Life in the UK Test format and pass mark

The Life in the UK Test has 24 questions, a 45-minute time limit and a pass mark of 75%. Here is exactly what that means, what the questions look like and what happens after you finish.

Independent site. We are not the Home Office or the official test provider. Book your real test only on GOV.UK, the official booking service.

Life in the UK Test format at a glance

All of these facts come from the official guidance on GOV.UK.

What is the pass mark?

GOV.UK says you must score 75% or more to pass. With 24 questions, 75% is exactly 18 correct answers. So you can get up to six questions wrong and still pass. If you get seven wrong (17 correct, about 71%), you fail.

That margin sounds generous, but six wrong answers come quickly if you are unsure about dates or the details of how Parliament works. Most people who practise aim to score at least 20 or 21 out of 24 in mock tests before booking, which leaves room for nerves on the day.

How long do you get?

You have 45 minutes for 24 questions, which is almost two minutes per question. In practice most people finish well within the time, because each question is short. The danger is not running out of time but rushing. Read every option before you choose, especially for questions that ask which of two statements is correct.

What kind of questions are there?

GOV.UK does not publish sample questions, so we cannot show you the real ones. Candidates and study guides commonly describe the styles below (treat this as general guidance, not an official description). The examples are our own, written to show the style:

Choose the correct answer

A question with four options, one of which is right. For example: "Which is the capital city of Wales?" with options Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Bangor.

True or false

A statement that you mark as true or false. For example: "The Channel Islands are part of the United Kingdom." (False: they are Crown dependencies.)

Which of these statements is correct?

Two statements that look similar, where only one is right. These are where most marks are lost, because the wrong statement often changes a single detail, such as a date or a name.

Choose two answers

Some questions ask you to pick two correct options from four. Read the instruction carefully: picking only one, or picking the wrong pair, loses the mark.

Our free practice tests mainly use the first two styles, which are the easiest way to check your knowledge quickly.

What does the test cover?

GOV.UK says you will only be tested on information from the official handbook. The handbook has five chapters, and questions can come from any of them:

1. The values and principles of the UK
2. What is the UK?
3. A long and illustrious history
4. A modern, thriving society
5. The UK government, the law and your role

The history chapter is the longest, so expect a good share of questions on it. Our study guide explains how to tackle each chapter.

What happens on the day?

You bring the same original ID that you used to book, and your photo is taken to confirm your identity. You cannot bring children or other family members into the test centre. Our page on what to bring covers this in detail, including the mistakes that mean you lose your £50.

What happens if you pass?

GOV.UK says you will get a unique reference number. You need this number to complete your citizenship or settlement application, and the Home Office uses it to check that you passed. Keep it safe. People who took the test before 17 December 2019 have a letter with a test reference ID instead.

What happens if you fail?

You can rebook the test as many times as you need, but you have to pay each time. There is nothing in the GOV.UK guidance limiting how many attempts you can make. The best plan after a fail is to work out which chapters cost you marks, study them again in the handbook, and use topic practice until you are confident before rebooking.

How to use mock tests well

• Take your first mock test after you have read the handbook once, not before. It shows you where you stand.
• Do not just look at the score. Read the explanation for every question you got wrong.
• Use the "practise my mistakes" option to repeat only the questions you missed.
• Book the real test once you have passed several different mock tests in a row with a few marks to spare.

Try a 24-question mock test now

Frequently asked questions