M-715 Reading Vocabulary List: 96 Words Explained

The English reading portion of the USCIS naturalization test can feel daunting, but there's good news: USCIS publishes a fixed, 96-word reading vocabulary list (Form M-715) that covers all the words you'll encounter on test day. Understanding how these words are organized helps you study strategically and builds confidence in your preparation.

What is Form M-715 and Why It Matters

Form M-715 is the official USCIS Reading Vocabulary List, a public resource that outlines every word applicants may need to read and understand during the English reading portion of the naturalization test. USCIS publishes this list to make test preparation transparent and fair. Rather than guessing what words might appear, you can focus your study time on the exact vocabulary that counts.

The reading test itself is straightforward: you'll hear or read one of three sentences aloud, and you need to understand and repeat back one sentence correctly. All sentences on the test use only words from the M-715 list. This means that by becoming familiar with these 96 words and how they're used in context, you're already covering everything the test will measure.

The M-715 vocabulary list applies to all N-400 applicants in 2025, regardless of whether you're taking the traditional 100-question civics test or the newer 128-question test (for N-400s filed on or after October 20, 2025). The reading vocabulary itself doesn't change between test versions.

How USCIS Organizes the 96 Words: Seven Categories

USCIS groups the 96 words into seven categories to help you study in a logical, manageable way. Each category reflects real-world contexts you'll encounter in civics, daily life, and your naturalization interview.

The Seven Categories at a Glance

1. People. Titles and roles relevant to U.S. civics and society
2. Civics. Core government and civic concepts
3. Places. Geographic and institutional locations
4. Holidays. National holidays and observances
5. Question Words. Words used to form questions
6. Verbs. Action words and what people do
7. Other. Functional words like articles, prepositions, and connectors

Studying by category helps you recognize word families and usage patterns. When you see a word in the "people" category, for example, you know it refers to a role or title; when you see a "civics" word, you're reading about government or rights. This pattern recognition reduces test anxiety and builds reading speed.

People and Civics: Roles, Rights, and Government Words

The "people" category includes words for titles and roles you'll read and hear throughout civics study:

• President
• Vice President
• Senator
• Representative
• Citizen
• Mother, Father
• Man, Woman

These words appear in sentences about how government works, who holds office, and what it means to be part of the U.S. political system.

The "civics" category covers the foundation of American government and rights:

• Government
• Flag
• Vote, Voting
• Law
• Rights
• Constitution
• Congress
• Taxes
• War

When you read civics words in context, "The flag is the symbol of the United States" or "Citizens have the right to vote", you're practicing the kind of sentences that appear on the reading test. Learning these words early in your preparation, perhaps alongside civics basics, strengthens your confidence in both civics and reading.

Places, Holidays, and Question Words

The "places" category names geographic and institutional locations:

• Country
• State
• City
• Capital
• School
• House
• America (United States)

You'll read and discuss these words when talking about where the government meets, where you live, and where institutions like schools and courthouses operate.

The "holidays" category includes national observances:

• Independence Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas

While holidays might seem like a small part of the test, USCIS includes them because they reflect American cultural and historical milestones that new citizens learn about.

The "question words" are essential for understanding what the test is asking:

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why
• How

These six words appear in every civics and reading question you'll encounter. Mastering them means you can quickly understand what information the test is asking for.

Verbs and Functional Words: The Foundation of Reading Sentences

The "verbs" category includes action words that show what people and government do:

• Vote
• Elect
• Work
• Read
• Write
• Speak
• Can (auxiliary verb)
• Has, Have
• Is, Are
• Was

These verbs appear in nearly every test sentence, so getting comfortable with them, especially in past, present, and question forms, is critical.

The "other" category contains functional words that hold sentences together:

• Articles: a, an, the
• Conjunctions: and, or, but
• Prepositions: in, of, to, for
• Pronouns: he, she, they, we, you
• Numbers and other: one, two, many, people, name

While these words might feel obvious in English, for ESL learners they can be the trickiest part of reading comprehension. A sentence like "The president is the head of the government" uses functional words (the, is, of) that change the meaning if misread.

How to Study M-715 Efficiently for Test Day

Create a Study Plan by Category

Rather than trying to memorize all 96 words at once, spend a few days on each category. Start with "people" and "civics," since these are the core of naturalization study. Then move through "places," "holidays," and "question words." Spend extra time on "verbs" and "other," since these words appear in every sentence.

Practice Words in Context

Reading the M-715 list alone won't prepare you for the test. Instead, read and listen to sample sentences that use these words. USCIS publishes sample test questions, and many study materials provide practice sentences organized by vocabulary. When you read "The president lives in the White House," you're learning how "president," "lives," "the," and "house" work together.

Use Repetition and Recognition, Not Memorization

You don't need to spell or write every M-715 word perfectly. The reading test measures listening comprehension and speaking, you hear a sentence, understand it, and repeat it back. Focus on recognizing words when you hear them and understanding their meaning in context.

Connect M-715 Words to Civics Study

Many M-715 words appear in civics answers as well. The word "vote," for example, appears in both reading practice and civics questions like "What is one right of all citizens?" (Answer: "Citizens have the right to vote.") Studying civics and reading together reinforces both.

Ready to Study?

Knowing the M-715 vocabulary list takes away the mystery of the reading test. You're not preparing for an unknown challenge, you're learning 96 specific words and how they appear in short, meaningful sentences. Many applicants find that focusing on this official list, rather than worrying about random English words, makes their study time more efficient and less stressful.

If you're ready to practice reading with these words, explore vocabulary exercises designed to reinforce recognition and comprehension. You might also benefit from English reading test tips that show how to approach the test with confidence. Your study time is precious, spend it on what the test actually covers.