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Reading and Writing Practice Exercises for the Citizenship Test

Blake Crosley · · 5 min read

Reading and Writing Practice Exercises for the Citizenship Test

The reading and writing portions of the citizenship test require practice, not just studying. This guide provides structured exercises to build your skills before interview day.

Understanding the English Requirement

The citizenship test includes three English components:

  1. Speaking — Answering questions in conversation
  2. Reading — Reading a sentence aloud
  3. Writing — Writing a dictated sentence

All three use limited vocabulary from USCIS word lists. With focused practice, you can master them.

Week 1: Foundation Building

Day 1-2: Reading Basics

Exercise 1: Word Recognition

Read each word aloud three times: - President, Congress, government - American, citizen, country - vote, right, flag

Exercise 2: Phrase Reading

Read these phrases smoothly: - "the President" - "American citizens" - "in Washington" - "can vote" - "the United States"

Day 3-4: Writing Basics

Exercise 3: Letter Formation

Write the alphabet in both cases: - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z - a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Exercise 4: Key Word Spelling

Write each word three times: - President - Washington - American - citizen - government

Day 5-7: Combining Skills

Exercise 5: Read and Write

Read the sentence, then write it from memory: 1. "The President lives in the White House." 2. "Citizens can vote." 3. "Washington is the capital."

Week 2: Building Fluency

Day 8-9: Longer Sentences

Exercise 6: Complex Reading

Read these sentences at a comfortable pace: 1. "George Washington was the first President of the United States." 2. "Independence Day is in July." 3. "Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War." 4. "The American flag has red, white, and blue colors." 5. "Congress meets in Washington, D.C."

Exercise 7: Dictation Practice

Have someone read these sentences to you. Write what you hear: 1. "Citizens can vote." 2. "The White House is in Washington." 3. "People pay taxes." 4. "The flag has 50 stars." 5. "November is when we vote."

Day 10-11: Common Patterns

Exercise 8: Sentence Patterns

Practice reading and writing sentences with these patterns:

Pattern: [Person] was/is [role] - Lincoln was President. - Washington was the first President.

Pattern: [Thing] is in [place] - The White House is in Washington. - The capital is in Washington, D.C.

Pattern: [People] can [action] - Citizens can vote. - People can come to America.

Pattern: [Time/event] is in [month] - Independence Day is in July. - Thanksgiving is in November.

Day 12-14: Speed and Confidence

Exercise 9: Timed Reading

Set a timer. Read each sentence clearly within 10 seconds: 1. "The President is elected in November." 2. "George Washington is on the dollar bill." 3. "Alaska is the largest state." 4. "Congress makes the laws." 5. "Citizens have the right to vote."

Exercise 10: Writing Speed

Write each sentence in under 30 seconds (maintain neat handwriting): 1. "We vote in November." 2. "The flag is red, white, and blue." 3. "Washington, D.C. is the capital."

Week 3: Test Simulation

Day 15-17: Mock Reading Tests

Exercise 11: Random Sentence Reading

Have someone pick sentences randomly for you to read. Practice: - Starting confidently - Maintaining steady pace - Recovering from mistakes

Sample sentences (have helper choose randomly): 1. "The first President was Washington." 2. "Labor Day is in September." 3. "People want freedom." 4. "Lincoln freed the slaves." 5. "Memorial Day is in May." 6. "The United States flag has stars." 7. "Citizens pay taxes." 8. "Congress meets in the Capitol." 9. "The President lives in Washington." 10. "Independence Day is July 4."

Day 18-19: Mock Writing Tests

Exercise 12: Dictation Simulation

Have someone read sentences to you exactly as an officer would: - They read the sentence once - You write it down - They check your spelling

Practice sentences: 1. "Washington was the first President." 2. "Citizens can vote in November." 3. "The American flag is red, white, and blue." 4. "Congress makes laws for the country." 5. "Independence Day is in July."

Day 20-21: Full Practice Sessions

Exercise 13: Complete English Test Simulation

Simulate the actual test:

  1. Speaking: Answer these questions aloud:
  2. "What is your name?"
  3. "Where do you live?"

  4. "Why do you want to be a citizen?"

  5. Reading: Read one sentence from the list above

  6. Writing: Write one sentence from dictation

Practice this full sequence several times.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Problem: Nervous Reading Voice

Solution: Practice reading to someone daily. Start with family, then practice with friends or neighbors. The more you read aloud to others, the more natural it becomes.

Problem: Forgetting Spellings Under Pressure

Solution: Create flashcards for tricky words. Test yourself randomly throughout the day. Write problem words 10 times each day until automatic.

Problem: Mishearing Dictated Sentences

Solution: Practice with different speakers (family members, recordings). Get comfortable with various accents and speaking speeds.

Problem: Slow Writing Speed

Solution: Focus on common words first. Writing "President," "Washington," and "American" should become automatic. Speed comes from familiarity.

Daily Practice Schedule

Morning (10 minutes): - Read 5 vocabulary words aloud - Write 3 vocabulary words by hand

Afternoon (10 minutes): - Read 2 complete sentences - Write 2 sentences from dictation

Evening (10 minutes): - Review any words you struggled with - Practice sentences that combine those words

Total: 30 minutes daily

Consistency matters more than duration. Short daily practice beats occasional long sessions.

Measuring Your Progress

Track your improvement:

Week 1: Can you read all vocabulary words clearly? Week 2: Can you write common words without looking? Week 3: Can you pass a practice test simulation?

If you can comfortably pass practice tests, you're ready for the real thing.

Final Tips

  1. Practice out loud — Silent reading doesn't prepare you for the test
  2. Write by hand — Typing doesn't help with handwriting
  3. Get feedback — Have others check your pronunciation and spelling
  4. Stay calm — Nervousness affects performance; practice builds confidence

The reading and writing tests use limited vocabulary. With structured practice, these portions become straightforward. You're not learning a new language—you're mastering a specific set of words.

Keep practicing, and you'll walk into your interview confident and prepared.