What are the rules of the Life in the UK test?
Last updated 23 October 2026
What are the rules of the Life in the UK test?
The test is computer based, with 24 multiple choice questions and 45 minutes to answer them. You take it in person at a test centre, with accepted ID, and you need 75 percent to pass, which is 18 of the 24 questions.
The rules are strict. A small mistake with your name or your ID can cost you the whole fee, so read this page once before you book.
What do you need to book the test?
You book online. You need an email address, a debit or credit card and one accepted form of ID. The test costs £50, and there are more than 30 test centres in the UK. You choose one when you book.
Book at least 3 days ahead. If you have an eVisa, you book with a share code from your UKVI account. You start on gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test.
For the full steps, read how to book the Life in the UK test. For the things to carry, read what to bring to the test.
Does the name on your booking matter?
Yes. The name on your booking must match the name on your ID exactly. If it does not, you can be refused the test, and you do not get your money back.
Check the spelling, the order of your names and any middle names before you pay. Do it at home, not at the desk.
What ID is accepted?
You bring the same original ID that you used to book. A copy or a screenshot is not enough. These forms are accepted:
- a valid passport
- a valid photo ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
- a valid photo travel document, but not an emergency one
- a biometric residence permit or card, if your test is no later than 24 months after the expiry date printed on it or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first
- an eVisa, shown with a share code
The centre takes your photo on the day. If you refuse the photo, you cannot sit the test.
What can you take into the room?
Very little. You cannot take a phone, a watch, notes or the handbook. Smart devices, including smart glasses, are stored away too. The centre has lockers for your things.
Headphones are no longer a standard aid from 1 October 2026. You can only use them if you have an approved special arrangement.
If you need Welsh or Scottish Gaelic, that is possible at a centre in Wales or in Scotland. Ask for it when you book.
If you make notes during the test, you hand them in when you finish.
When should you arrive?
Arrive at the time in your confirmation email. That time is at least 30 minutes before the test starts. You need this time for the ID check, your photo and the locker.
Plan to spend up to 2 hours at the centre in total. Children and family cannot come inside with you, so organise care or a friend to wait outside.
What happens when the test ends?
You are told whether you passed or failed on the day. You also get an email with your unique reference number, called the URN, whether you pass or fail. The URN shows next to your result in your Life in the UK account too.
If you pass, keep the URN safe. You write it on your citizenship or settlement application. The Home Office uses it to check your result and your photo.
If you do not pass, you can take the test again. There is no limit on attempts, and you pay each time.
What happens if you cannot go?
You can cancel or rearrange in your Life in the UK account, under "Confirmed tests". Do it at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test to get a refund to your card. Inside 3 days there is no refund.
There is also no refund if you bring the wrong ID, are ill, arrive late, miss documents or refuse the photo. If the centre cancels, ask for your money back within 3 months.
How can you be ready for the rules and the questions?
A free practice test shows you the 24-question format and how the time feels, so the real room is less strange.
The first handbook chapter, on values and principles, has a short section about the test itself, so it is a good place to start your reading.
Check yourself
- Does the name on your booking match your ID letter for letter?
- Do you know what time to arrive, and which things must go in a locker?
- Can you say the date after which a cancellation loses your fee?
Questions people ask
- Can you take a phone or notes into the Life in the UK test?
- No. You cannot take a phone, a watch, notes or the handbook into the room. The centre gives you a locker for your things.
- How early should you arrive for the Life in the UK test?
- Arrive at the time in your confirmation email, which is at least 30 minutes before the test. You can spend up to 2 hours at the centre in total.
- Can you bring someone with you to the Life in the UK test?
- No. Children and family cannot come into the centre with you.