Guide contents
Booking and test day
  1. Test format
  2. Test fee
  3. Test ID
  4. Test validity
  5. Lost reference
Start learning
  1. First steps
  2. Settlement and citizenship
  3. Values and principles
  4. What is the UK?
History
  1. History overview
  2. Early Britain
  3. The Middle Ages
  4. Tudors and Stuarts
  5. A global power
  6. The 20th century
  7. Britain since 1945
Society
  1. Modern society
  2. The UK today
  3. Cities and currency
  4. Religion
  5. Customs
  6. Sport and culture
  7. Leisure
  8. Culture facts
Government and law
  1. Government overview
  2. Democracy
  3. Constitution
  4. Government
  5. International institutions
  6. Law and courts
  7. Rights and tax
  8. Community role

Study guide

Cities, currency and population

In short

Know the money, the language names, and that England has most of the UK population.

Test atoms

Learn these as compact test facts. Then practise recognising the same fact in different wording.

Atom Watch out for
The currency of the UK is pound sterling Do not answer euro.

Spot the correct statement

The real test often asks you to recognise a correct sentence, not write an answer from memory. You should be able to spot statements like these:

  • The currency of the UK is pound sterling.

Money

Fact What to remember
Currency pound sterling, symbol £
Pence 100 pence = £1
Coins 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2
Notes £5, £10, £20 and £50
Banknotes Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own notes. Shops do not have to accept them.

Cities

Place What to remember
Edinburgh capital of Scotland
Cardiff capital of Wales
London capital of the UK and England

Languages

Language Linked to
Welsh Wales
Gaelic parts of Scotland
Irish Gaelic some people in Northern Ireland

English also has many accents and dialects across the UK.

Population

England has by far the largest share of the UK population.

  • The UK population passed 67 million by 2021.
  • England has about 84% of the UK population, Scotland just over 8%, Wales about 5%, and Northern Ireland less than 3%.
  • The census is usually taken every 10 years.
  • Longer life expectancy and migration have contributed to population growth.
  • The UK is ethnically diverse, especially in large cities.

Equal rights

Men and women have equal legal rights in areas such as work, property, marriage, divorce and responsibility for children.

Common traps

  • Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes are valid in the UK, but shops do not have to accept them.
  • Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. Cardiff is the capital of Wales.
  • Welsh is linked to Wales. Gaelic is linked to Scotland. Irish Gaelic is linked to Northern Ireland.
  • England has by far the largest share of the UK population.
  • The census is usually taken every 10 years.

Words to recognise

pound sterling, pence, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Welsh, Gaelic, Irish Gaelic, census, population, ethnic diversity, equal society.

For country-name basics, review What is the UK?. Practise these facts in culture and traditions practice.

Quick check

Try from memory before opening the answer.

What is the UK currency called?

Pound sterling.

How many pence are in one pound?

100 pence.

Which city is the capital of Wales?

Cardiff.

Which UK country has the largest share of the population?

England.