U.S. Citizenship Reading & Writing Vocabulary Practice
Free, mobile-friendly practice for the reading and writing parts of the U.S. naturalization test. Study the official USCIS reading and writing vocabulary with flashcards, read-aloud sentences, dictation, and a smart mixed review — with instructions in English and Spanish.
Independent educational resource — not affiliated with or endorsed by USCIS.
Flip each card to see the word, tap Listen to hear it, then mark whether you know it. Words on both the reading and writing lists are labeled.
Reading and writing are part of the citizenship test
Many people study only the civics questions and forget that the naturalization interview also includes an English test. For most applicants, the English test has three parts: speaking, reading, and writing. During the reading test you read one sentence aloud correctly, and during the writing test you write one sentence correctly while the USCIS officer dictates it. To prepare, USCIS publishes a reading vocabulary list and a writing vocabulary list so you know which words can appear.
This page gives you both official word lists in full, keeps the exact words and categories, and clearly labels the words that appear on both lists. The sentences you read and type here are original practice examples written by US Civics Practice to help you learn the vocabulary — they are not the actual sentences used on the test.
Reading
Flashcards, optional audio, and short sentences to read aloud and self-check.
Writing
Listen to a sentence, type it, then see the correct answer with differences highlighted.
Review
A short mixed set that prioritizes the words you marked as difficult.
How to practice reading and writing vocabulary
- 1
Choose Reading or Writing
Start with the skill you want to build. Reading focuses on recognizing and reading words and sentences; Writing focuses on writing sentences from dictation.
- 2
Learn the words with flashcards
Flip each card, tap Listen to hear the word, and mark “I know this” or “Practice again.” Words that appear on both the reading and writing lists are labeled.
- 3
Practice full sentences
In Reading, read short sentences aloud and self-check. In Writing, listen and type the sentence, then compare with the correct answer.
- 4
Finish with a mixed Review
The Review tab builds a short mixed set that puts the words you found hard first, so you spend time where it matters.
Official USCIS vocabulary lists
These free lists come directly from USCIS. Use them to confirm the words and to read the latest official guidance for the reading and writing tests.
Frequently asked questions
Does the U.S. citizenship test include reading and writing?
Yes. During the naturalization interview, most applicants must pass an English test that has three parts: speaking, reading, and writing, in addition to the civics test. For the reading test you read one sentence aloud correctly, and for the writing test you write one sentence correctly as the officer dictates it. This tool helps you practice the reading and writing vocabulary USCIS publishes for those parts.
Are these the official USCIS vocabulary words?
The reading and writing word lists on this page reproduce the official USCIS reading vocabulary and writing vocabulary lists, with the words, categories, and variants preserved. The practice sentences we provide are original examples written to help you study — they are not the actual sentences used on the test. You can always review the official lists using the links on this page.
How do the reading and writing practice modes work?
In Reading, you flip flashcards, listen to each word, and read short original sentences aloud, then check yourself — we do not grade or record your speech. In Writing, the tool reads a short original sentence and you type what you hear; then it shows the correctly written sentence and highlights any differences. Harmless capitalization and punctuation differences are accepted, just as they generally are on the test.
Is the pronunciation audio required?
No. Audio is an optional aid that uses your browser’s built-in speech feature. If your browser or device does not support it, every word and sentence is still fully readable on screen and you can type your answers normally.
Is my progress saved?
Yes. The words you mark “I know this” or “Practice again” are saved on your own device, so your progress stays after you refresh or come back later. Nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. You can reset your progress at any time.
Is this tool really free, and is it from USCIS?
The vocabulary practice is completely free with no account required. US Civics Practice is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to USCIS or any government agency. For official information and the source lists, visit uscis.gov.