United Kingdom · Citizenship test
Most people need to pass the Life in the UK Test before they apply for settlement or British citizenship. It’s 24 multiple-choice questions on British history, traditions, government and law, taken on a computer at a test centre. This guide covers the format, the fee, booking and ID, and there’s a free practice test further down.
Key facts
How it works
Topics
The five principles of British life, and which countries and places make up the UK.
From Stonehenge and the Romans to the Normans, Magna Carta and the Wars of the Roses.
Henry VIII and the Church of England, Elizabeth I, the Civil War, the Restoration and the Glorious Revolution.
The Act of Union, the Industrial Revolution, votes for women, two world wars and Britain since 1945.
Capitals, money, languages, religion, patron saints and the festivals people celebrate.
Famous sports and sportspeople, music, theatre, art, literature, film and food.
The monarchy, Parliament, elections and the parliaments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Criminal and civil law, the courts, your rights, and how you take part in community life.
Free practice test
The real test has 24 questions. Here are 20 in the same style, all written from the official handbook, at the same 75% bar, so 15 right is a pass. After each answer you’ll see why it’s right, and you can ask the tutor to explain it another way. Anything you miss comes back at the end.
Sample of the test: same format, 20 questions.
Test day
Study options
Every question on the real test is based on one book: Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. It isn’t free, but it’s the one thing you really need. For extra practice, we’ve compared the official extras, apps and websites people use.
| Option | Price | Free to use | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official and free | |||
GOV.UK: Life in the UK TestOfficial · webThe Home Office’s own guide to the test: the format, the fee, accepted ID, who doesn’t need to take it, and the link to the official booking service. It has no practice questions. Check it before you book, because the rules on ID are changing in 2026. | Free | Everything | |
Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition)Official · book, eBook and audioThe official handbook from TSO, and the book every test question is based on. It comes as a paperback, a PDF or eBook, an audio CD and an audio download. Make sure you get the 3rd edition. Your local library may have a copy to borrow. | Paid (price depends on format) | - | |
Official Study Guide and Official Practice Questions and AnswersOfficial · booksTwo companion books from TSO. The study guide has practice questions for each section of the handbook, and the practice book is a set of test-style questions and answers. TSO says its practice questions aren’t the real test questions, so use them with the handbook, not instead of it. | Paid | - | |
| Apps and websites | |||
Official Life in the UK Test app (TSO)Official app · iPhone and AndroidThe only official practice app, with questions from TSO based on the 3rd edition handbook. It has mock tests of 24 questions in 45 minutes, practice by topic and a progress tracker. 3.4 stars from about 1,500 ratings on the UK App Store, lower than the unofficial apps. | £5.99 on iPhone; the full handbook inside the app is £8.99 extra | Nothing; it’s a paid app | |
Life in the UK Test: 2026 (Learnify)App · iPhoneThe most-rated unofficial app on the UK App Store: 4.7 stars from about 6,600 ratings. It has practice tests, flashcards and an audio mode, and it’s based on the handbook. It isn’t made by the Home Office. The lifetime option is the best value if you’ll use it for more than a week. | Free to download; £3.99 a week, £5.99 a month or £8.99 for life | Free to download; the listing doesn’t say which parts are free | |
Life in the UK Test 2026 (Reev Tech)App · iPhoneAn unofficial app with over 500 practice questions you can listen to, plus a study guide. 4.8 stars from about 4,000 ratings on the UK App Store. | Free to download; £1.99 a week, £4.99 a month or £9.99 for life | Free to download; the listing doesn’t say which parts are free | |
Life in the UK Test WebWebA free website with 40 practice tests, tests for each handbook chapter, and full mock exams. It doesn’t say who runs it, and it isn’t official, so treat anything that disagrees with the handbook with care. | Free | All its tests | |
| In person | |||
Your local libraryLocalAsk whether your library has the handbook or the practice books to borrow, or search its catalogue for “Life in the United Kingdom”. Make sure any copy you borrow is the 3rd edition. | Usually free | Borrowing books | |
Prices and ratings checked October 2026.
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FAQ
There are 24 multiple-choice questions and you have 45 minutes. You need 75% or more to pass, which means at least 18 correct answers. You can get 6 wrong and still pass.
