Frequently asked questions

The Life in the UK Test is a computer-based test of 24 questions, taken in 45 minutes at an approved test centre. It covers British traditions, customs, history, government and law, and every question is based on the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. You may need to pass it as part of an application for British citizenship or settlement (indefinite leave to remain).

Book through GOV.UK at gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test, the only official government service for booking the test. You will need an email address, a debit or credit card and an accepted ID, and the name you book with must match your ID exactly. Each person books separately. This website is independent and cannot book tests for you.

A standard booking costs £50, and you pay again for every attempt. Optional extras cost more: Super Priority (a slot within 24 hours) is +£30, short notice (24 to 72 hours) is +£25, out of hours (outside 10:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday) is +£25, and Sunday tests are +£25. These extras are why some people see £75 or £80 at checkout.

No. This is an independent, free study website. We are not affiliated with GOV.UK, the Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration or the company that runs the test, and we cannot book tests. To book the real test, use gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test only.

The test has 24 questions. You must score 75% or more to pass, which means at least 18 correct answers. Our mock exams use the same format so you can practise under the same conditions.

You have 45 minutes to answer the 24 questions. Plan to spend longer at the test centre itself, because your ID is checked, you have a security check and your photo is taken before you start. Our mock exam includes a 45-minute timer so you can practise your pacing.

No. The official test is taken in person at an approved test centre, not online or at home. The only test centre outside the UK is for serving members of the British Armed Forces and their dependants. You can, however, practise online on this website for free.

GOV.UK says there are over 30 test centres in the UK, and you choose one when you book. The list at the bottom of this page links each centre to its official page. Always confirm the address and arrival time in your booking email before you travel.

If you have an eVisa, you book with a share code from your UKVI account. Otherwise use a valid passport, a valid EU, Swiss, Icelandic, Liechtenstein or Norwegian ID card, a valid Home Office travel document with a photo, or a BRP or BRC. Bring the same original ID you booked with, because a copy or screenshot will not be accepted and you will not get a refund if you are turned away.

No website can show you the real test questions, because the official questions are not published. Our questions are exam-style practice questions that cover the topics in the official handbook, so they help you learn the material and get used to the format. Treat them as practice, and learn the handbook content rather than memorising answers.

Yes. This website lets you practise the Life in the UK test on the web for free, with no sign-up and no payment. You can take timed mock exams, work through 17 exams, practise by handbook chapter, flag questions to retake later, and see your readiness score. Your progress is saved on your own device.

GOV.UK says you can rebook the test as many times as you need, and you pay the fee each time. The GOV.UK guidance does not set a waiting period between attempts, so be wary of sites that claim a fixed wait. You still need to book in the normal way, with at least 3 days' notice unless you pay for a short-notice slot.

GOV.UK says you will only be tested on information from the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition. It has five chapters: values and principles, what the UK is, history, modern society, and government, law and your role. As of 8 October 2026 no newer edition has been published. Use the Learning Materials section of this website alongside the book.

You do not need to take the test if you are under 18, are 65 or over, have passed it before, or have a long-term physical or mental condition. For the medical exemption you must provide the GOV.UK exemption form or a doctor's letter. Check the GOV.UK page for your own situation before you decide.

You need to pass it once. If you passed it for your settlement (ILR) application, you do not need to take it again for citizenship. Keep your pass reference number safe, because the Home Office uses it to check your result.

Yes. People also call it the UK citizenship test, the naturalisation test or the UK nationality test, but the test you book and take is the Life in the UK Test. Citizenship applicants also need to meet the English language requirement, which is separate.

PSI, the company that runs the test, says it emails your result and a unique reference number (URN) within 10 minutes of you finishing, and the result also appears in your Life in the UK account. If you pass, you need the URN for your citizenship or settlement application. If you passed before 17 December 2019, you will have a letter with a test reference ID instead.

GOV.UK does not publish an expiry date for a pass, and it says you do not need to retake the test if you have passed it before. So a previous pass can normally be reused for a later application. If you have lost an old pass letter, check the GOV.UK guidance for what to send with your application.

Yes, you can cancel or rearrange your test through your Life in the UK account. You get a refund only if you cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test. There is no refund if you cancel within 3 days, arrive late, bring the wrong ID or are ill on the day.

You arrive at the time in your booking email, your ID is checked, you go through a security check and your photo is taken. Phones, watches and notes go into a locker, and you cannot bring children or other family members. The test starts with a few unscored practice questions so you can get used to the computer system.

The format, fee and handbook had not changed as of 8 October 2026. Two practical changes apply: from 1 October 2026 headphones are only available through special arrangements, and expired BRPs can only be used for tests taken before 31 December 2026. The government has asked for views on possible reforms, but no new test or handbook has been published.

The format is simple, but many questions ask for specific dates, names and numbers, so you do need to learn the material. There is no official study time. A good guide is to score comfortably above 18 out of 24 in several full mock exams and to have no weak chapters. Our readiness score shows you exactly that.

The test is in English. You can ask for Welsh or Scottish Gaelic through special arrangements, but only at test centres in Wales or Scotland. No other languages or translations are offered in the official test.

From 1 October 2026 headphones are no longer a standard test aid. They are only available through special arrangements for a disability or medical condition, and you must request them in advance. Other arrangements, such as a reader and scribe or wheelchair access, can also be requested through the booking service.

Yes to both, with conditions. An expired BRP or BRC can be used if your test is no later than 24 months after the card's expiry date and before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. If you have an eVisa, you book with a share code, and the booking service says it must begin with the letter S.

The standard fee is £50. You pay more if you choose a paid extra: Super Priority (+£30), short notice (+£25), out of hours (+£25) or Sunday (+£25). Check your basket before paying, and book only through GOV.UK, because some unofficial sites add their own charges.

For British citizenship and most settlement routes, yes. Passing the Life in the UK Test is one requirement, and proving your English is a separate one, usually with an approved English test, an English-taught degree, or being a national of a majority English-speaking country. Check the GOV.UK guidance for your route.

No. People search for the Life in the UK Test under many names, including Life in Britain test, Life in England test and Life in the United Kingdom test. They all mean the same test, which covers the whole of the UK.