Who this is for: Green card holders facing the naturalization interview whose English isn't strong and who worry about "not understanding the officer, not reading the sentence, not spelling the words," and adult children helping their parents prepare.
Facts here follow the USCIS website and the USCIS Policy Manual, last checked 2026-10-14. Items marked ⚠️ may change. This guide is not legal advice. If you're 50 or older with 20 years as a green card holder, or 55 or older with 15 years, you're exempt from the English test; see Taking the test in Chinese.
The key points first
| Part | How it's tested | Passing standard |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking (listening and speaking) | Not tested separately; whether you can understand and answer questions about your N-400 and eligibility throughout the interview | Generally understanding and answering meaningfully is enough |
| Reading | You're shown up to 3 sentences (all questions) and read one aloud | Stops after 1 correct |
| Writing | The officer reads up to 3 sentences and you write one by hand | Stops after 1 correct |
- The new 2025 civics test didn't change the English part. The Federal Register notice of 2025-09-18 states it doesn't change the reading, writing, speaking and understanding parts of the English test.
- Everyone gets two chances: the first interview plus a retest within 60–90 days, covering only the part you failed.
- Every word in the reading and writing sentences comes from the reading and writing vocabulary lists published by USCIS (about 80 words each, see section 3), all civics and history vocabulary.
- ⚠️ DHS plans to publish a proposed rule to "strengthen naturalization education standards" in December 2026 (RIN 1615-AD13), which may set new standards and formats for the English and civics tests. As of 2026-10-14 no text has been published and the current rules are unchanged.
1. Overview
Flow: The interview starts with raising your hand for the oath → speaking: evaluated throughout, from greetings to the N-400 review → reading: up to 3 questions, stops after 1 correct → writing: up to 3 dictated sentences, stops after 1 correct → civics test → N-652 result: pass, or retest the failed part within 60–90 days; failing the retest means the application is denied
- The order of reading, writing and civics isn't fixed: some people are tested right away, others at the end.
- USCIS allows the officer who conducts the interview (and evaluates speaking) to be different from the one who gives the reading, writing and civics tests.
- Applicants generally report the whole interview takes 10–40 minutes.
2. The three parts one by one
1. Speaking: the interview itself is the test
- The officer judges your speaking and listening from how you answer the eligibility questions on your N-400. The questions come from your N-400: address, work, marriage, trips abroad, the Part 9 yes/no questions and so on.
- Officers are required to repeat and rephrase questions until they're sure you understand, or sure you really don't understand English. You can ask them to repeat or slow down.
- You don't need to understand every word on the form.
- The USCIS scoring guidelines of 2025-10-20 state that evaluating listening comprehension is not based on asking you to define words on the N-400. (Applicants' posts mention being asked to explain words like genocide or militia; preparing simple explanations doesn't hurt, but the official standard isn't "memorize definitions.")
- Failing speaking means not understanding enough to take the oath or answer eligibility questions. Even then, the officer still gives the reading, writing and civics tests.
Common questions (for practice):
- What is your current address? How long have you lived there?
- Where do you work? What do you do there?
- How many trips have you taken outside the United States since you applied?
- Have you ever been arrested or cited by a police officer?
- Have you ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen?
- Do you owe any overdue taxes?
- Are you willing to take the full Oath of Allegiance?
When you don't understand you can say: Could you repeat that, please? / Could you say it in a different way? / Sorry, I don't understand the word "…".
2. Reading: read one question aloud
- The officer shows you sentences from a standardized test, up to 3, all of them questions (for example starting with Who / What / When / Where / Why / How).
- You only read it aloud; you don't need to answer it.
- It stops after 1 correct.
- You won't fail because of your accent.
- Passes: reading all the content words with no long pauses, so the officer understands the meaning; skipping short function words or mistakes in pronunciation or intonation that don't change the meaning are fine.
- Fails: omitting or substituting content words, long pauses, or pronunciation so far off that the officer can't understand the meaning.
3. Writing: write one dictated sentence
- The officer reads a sentence and you write it by hand; up to 3 sentences, stopping after 1 correct.
- No abbreviations (for example Wash. for Washington) unless the officer allows it.
- Passes: the meaning is understandable. Some grammar, spelling and capitalization errors are allowed, as is leaving out short words that don't affect meaning; numbers can be written as words or digits (fifty or 50).
- Fails: writing a different sentence or different words, using abbreviations, writing nothing or only one or two isolated words, or completely illegible writing.
3. The official reading and writing vocabulary lists (published by USCIS, rev. 08/08, currently in use)
All words in the reading and writing sentences are on these two lists. The USCIS "Prepare for the Naturalization Interview and Test" page updated 2025-10-20 still links both lists.
Reading Vocabulary
| 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, 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 |
Writing Vocabulary
| 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, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving |
| Verbs | can, come, elect, have/has, is/was/be, lives/lived, meets, pay, vote, want |
| Other (Function) | and, during, for, here, in, of, on, the, to, we |
| Other (Content) | blue, dollar bill, fifty/50, first, largest, most, north, one, one hundred/100, people, red, second, south, taxes, white |
Practice sentences built from the lists (examples for practice, not official test sentences):
- Reading: Who was the first President? / Who lives in the White House? / When is Labor Day? / Why do people come to America?
- Writing: Washington was the first President. / The President lives in the White House. / Labor Day is in September. / Citizens have the right to vote. / Alaska is the largest state.
