, free, freedom of speech, President, right, Senators, state/states, White House |
| Places | Alaska, California, Canada, Delaware, Mexico, New York City, United States, Washington, Washington, D.C. |
| Months | February, May, June, July, September, October, November |
| Holidays | Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day |
| Verbs | can, come, elect, have/has, is/was/be, lives/lived, meets, pay, vote |
| Function words | and, during, for, here, in, of, on, the, to |
| Content words | blue, dollar bill, fifty/50, first, largest, most, north, one, one hundred/100 |
Source: USCIS, Writing Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test, M-715.
Why do the two lists overlap but not match?
USCIS built the reading and writing tests to check two different skills: recognizing English words on sight versus reproducing them correctly from dictation. A word like “Congress” or “President” shows up on both lists because it’s central to civics content either way, but state names like Alaska and California only appear on the writing list, since spelling out a proper noun tests something the reading test doesn’t need to.
How does the officer actually give the test?
The officer reads a sentence aloud (or shows one) built entirely from words on the applicable list, using capitalization and punctuation you’re expected to reproduce correctly for the writing portion. You get up to three sentences per skill and only need one correct to pass that section (USCIS, The Naturalization Interview and Test). Misspelling a word slightly, if it’s still clearly the intended word and legible, is generally accepted; the officer is checking basic English literacy, not perfect grammar.
Study approach that actually works
Flashcard drilling on isolated words is the weakest way to prepare, because the test uses full sentences, not word matching. A more reliable approach:
- Learn the words by category (people, places, civics terms) rather than alphabetically, since categories reveal patterns in how USCIS builds sentences.
- Practice writing full sample sentences by hand, not typing, since the actual test is handwritten.
- Say each sentence aloud while writing it, since the reading and writing skills reinforce each other.
- Time yourself. Real test sentences are short, typically eight words or fewer, and read at a normal conversational pace.
Frequently asked questions
Is the vocabulary list the same for the 2008 and 2025 civics tests? Yes. The 100-versus-128 question split only affects the civics knowledge portion of the naturalization test. The English reading and writing vocabulary lists are unchanged and apply to every applicant regardless of which civics test version their N-400 filing date puts them on.
Do I need to memorize every word on both lists? You don’t need every word memorized in isolation, since only a handful appear in any given test sentence, but USCIS pulls sentences exclusively from these lists, so unfamiliar words raise your risk on a given attempt. Covering the full list is the safer approach.
Are numbers and dates part of the vocabulary list? Numbers like “fifty/50” and “one hundred/100” appear as written-out words or numerals on the writing list specifically. The civics test, by contrast, is where most date and number knowledge (like “27” amendments or “1787” for the Constitution) actually gets tested.
What happens if I read or write a sentence incorrectly? You get up to three sentences per skill (reading, writing) during the test, and passing just one of the three is enough to pass that section. Missing all three sentences in one skill area is what triggers a retest of that section at your second interview.
Can I take the English test in a language other than English? Generally no. The English literacy requirement is separate from the civics knowledge requirement, and only specific exemptions (age and residency-based, or a qualifying disability) waive the English portion; those exemptions don’t apply to civics, which some applicants take in their native language.
Bottom line: study both official USCIS lists by category, practice full sentences instead of isolated words, and remember the writing list is longer and includes state names and months the reading list doesn’t cover.