The English Test: Reading, Writing & Speaking
Vocabulary lists sourced directly from USCIS Form M-1178, last checked August 26, 2026.
Civics isn’t the only test at your interview. Unless you qualify for an age/residency exemption, you’ll also demonstrate basic English ability across three parts: speaking, reading, and writing.
Speaking
There’s no separate speaking test or word list — USCIS evaluates your ability to speak English throughout the entire interview, based on your answers to the officer’s questions about your Form N-400 and the civics questions themselves. If the officer can understand your answers and you can understand their questions, you pass this part — there’s nothing extra to memorize.
Reading
You’ll be shown up to three sentences and must read one correctly aloud. All sentences are built only from the words below — USCIS publishes the complete list in advance.
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
You’ll be dictated up to three sentences and must write one correctly. The writing vocabulary list overlaps with the reading list but isn’t identical — study them separately.
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
This is general study guidance, not legal advice. For the official word-strip PDFs and classroom activities, see USCIS’s Study for the Test page.