How many English reading questions?

USCIS administers up to three English reading questions during the naturalization test. The applicant must read aloud, in a manner that the officer can understand, at least one of the three sentences correctly to pass the reading test. The sentences are drawn from a USCIS reading test vocabulary list of approximately 95 words, published by USCIS as part of the M-679 Reading Test Vocabulary List (available at uscis.gov/citizenship), and they cover three categories of content: civics topics (the Constitution, government, holidays, geography, and history), people in U.S. history and government (Lincoln, Washington, the President), and other terms commonly tested.

Sentences typically use simple, declarative structures: examples include Who is the President of the United States? When do we celebrate Independence Day? and Citizens can vote. The officer selects sentences from a USCIS test bank and presents them on a tablet or printed sheet during the interview. The applicant reads each sentence aloud, and the officer evaluates whether the sentence was read in a manner intelligible to the officer. Minor errors of pronunciation, intonation, or pauses for breathing do not cause the applicant to fail; USCIS officers are instructed to apply the standard generously.

The reading test is one of the four parts of the English requirement under section 312 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. section 1423): reading, writing, speaking (assessed throughout the interview), and understanding (also assessed throughout). Applicants who qualify for the 50/20 or 55/15 language exceptions (older applicants with long permanent residence) are exempt from the English reading test entirely and take only the civics portion in their preferred language with an interpreter. Applicants with an approved Form N-648 medical disability waiver are exempt as well.

Applicants who fail the reading test at the first interview are scheduled for a re-examination between 60 and 90 days later, at which they retake only the failed portion. There is no additional fee for the re-examination.