The test
The Life in the UK test
The Life in the UK test is a computer test for people who apply for British citizenship or for settlement in the UK. It has 24 multiple choice questions, all taken from one handbook. This page gives you the facts on one screen and tells you how to get ready.
The test in four facts
- 24 questions
- Multiple choice, on a computer. The 24 questions differ from person to person at a sitting. The booking service says the test begins with a few practice questions that are not scored.
- 18 right to pass
- The pass mark is 75 percent, which is 18 of the 24 questions. You can get six wrong.
- 45 minutes
- That is the time for the whole test.
- Result on the day
- You are told pass or fail on the day. An email with your unique reference number arrives within 10 minutes, whether you pass or fail.
What does it cost?
The test costs £50 each time you sit it. You pay by card when you book. Some slots cost extra: a Sunday slot, a slot outside core hours, or a slot at short notice.
How do you book?
You can only book online. Start on the gov.uk page for the test, then use the Start now button. You need an email address, a debit or credit card and one accepted form of ID. Book at least 3 days ahead, or sooner with a paid extra. More than 30 centres run across the UK, and you choose one when you book.
Book the test on gov.ukSimply Pass does not book tests.
What ID do you bring?
Bring the original ID you used to book. The name on your booking must match it exactly. Accepted ID includes a valid passport, an eVisa share code, a valid photo ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, and a valid photo travel document. A biometric residence permit or card is accepted within a time limit. Staff take your photo on the day. If your ID is wrong, you cannot take the test and the fee is not refunded.
Which language is the test in?
The test is usually in English. You can ask for Welsh at a test centre in Wales, or Scottish Gaelic at a test centre in Scotland, through the Special Arrangements step when you book.
What do you need to study?
One book: Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition. gov.uk says you will only be tested on information from it. The handbook says the questions draw on every part of the book. It has five chapters, and the history chapter is the longest.
How does practice with Simply Pass work?
Take a full mock with 24 questions and a 45-minute clock, and see your score on 24 squares with the pass line at 18. After each question you read a short explanation in plain English. After each mock we show your weakest chapter, so you know what to practise next. You can also practise one chapter at a time. Each set shows when we last checked it against the handbook.
Start a free mock testThe free mock needs no account. Every mock and every chapter set is £9.99.
Questions about the test
- How many questions are on the Life in the UK test, and how many must I get right?
- The test has 24 multiple choice questions. You need 18 right answers to pass, which is 75 percent.
- How long do you get for the test?
- You get 45 minutes for the whole test.
- How much does the test cost?
- The test costs £50 each time you sit it, paid by card when you book. Some slots, such as Sundays, cost extra.
- Which languages can you take the test in?
- It is usually in English. You can ask for Welsh at a centre in Wales, or Scottish Gaelic at a centre in Scotland, when you book.
- What does the test cover?
- It covers the whole handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition. That means the values and principles of the UK, what the UK is, history, modern society, and government, law and your role.
- Do I find out my result straight away?
- Yes. You are told pass or fail on the day, and an email with your unique reference number follows within 10 minutes.
- Are the questions the same for everyone?
- No. The handbook says the 24 questions differ from person to person at the same sitting.
- How should I practise with Simply Pass?
- Take the free mock first to see where you stand. Then practise your weakest chapter, and sit full mocks with the clock running as your test date gets closer. Aim to pass several mocks in a row on questions you have not seen.