Those pursuing Permanent Residence must meet a range of requirements, one of which is passing the Life In The UK Test which quizzes an individual’s knowledge on British society and what is to be expected of life residing in the UK should an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) be granted. The Life in the UK Test is also one of the main requirements for becoming a British Citizen and is necessary for settling in the UK. Passing the test will complete one of the requirements which will form part of your application to the Home Office.
Preparing for the Life in the UK Test
It is essential to ensure that you are prepared for the test as each attempt will cost you financially. There is a wide range of resources available and it is easier than ever to properly study and prepare for the test. To increase your chances of passing the test, we would recommend studying from the official guidebook: Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide For New Residents. This guidebook covers the subject matters that will appear in the test with several informational resources provided by the publisher. Familiarity with the contents of this handbook will offer you a great base when taking the Life in the UK Test.
Additionally, there are online resources such as quizzes and mock tests. Each quiz has 24 questions and is timed as if it were a real test. It offers a comparable experience with similar questions, so when it comes time to complete your Life in the UK Test you will have already experienced a similar test under the same timed conditions.
Booking the Life in the UK Test
Before booking your Life in the UK Test, make sure that you are prepared and have carefully read several of the resources available to you. We strongly recommend that you also complete practice quizzes regularly prior to the test to ensure that you are prepared for the test’s format and conditions.
Once you feel that you are ready, you can book the Life in the UK Test through the following Home Office web page: https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test. You will be able to choose between the 30 test centres available in the UK.
Attending the test
Once you have booked your test you must first find out where your test centre is and you must also make sure that you have an acceptable form of ID. Accepted forms of ID are as follows:
- valid passport
- valid travel document with a photo (you cannot use an emergency travel document)
- biometric residence permit
- biometric residence card
A photo will be taken on the day of the test to confirm that you match your ID.
Once you are in the test centre and are ready to take the test, here is what to expect; there will be 24 multiple choice questions and you will have 45 minutes to complete the exam. The questions are randomly selected from a larger list of questions so you should take several practice tests and ensure that you are well versed in the information provided through official resources. In order to pass your test, you are required to achieve at least 75% which equates to 18 out of 24 correct answers.
Exemptions from taking the Life in the UK Test
In certain cases, it would be unfair to expect an individual to be able to pass the Life in the UK Test. In very rare circumstances, individuals may be exempt from taking the test as a result of a clear inability or disadvantage that would affect their chances of passing the test. For example, if you meet one of the following criteria then you may be eligible for an exemption:
- Under the age of 18 on the date of application
- Over the age of 65 on the date of application
- Have a long term illness or disability that prevents an individual from taking the test (e.g. a person is deaf and without speech)
How QC Immigration can help you
Our team can offer expert guidance and advise you on some of the best resources available to increase your likelihood of passing the test. We can also assist with other requirements as part of your Indefinite Leave to Remain application or British Citizenship application. For more on the assistance that we can offer to help you gain access to the UK, contact our team by email or by phone.
FAQs
How much does the Life in the UK Test cost?
The test itself will only cost £50. You may also wish to consider the additional costs that may be necessary to assist you in passing the test. This could include costs for resources such as handbooks and guides as well as assistance from tutors and online courses that will help outline the specifics of the test.
As you must pay for every test, it is beneficial to pass on your first attempt. In order to ensure a high likelihood of this, it is advisable to invest in the resources that are available to you.
What happens if I fail the Life in the UK Test?
Thankfully there is no limit on how many times that you can take the Life in the UK Test. You must consider however that each test attempt will cost additional time and finances alongside resources for other key areas of your application towards ILR or citizenship.
Would I have to retake the test for further applications?
Once you have passed the test, you will not have to retake it. This includes when applying for further applications. For example, if you have completed and passed the test while working towards Indefinite Leave to Remain, you will not have to take it again as a part of the requirements when applying for British Citizenship.
(For the avoidance of doubt, please note that QC Immigration has no affiliation with the Home Office. The information provided on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is correct at the time of publishing.)
