practice your English
The USCIS English test has three components: reading, writing, and speaking. Your ability to speak English will be determined by a USCIS Officer during your eligibility interview on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. For the reading portion, you must read one out of three sentences correctly. For the writing test, you must write one out of three sentences correctly.
Certain applicants, because of age and time as a permanent resident, are exempt from the English requirements for naturalization and may take the civics test in the language of their choice. For more information, see exceptions and accommodations.
Resources for Learning English:
In San Francisco:
Our initiative’s immigration service providers offer free classes on a regular basis in San Francisco
City College of San Francisco free noncredit ESL Citizenship Courses
U.S Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS):
English Vocabulary for the Naturalization Test
Online:
Museum of the American Revolution’s Citizenship Initiative free online citizenship course.
Starting Learning English For Free with USA Learns
Learn beginning and intermediate English with USA Learns! These courses include videos and interactive learning activities to help you practice and improve your English skills in listening comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, reading, writing, speaking and life skills.
USA Learns is also available in Spanish.
Practice for your interview and exam:
Practice Tests OnlineDuring your naturalization interview, a USCIS Officer will ask you questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver. While the English test covers reading, writing, and speaking, the civics test covers important U.S. history and government topics.
Learn more about the test and the free study tools available from USCIS to help you prepare for the:
Speaking Test
Your ability to speak English will be determined by a USCIS Officer during your eligibility interview on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
Reading Test
You must read aloud one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read in English. The Reading Test Vocabulary List will help you study for the English reading portion of the naturalization test. The content focuses on civics and history topics.
Writing Test
You must write one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to write in English. The Writing Test Vocabulary List will help you study for the English writing portion of the naturalization test. The content focuses on civics and history topics.
Civics Test
There are 100 civics questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly six (6) of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.
You have two opportunities to take the English and civics tests per application. If you fail any portion of the test during your first interview, you will be retested on the portion of the test that you failed between 60 and 90 days from the date of your initial interview.