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

Before you book

The Exam

In short

The test has 24 multiple-choice questions. You have 45 minutes. You need 18 correct answers to pass.

Jump to common questions about ID, booking and results

Before you book

Check these points first:

  • whether you need the test
  • what the test covers
  • the official booking website
  • the ID you will use
  • what to bring on test day

What the test covers

The test questions are based on the official Guide for New Residents.

You do not need to remember dates of birth or death. Focus on event dates, names, places, institutions and the meaning of important terms.

The questions are not the same for every person in the room.

Short quiz boxes and quick checks are useful, but they are not enough on their own. Questions can come from across the learning material.

Who needs the test?

You usually need to pass the test if you are applying for:

  • British citizenship
  • settlement in the UK, also called indefinite leave to remain or ILR

You usually do not need the test if you:

  • are under 18
  • are 65 or over
  • have already passed the test for an earlier application
  • have a long-term physical or mental condition and give the required medical evidence

Check the official GOV.UK guidance before you book. Exemption rules and evidence requirements can change.

Booking the test

Book through the official GOV.UK booking service.

GOV.UK lists the standard test fee as £50. You must book online at least 3 days in advance. Some appointment types can cost more. Read Life in the UK test fee before you pay.

The test is taken at a registered test centre. GOV.UK says there are over 30 test centres in the UK.

You can use our Life in the UK test centre locations page to see the main locations, but always confirm the exact address in the official booking service and your booking email.

To book, you need:

  • an email address
  • a debit or credit card
  • an accepted form of ID

The name on your booking must match the name on the ID you use to book.

ID and test day

Use the same ID method you used when booking. If you used a physical document, bring the original document. Do not bring a copy or screenshot.

If you have an eVisa, GOV.UK says to use a share code as evidence of your identity.

Your photo is taken on the day. If you bring the wrong ID, or refuse the photo, you cannot take the test and you will not get a refund.

Use the Life in the UK test ID checklist before you book if you are unsure about your ID method. Use the current official identification requirements as the final source before you travel.

The test is usually in English. Special arrangements may be possible for Welsh or Scottish Gaelic. Follow the current booking instructions if you need language or accessibility support.

What happens after the test

If you pass, you get a unique reference number. You need this number for your citizenship or settlement application.

If you fail, you can rebook. You have to pay each time.

If you already passed the test for an earlier settlement application, you usually do not need to take it again for citizenship. Read Life in the UK test validity for certificate, reference number and citizenship-after-ILR details.

If you cannot find your old pass letter or reference number, read Lost Life in the UK test certificate or reference.

Before test day

Use this checklist:

  • Book through GOV.UK, not a copycat website.
  • Use the same ID method for booking and test day.
  • Do not rely on a UK driving licence.
  • Check the current ID rules before you travel.
  • Keep the reference number you get after passing.

For the application context, read Settlement and citizenship.

Common questions

How many questions are in the test?

The test has 24 multiple-choice questions.

How many answers do you need to pass?

You need 18 correct answers. That is 75%.

How long is the test?

The time limit is 45 minutes.

What should you bring to the test?

Use the same ID method that you used to book the test. Check the current GOV.UK accepted ID rules before test day.

Do you need proof of address?

The current booking page lists accepted ID methods. It does not ask for separate proof of address.

Does an eVisa share code count as an Immigration Status Document?

If you have an eVisa, use a share code as evidence of your identity.

A UK driving licence is not in the current accepted ID list. Check the official identification requirements before you book.

Can you take family members or children?

No. GOV.UK says you cannot bring children or other family members with you to the test centre.

What happens if you fail?

You can rebook as many times as you need, but you must pay each time.

Where should you book?

Use the official GOV.UK booking service. It is the only official government service for booking the test.

Do the questions come from the official guide?

Yes. GOV.UK says you are tested on information from the official Guide for New Residents.

Do you need to remember birth and death dates?

No. Learn important event dates instead.

Does a pass expire?

No. Once you pass, the result does not expire.

Read Life in the UK test validity for the full answer.