⚠️ In 2026 some community tutoring programs reported that some officers read longer sentences than before (for example adding for President and Congress after Citizens have the right to vote.). Practicing with complete, longer sentences is safer; see section 6.
4. Two chances: what if you don't pass
| Situation | Result |
|---|---|
| You fail one part at the first interview (for example only writing) | The N-652 says "continued," and USCIS schedules a retest 60–90 days after the first interview covering only the failed part, with a different test |
| You fail the retest | The officer must deny the application for not meeting the education requirements |
| You miss the retest without good cause, or refuse to test or answer | Counts as failing |
| You file an N-336 for a hearing after denial | The officer retests the failed part at the hearing (only this one more chance) |
| You file a new N-400 later | Allowed, with a new fee and a new process |
Our advice: once you get "continued," start practicing the failed part right away; if you can't make the date on the retest notice, reschedule as early as possible following the notice's instructions.
5. How to prepare
1. First confirm whether you need to take the English test. Age and years as a green card holder are counted on your filing date: 50/20 and 55/15 are exempt from English; people with a qualifying disability can apply with the N-648. Otherwise you take it.
2. Reading: read the lists aloud twice a day. Focus on questions starting with question words (Who/What/When/Where/Why/How) and multi-syllable words: Independence, Thanksgiving, government, Representatives.
3. Writing: always practice by hand. Have a family member read sentences at normal speed, write them on paper, then check your spelling. Key words: Washington, D.C. (no abbreviations), the months February, September, November, and citizens, Senators, Congress, Independence, Thanksgiving, freedom of speech. Capitalization mistakes usually don't count against you, but it's good to build the habit.
4. Speaking: use your own N-400 as the textbook. Answer in English about your address, work, marriage, each trip abroad and every Part 9 yes/no question. Practice answering in short complete sentences, such as "No, I have never been arrested.", which shows you understood better than just "No."
5. Prepare "help" phrases. If you can't hear, say Could you repeat that, please? rather than guessing "Yes."
📱 Practice: The PathToUS Citizenship Test app has reading and writing practice from the official lists, dictation sentences and a mock N-400 interview in English, and lets you practice civics for your filing date at the same time.
6. What applicants report (since 2025)
Common themes from public posts in 2025–2026 in World Journal community reports, Reddit r/USCIS, 1point3acres and elsewhere. Individual experiences, not guarantees.
- Sentences got longer. In September 2026, naturalization tutors in Chicago's Chinese community reported that some students got longer reading and writing sentences than before, for example New York City was the first capital. becoming New York City was the first capital of the United States., and The President lives in the White House. becoming …in Washington, D.C.. Tutors suggest not just memorizing keywords but practicing understanding and answering in complete sentences.
- Most people find reading and writing easy. Many interview reports (for example a 2026 Reddit post from an applicant at the San Jose office) say they read one simple sentence, wrote one, and passed.
- Speaking causes more problems than reading and writing. Many people didn't understand a long Part 9 question and casually answered "Yes." Better to ask the officer to repeat.
- Nerves magnify problems. Arrive 20–30 minutes early and take a few deep breaths; some suggest reading through the vocabulary lists once the day before the interview.
FAQ
1. Do I need to answer the reading question? No. The reading sentences are questions; you only read them aloud.
2. Will I fail because of my accent? No. USCIS states you won't fail because of an accent as long as the meaning is understood.
3. Do I fail writing if I misspell one word? Not necessarily. Spelling, capitalization and punctuation errors don't count as long as the meaning is clear; writing different words, using abbreviations or writing only one or two words do.
4. Should numbers be written as words? Either works, for example fifty or 50.
5. If I fail English but pass civics, do I retake civics? No. You retake only the part you failed.
6. How many chances do I get at English? Generally two: the first interview and a retest within 60–90 days. If you're denied and request an N-336 hearing, the failed part is tested once more.
7. Can I bring an interpreter? Only people who qualify for the 50/20, 55/15 or 65/20 exemptions or an N-648 exception can bring an interpreter. Everyone else completes the interview in English.
8. Did the 2025 test make English harder too? The official rules didn't change (the Federal Register notice states the English part isn't changed). Community reports of longer sentences reflect how it feels in practice; see section 6.
9. Will the vocabulary lists change? ⚠️ The current lists are the 2008 edition, still used on the USCIS prep page as of October 2025. DHS plans to propose new "education standards" in December 2026, which could change them; follow what USCIS announces.
Official links (last checked 2026-10-14)
- The naturalization interview and test: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/the-naturalization-interview-and-test
- Study for the Test: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/study-for-the-test
- Reading vocabulary PDF: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/reading_vocab.pdf
- Writing vocabulary PDF: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/writing_vocab.pdf
- Prep resources page (links both lists, updated 2025-10-20): https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/resources-for-educational-programs/prepare-for-the-naturalization-interview-and-test
- Naturalization test scoring guidelines (v.10_20_25): https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/Test_Scoring_Guidelines.pdf
- Policy Manual: English and civics testing: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-e-chapter-2
- Federal Register: implementation of the 2025 civics test (English part unchanged): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/18/2025-18050/implementation-of-2025-naturalization-civics-test
- Regulatory agenda RIN 1615-AD13: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?RIN=1615-AD13&pubId=202510
Related guides: Naturalization interview day · Civics test · Taking the test in Chinese · If you did not pass · Filling out the N-400
Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and is not legal advice. Test rules can change; follow the latest from USCIS. For your own case, consult a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.