Life in the UK Test 2026: what you need to know

The test at a glance

• 24 multiple-choice questions.
• 45 minutes.
• Pass mark: 75%, which means 18 correct answers.
• Fee: £50 for each attempt.
• Booked online at least 3 days in advance, at one of over 30 test centres in the UK.
• All questions come from the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents.

Who needs to pass it

People applying for settlement in the UK (indefinite leave to remain, ILR) or for British citizenship may need to pass the test. Check the guidance for your own application on gov.uk.

You do not need to take it if you are under 18, aged 65 or over, have already passed it, or have a long-term physical or mental condition supported by an exemption form or a doctor's letter.

What the questions are about

The handbook has five chapters, and questions can come from any of them:

• The values and principles of the UK.
• What is the UK?
• A long and illustrious history: from the Stone Age to modern Britain, including Magna Carta, the Habeas Corpus Act and the world wars.
• A modern, thriving society: religion, festivals, sport, arts and culture.
• The UK government, the law and your role.

How to prepare

Read the handbook chapter by chapter, practise with exam-style questions after each chapter, then take full 24-question mock tests under the 45-minute timer. Most people who fail run out of knowledge of dates and names, not time, so review the questions you get wrong.

The test itself is in English. If English is not your first language, studying the explanations in your own language first and then practising in English helps you understand and remember the facts.