The Life in the UK test has 24 questions and you have 45 minutes. You need 75% (18 out of 24) to pass. It costs £50, and if you fail you can book again as many times as you need, paying each time. Every question comes from the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. Source: GOV.UK.
These cover the kinds of facts the test asks about: the four nations, saints' days, key dates in history, and how Parliament works. Try to answer each one before you read the answer.
Which four countries make up the United Kingdom?
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales only.
What are the capital cities of the four nations of the UK?
London (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland).
Which crosses make up the Union Flag?
The crosses of St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland) and St Patrick (Ireland). Wales is not shown on the Union Flag.
When is St David's Day?
1 March. St David is the patron saint of Wales.
When is St Patrick's Day?
17 March. St Patrick is the patron saint of Northern Ireland (and Ireland).
When is St George's Day?
23 April. St George is the patron saint of England.
When is St Andrew's Day?
30 November. St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.
What happened in 1066?
William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. It was the last successful invasion of England.
What was the Magna Carta, and when was it agreed?
A charter agreed by King John in 1215. It limited the king's power and said even the king had to follow the law.
What is remembered on 5 November?
Bonfire Night. It marks the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and others tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Why is 11 November Remembrance Day?
The First World War ended at 11am on 11 November 1918. People remember those who died in wars and wear red poppies.
In what year did women get the right to vote at 21, the same age as men?
1928.
What are the two Houses of Parliament?
The House of Commons (elected MPs) and the House of Lords (appointed and hereditary peers and bishops).
How many MPs are there in the House of Commons?
650. Each one represents a constituency.
What is the minimum age to vote in UK Parliament elections?
18.
Who is the UK's head of state?
The monarch, King Charles III.
Where do the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meet?
The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff, and the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont in Belfast.
Who wrote Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet?
William Shakespeare.
Which number do you call in an emergency?
999 or 112, for police, fire or ambulance.
What is the pass mark for the Life in the UK test?
75%, which is 18 out of 24 questions.
There are 24. You take the test on a computer at one of more than 30 test centres, and you have to book online at least 3 days ahead. Bring the same ID you booked with. If you pass, you get a unique reference number to use on your citizenship or settlement application. You do not need to take the test if you are under 18 or 65 and over. The full rules are on GOV.UK.
The questions are not tricky, but there are a lot of facts to learn, and many of them are dates, names and numbers. Those are the easiest things to forget. Reading the handbook twice is not enough for most people. What works is testing yourself: read a section, turn its facts into questions, and answer them again over the next few days.
Writing hundreds of cards by hand takes hours. StudyCards AI turns your notes or a PDF into flashcards like these in about a minute, and you can export them to Anki to study on your phone.