As of October 2026 the test costs £50, and you pay that each time you take it. The booking site also sells optional extras, such as a test within 24 hours for £30 more. You get your money back only if you cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test.
Online, at least 3 days before your test, through the booking service linked from the GOV.UK Life in the UK Test page. GOV.UK says it’s the only official government service for booking. You need an email address, a debit or credit card and an accepted form of ID.
If you have an eVisa, you book with a share code from your UKVI account. Otherwise you can use a valid passport, a valid ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, a valid travel document with a photo, or a BRP or BRC. The name on your booking must match your ID exactly, and you bring the same original ID on the day.
No. You take it in person at a test centre in the UK. The only centre abroad is for serving members of the British Armed Forces and their dependants. You book online, though, and you can practise online as much as you like.
You can book again as many times as you need, paying £50 each time. GOV.UK doesn’t set a limit on attempts. You only need one pass, and it gives you the unique reference number you use in your application.
Which country is part of the UK but not part of Great Britain?
Northern Ireland Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales only. The UK is those three plus Northern Ireland, which is why the full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Which of these is one of the fundamental principles of British life?
The rule of law The handbook lists five fundamental principles: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and participation in community life. The rule of law means everyone, including the government, must obey the law.
When did Emperor Claudius lead the Roman invasion of Britain?
AD 43 Claudius led the Roman invasion in AD 43. Julius Caesar had tried earlier, in 55 BC, but didn’t succeed. The Romans then stayed for about 400 years.
In 1314 the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, defeated the English at which battle?
Bannockburn Robert the Bruce led the Scots to victory over the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The other three battles are in the handbook too, but they’re from different centuries and had different results.
Who designed the new St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire of London?
Sir Christopher Wren The Great Fire destroyed much of London in 1666. Sir Christopher Wren designed the new St Paul’s Cathedral that replaced the old one.
When Elizabeth I died in 1603, which king of Scotland also became king of England?
James VI In 1603 James VI of Scotland also became James I of England. This is called the union of the crowns: one king ruled both countries, though they stayed separate countries.
Which of these statements is correct?
In 1688 William of Orange invaded and James II fled In 1688 William of Orange invaded and King James II fled. This is called the Glorious Revolution. The other statements mix real events with the wrong year.
Who was the first Prime Minister of Great Britain?
Sir Robert Walpole Sir Robert Walpole was the first Prime Minister, from 1721 to 1742. The others were all Prime Ministers in the 20th century.
In which year did women get the right to vote at 21, the same age as men?
1928 In 1928 women got the vote at 21, the same as men. Ten years earlier, in 1918, only women over 30 could vote.
When is St David’s Day, the patron saint’s day of Wales?
1 March St David’s Day is 1 March. Each of the four nations has its own patron saint and day, and the test often mixes them up.
Which is the established church in England?
The Church of England The Church of England is the established, or state, church in England. The monarch is its Supreme Governor and the Archbishop of Canterbury is its spiritual leader.
What does Bonfire Night, on 5 November, remember?
The failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 Bonfire Night remembers the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and others tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and failed. People light bonfires and set off fireworks.
Which composer wrote The Planets?
Gustav Holst Gustav Holst wrote The Planets. The other three are also composers from the handbook, which is why the question is easy to get wrong.
What is the Ashes?
A series of cricket matches between England and Australia The Ashes is a series of cricket test matches between England and Australia. The other options describe other famous British sporting events.
How often must a general election be held?
At least every 5 years A general election must be held at least every five years. MPs are elected in each of the 650 constituencies.
Where does the Scottish Parliament sit?
Holyrood, in Edinburgh The Scottish Parliament sits at Holyrood in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. Each of the other places is home to a different parliament or assembly.
Who keeps order in the House of Commons during debates and must stay politically neutral?
The Speaker The Speaker is an MP chosen by the other MPs to keep order during debates. The Speaker doesn’t take sides.
How many people sit on a jury in Scotland?
15 A Scottish jury has 15 members. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a jury has 12.
Which of these is usually dealt with under civil law?
A housing dispute with a landlord Civil law settles disputes between people, such as housing, employment and debt. Criminal law covers wrongdoing against the state, like the other three options.
How old must you be to drive a car in the UK?
17 You must be at least 17 to drive a car or motorcycle. A full licence then lasts until you’re 70.