How long is the Life in the UK test?

How long is the Life in the UK test?

The test itself lasts 45 minutes. Plan for up to 2 hours at the test centre in total, because there are checks before you start.

Those 45 minutes are for 24 multiple choice questions, answered on a computer.

How many questions are in the 45 minutes?

There are 24 multiple choice questions. That is a little under 2 minutes for each one.

Spend less time on the easy questions, and you keep minutes for the harder ones. Go through once, answer what you know and come back to the rest. If you have time at the end, read your answers again.

How early should you arrive?

Arrive at the time in your confirmation email. That time is at least 30 minutes before the test starts. The email gives you the time, so use that one, not a guess.

Do not arrive just on time, because the checks before the questions take time.

What happens before the test starts?

The staff check your ID. The name on it must match your booking exactly. Then the centre takes your photo. If you refuse the photo, you cannot sit the test.

Next you put your things away. You cannot take a phone, a watch, notes or the handbook into the room. The centre has lockers. Smart devices, including smart glasses, are stored too.

Then you go in and sit at a computer. This is why the visit can take up to 2 hours, even though the test is 45 minutes.

Children and family cannot come inside with you. Plan for them to be somewhere else.

What happens after the 45 minutes?

You are told pass or fail on the day. If you made notes during the test, you hand them in. You cannot take them out.

An email with your unique reference number, the URN, comes after the test. You get it whether you pass or fail. If you pass, you put the URN on your citizenship or settlement application.

What if you are late?

Being late is a risk. There is no refund if you arrive late, so you lose the fee. Leave early, check the route in advance and choose a centre you can reach without stress.

When you book, you choose the centre. Think about travel time from your door, not just distance on a map. A direct route you know is better than a short one you do not.

How should you plan the day?

Plan the day around the full 2 hours, not just the 45 minutes. Do not book anything important straight after. Eat before you go, so you feel calm and clear.

The day before, do a light review and go to bed early. A rested head remembers more than a tired one that studied until midnight.

How can you practise the timing?

Time yourself. Take a free practice test with a timer set to 45 minutes, in a quiet room, with your phone away. Notice which questions slow you down.

Then read what happens on the day of the Life in the UK test for the full order of events. Also see how many questions are in the test to plan your time for each question.

The first handbook chapter, on values and principles, has a short section about the test.

Check yourself

• How many minutes is the test, and how long should you keep free for the whole visit?
• At what time will you arrive, and where is that written?
• What will you do with your phone and watch before you go in?