English reading and writing practice

At the interview, the officer asks you to read 1 of up to 3 sentences aloud and write 1 of up to 3 sentences that the officer reads to you. USCIS publishes the words used on these tests (the Reading and Writing vocabulary lists), but not the sentences.

The practice sentences below were written by CitizenExams using only words from those official lists. They are not the real test sentences. CitizenExams is not affiliated with USCIS.

Read the sentence out loud. Tap a word to hear it, or hear the whole sentence.

How the English test works

  • Reading: you read one sentence aloud correctly, out of up to three.
  • Writing: you write one sentence correctly, out of up to three, after the officer reads it.
  • Speaking: the officer judges your spoken English from your answers during the interview, including the questions about your N-400.

Tips: learn to spell the names, places, months and holidays on the writing list, as most sentences are built from them. Practice capital letters for names (Lincoln, Alaska, Thanksgiving) and end each sentence with a period or a question mark.

Next: civics practice test · interview-day checklist · how to study

Sources: USCIS Reading Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test and Writing Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test (PDF), linked from USCIS: Prepare for the Naturalization Interview and Test and The Naturalization Interview and Test. Lists checked October 16, 2026.