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The Life in the UK test is an official government requirement for anyone applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR/settlement) or British citizenship (naturalisation). It is a 24-question multiple-choice test drawn from the official handbook, taken at an approved UKVI test centre. You have 45 minutes and must score at least 18 out of 24 to pass.

The test contains exactly 24 multiple-choice questions, each with four options and one correct answer. You have 45 minutes — roughly 1 minute 52 seconds per question — though most candidates finish well within the time limit. Do not leave any question blank; there is no penalty for guessing.

You must answer at least 18 out of 24 questions correctly — a pass mark of 75%. If you score 17 or fewer, you receive a fail notification and must rebook and pay £50 to retake. The result is pass or fail only; the test centre will not tell you which individual questions you answered incorrectly.

Each attempt costs £50, paid at the time of booking. The fee is non-refundable if you miss your appointment or cancel. If you fail, you must pay another £50 to rebook. Every free practice session on this site is one step closer to avoiding that £50 retake fee.

Not if you prepare properly — but roughly 30% of first-time candidates fail by relying on general knowledge alone. Questions are surprisingly specific: exact dates, Acts of Parliament, and key statistics all appear. Two to three weeks of daily practice using structured topic-by-topic revision is enough for most people to pass comfortably.

The test is mandatory if you are applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR/settlement) or British citizenship by naturalisation. It is also required for some spouse and partner visa routes that lead to ILR. You cannot bypass it unless you qualify for an official exemption.

Book through the official government portal at gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test. You will need a valid passport or biometric residence permit (BRP) and must book at least 3 days before your chosen date. There are over 60 approved test centres across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Bring valid photo ID on the day — no ID, no test.

Approximately 70% of candidates pass on their first attempt. The failure rate is largely driven by insufficient preparation and underestimating the specificity of historical questions. Candidates who practise with full 24-question mock sittings consistently outperform those who only read the handbook passively.

All five chapters of the official handbook are tested: (1) Values and Principles of the UK, (2) What is the UK?, (3) A Long and Illustrious History, (4) A Modern, Thriving Society, and (5) The UK Government, the Law and Your Role. History is the most heavily tested chapter, typically accounting for 8–10 of the 24 questions.

Most candidates who pass first time study for two to four weeks, spending 20–40 minutes per day. The proven approach: spend the first week practising by chapter to find weak areas, the second week doing full mock sittings, and the final days reviewing questions you consistently get wrong. This site's progress tracking shows your accuracy by topic so you always know where to focus.

You are exempt if you are under 18 years of age, aged 65 or over, or have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from taking the test (a supporting letter from your GP is required). EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals who applied successfully under the EU Settlement Scheme are also exempt.

You are told immediately — the result appears on screen when you submit. If you fail, you receive a fail notification letter for your records. You can rebook as soon as you are ready with no mandatory waiting period. Each retake costs another £50 and there is no limit on the number of attempts.

No site can legally reproduce official test questions, which are Crown copyright. Our questions are written to match the style, topic distribution, and difficulty of the real test based directly on the official handbook. Thousands of users report feeling very well prepared after practising here.

Yes — all 2000+ practice questions, chapter tests, full mock sittings, and answer explanations are completely free. No subscription, no paywall, no credit card. You can optionally create a free account to sync your progress across devices, but it is never required to start practising.