The Life in the UK Test is a fixed 24-question, 45-minute multiple-choice exam that most people applying for British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain must pass. Here is exactly how it is structured, what it costs, and what it covers.
How many questions are on the Life in the UK test?
The test has 24 multiple-choice questions. Every question comes from the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition), and covers facts about British history, government, culture and daily life rather than personal circumstances or immigration rules.
What is the pass mark for the Life in the UK test?
You need 18 out of 24 correct answers to pass, a pass mark of 75%. There is no category-by-category minimum: as long as your total across all 24 questions reaches 18, you pass, regardless of which topics those correct answers came from.
How long do you have to complete the Life in the UK test?
You are given 45 minutes to answer all 24 questions at the test centre. That works out to under two minutes per question on average, so recognising facts quickly matters as much as knowing them.
How much does the Life in the UK test cost?
The official test costs £50 per attempt, booked and paid through the government’s official process at gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test. The fee is charged again for every retake, so failing and rebooking adds another £50 each time.
What topics does the test cover?
Questions are drawn from five areas of the official handbook:
- The values and principles of the UK: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and tolerance.
- What is the UK?: the UK’s constituent countries, geography, flags and regions.
- A long and illustrious history: major events and figures from Roman Britain to the modern era.
- A modern, thriving society: culture, sport, religion and everyday life in the UK today.
- The UK government, the law and your role: how the UK is governed, the legal system, and the responsibilities of a resident or citizen.
How can I prepare for the Life in the UK test?
Since the pass mark is a flat 75% across all five areas with no weak-topic minimum, the most reliable prep is broad repetition across every area rather than deep focus on just one. The RiverMap Learning Life in the UK 中文解說版 app has 831 original practice questions and 313 flashcards across all five areas, with every English question paired with a Chinese-language explanation so you understand the underlying fact, not just the correct option. Questions are written independently from publicly available facts about the UK and do not reproduce the official handbook or official test questions.
The official handbook and test booking process are published by the UK government at gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test. This app is an independent study aid, not affiliated with or endorsed by the UK Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration, or any UK government body.