Life in the UK Test

You will get your test results at the end of your test session. The test supervisor will inform you of the result. The passmark is around 75%.

If you pass the test, you will receive a “Pass Notification Letter”. This document will mention your test date, supervisor, centre location, and a unique reference number.This letter should be attached to your application for citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Keep your Pass Notification Letter in a safe place until mailing it to the Home Office with the rest of your documents. This letter cannot be replaced, meaning that you will have to pass the Life in the UK test again to obtain a new Pass Notification Letter.

Read the manual “Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship”. Everything you need is there. If you wish to make sure that you memorized all the information correctly, you may want to consider private training. Several companies provide training for the Life in the UK test online, usually charging a fee. We prepared a comparison chart for several providers, which can help you choose.

If you are tested between APril 2, 2007 and July 1, 2007, you can still take the test based on the 1st Edition of the official manual. When you arrive at the centre, let the supervisor know which edition you studied. Starting July 1, 2007, you will only be able to take the test based on the new edition.

You will have 45 minutes to answer 24 questions, which means less than 2 minutes per question. You may be given more time if you have a disability or a certain medical condition. You should inform your test centre of your disabilities or medical conditions when you make the booking.

Life in the UK Test has 24 questions. All the questions are based on the book called “Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship”, 2nd Edition, Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Note that you should get the NEWEST edition of the book. You may find very cheap books online, for example on eBay, but be careful and don’t buy the old edition.

Most questions will be about the United Kingdom in general, but some questions might be asked about the region where you live – England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Your test supervisor will take your name, date of birth, citizenship, place of birth, postcode, Home Office reference number, and will ask you why you are taking the test. The supervisor will also check your photo ID. Unless you already paid for the test earlier, you will be invited to pay at this time.

You will be assigned a computer and your test supervisor will explain the procedure. First you will be able to take a practice test.

The only way to take the test is on a computer. No paper-based version of the Life in the UK test exists. Therefore, you must have basic knowledge of how to use a personal computer in order to pass the test. Check out our How does it work pages for more information. You can always take a practice test directly at the Test Centre, just before the real test.

You will have to bring your Identification Documents to the test centre, and show them to your Test Supervisor. YOur ID must have your photograph, and the photograph must actually look like you. One of the following documents is acceptable:

Your passport
UK photocard Driving License, either full or provisional
CTD (COnvention Travel Document)
CID (Certificate of Identity Document)
SPD (Stateless Person Document)
your Immigration Status document, endorsed with a UK Resident Permit and bearing a holder’s photograph

You will have to provide your postcode, if you don’t know it, make sure to bring a piece of mail that contains your postcode.

If you made your reservation, and need to cancel or postpone the date of the test, you must advise your test centre as soon as possible. You could be charged a £10 administration fee if you give less than 7 days notice. This also depends on each centre; inquire on what the conditions are when you contact your nearest centre.

At this time the exam costs 34 pounds. VAT could be added to the test in the near future, which will slightly increase the final price.
Payment must be made at the test centre, before taking the test. Payment methods depend on each test centre.

There are about a hundred Life in the UK Test centres in the United Kingdom. You can book your test online using our Book Your Test page.

Depending on how busy the test centre is, you can get a place in a test session within one to four weeks from the date of your request. You will also have to wait a minimum of 7 days between making the request and the first opportunity to take the test.

What are the schedules of these test centres?

Every test centre has a different schedule, so the best is to call the centre before going. Visit our Book Your Test page.

The Life in the United Kingdom test was launched by Tony Blair’s government in November 2005. Since that time, thousands of people took this test and became British Citizens. To settle in a new country is a major change. The UK Government wants to make sure that candidates for settlement and eventually citizenship fully embrace British values, or – since this is quite hard to establish – that they at least are aware of what these values are. It is also the purpose of this test to make sure the newcomers know Britain’s basic history, culture, traditions and political structure.

If you are elegible, and intend to become British Citizen, OR if you are elegible, and intend to settle in the United Kingdom on a permanent basis (ILR), you will have to take the Life in the UK test.

If your level of English is not high enough (ESOL 3 Minimum), you will have to take English classes combined with citizenship classes instead of taking the test.

How to test the level of your English? Your nearest local further education college or learndirect centre can evaluate your knowledge. To find your nearest learndirect centre, click here.

You can always call the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Office at 0870-606-7766 for further information on whether or not you need to take the Life in the UK test.

Throughout UK, the test is offered in Engish, but in Wales and Scotland you can also take it in Welsh and Gaelic respectively. No other languages are supported.

The test should be passed by the candidate BEFORE applying for citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Make sure you satisfy all other requirements before applying.

Useful telephone numbers:

British Citizenship Helpline: 0845 010 5200
ILR Helpline: 0870 606 7766
Life in the UK Test Helpline: 0800 0154245