The naturalization test has three components of the English test: speaking, reading and writing. The speaking portion of the English test is the same as the earlier test. An applicant’s ability to speak English is determined by the USCIS officer from the applicant’s answers to questions normally asked during the eligibility interview on the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400. Modifications were made to the new reading and writing tests. The sentences included on the new reading and writing tests will not be made publicly available. The USCIS released reading and writing vocabulary lists containing all the words found in the new English reading and writing tests. Applicants can use the vocabulary lists to study. Applicants must read 1 out of 3 items correctly to pass the reading test. Applicants must write 1 out of 3 items correctly to pass the writing test. To increase the meaningfulness of the reading and writing tests, the content of the reading and writing questions are civics-based.
English test scoring guidelines
Reading
| PEOPLE | CIVICS | PLACES | HOLIDAYS | QUESTION WORDS | VERBS | OTHER (FUNCTION) | OTHER (CONTENT) |
|
Abraham Lincoln George Washington |
American flag Bill of Rights capital citizen city Congress country Father of Our Country government President right Senators state/states White House |
America U.S. United States |
Presidents’ Day Memorial Day Flag Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving |
How What When Where Who Why |
can come do/does elects have/has is/are/was/be lives/lived meet name pay vote want |
a for here in of on the to we |
colors dollar bill first largest many most north one people second south |
Writing
| PEOPLE | CIVICS | PLACES | HOLIDAYS | QUESTION WORDS | VERBS | OTHER (FUNCTION) | OTHER (CONTENT) |
|
Adams Lincoln Washington |
American Indians capital citizens Civil War Congress Father of Our Country flag free freedom of speech President right Senators state/states White House |
Alaska California Canada Delaware Mexico New York City United States Washington Washington, D.C. |
February May June July September October November |
Presidents’ Day Memorial Day Flag Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Thanksgiving |
can come elect have/has is/was/be lives/lived meets pay vote want |
and during for here in of on the to we |
blue dollar bill fifty/50 first largest most north one one hundred/100 people red second south taxes white |
