The Life in the UK Test, explained
The statutory Knowledge of Language and Life test. You need it to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain or for British citizenship. Here is exactly what it involves.
Source: GOV.UK — Life in the UK Test. Fees and rules change; check that page before you book.
Who has to take it
You normally need to pass the Life in the UK Test if you are applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement) or for British citizenship (naturalisation). It is one half of the Knowledge of Language and Life requirement; the other half is proving your English.
You usually do not need to take it if you are under 18 or aged 65 or over, or if you have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from taking it. Exemptions are decided by the Home Office on the application, not by the test centre.
Passing the test does not by itself grant settlement or citizenship. It is one requirement among several, and your certificate is used to support a separate application.
What the test looks like
You answer 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, on a computer, at an approved test centre. You need 18 correct to pass — 75%.
The result is reported as pass or fail only. You are not told your score, and you are not told which questions you got wrong.
Every question is drawn from the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition). That handbook is the only legitimate source. The real questions themselves are not published — any app or website claiming to have the actual exam questions is misrepresenting itself.
- The values and principles of the UK
- What is the UK?
- A long and illustrious history
- A modern, thriving society
- The UK government, the law and your role
How to book
You book online through the official service and must do it at least 3 days in advance. The fee is £50, paid at the time of booking.
You will need an accepted form of photo identification, and the address on your booking must match the address on that identification. Booking anywhere other than the official service risks losing your money — there is one official booking route and it is linked below.
Book only at gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test. No third-party site can book the test for you, and this app cannot either.
What happens at the test centre
Arrive early with the same identification you used to book. You will be checked in, and personal belongings including phones are stored away from the test room.
The test itself is taken on a computer. You can move backwards and forwards through the questions and change an answer before you submit. When the 45 minutes are up the test submits itself.
You are given your result before you leave, along with a unique reference number if you passed. Keep that number — your settlement or citizenship application will ask for it.
Failing, and taking it again
There is no limit on the number of attempts, but you must wait 7 days between them and you pay the £50 fee each time. A failed attempt does not count against your application.
Because you are not told which questions you missed, the useful response to a fail is broad rather than targeted: work through the chapters you are least confident about and sit full timed mocks until you are passing them comfortably, not marginally.
How to prepare for it
Read the official handbook. It is the source of every question and there is no substitute for it — practice questions test whether you have absorbed it, they do not replace it.
Then practise under the real conditions. Answering questions untimed, one at a time, with the answer visible, feels productive and predicts very little. A timed run of 24 questions tells you whether you would pass today.
If English is not your first language, read the question in English first. The real test is English-only, so getting used to the phrasing is part of the preparation — which is why this app always shows English above the translation rather than replacing it.
About the official test
How many questions are in the Life in the UK Test?
24 questions, and you have 45 minutes to answer them.
What is the pass mark for the Life in the UK Test?
18 correct out of 24, which is 75%. The result is reported as pass or fail only — you are not told your score or which questions you got wrong.
How much does the Life in the UK Test cost?
£50, paid when you book. You pay it again for each attempt. Check GOV.UK before booking, as fees change.
How long does the Life in the UK Test certificate last?
A pass does not expire. The same pass can be used for both an Indefinite Leave to Remain application and a later citizenship application, so keep the reference number safe.
Can I take the Life in the UK Test online at home?
No. It must be taken in person at an approved test centre, on their computer, with photo identification. Any site offering to let you sit the official test from home is not legitimate.
How soon can I retake it if I fail?
After 7 days. There is no limit on attempts, but the £50 fee applies each time.
Is the test in English only?
Yes. The test is in English (with Welsh and Scottish Gaelic available at some centres). It is not offered in other languages, which is why preparing in English matters even if you study with translations alongside.
Practise in the real format
930 questions from the handbook, and a mock exam that copies the test exactly: 24 questions, 45 minutes, pass at 18.