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The Life in the UK test: format, pass mark, cost and how to book

The Life in the UK test is the knowledge test you must pass to apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) or British citizenship. This page has the facts you need, in the order you need them.

The format

  • 24 multiple-choice questions, answered on a computer at a test centre.
  • 45 minutes. Most people finish in 15 to 20.
  • Pass mark 75%: at least 18 of 24 correct.
  • Some questions have two correct answers. Some are true or false. Read each one twice.
  • The questions are drawn at random from the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition). Nothing outside the book is asked.
  • The test is in English. In Wales you can take it in Welsh; in Scotland, in Scottish Gaelic.
  • You get the result at the centre, right after the test.

Who must take it

  • Applicants for settlement or citizenship aged 18 to 64.
  • You are exempt if you are under 18, aged 65 or over, or have a long-term physical or mental condition that a doctor confirms.
  • You take it once. A pass does not expire, so a pass for settlement also counts for citizenship later.

Cost and booking

  • The fee is £50 per attempt.
  • Book online on GOV.UK, at least 3 days before the date you want. You choose from the test centres across the UK.
  • You need an email address, a debit or credit card, and an accepted photo ID: a passport, a biometric residence permit or card, a UK photo driving licence, or a travel document.
  • Bring the same ID you booked with. Without it you cannot sit the test and you lose the fee.
  • Arrive early. You cannot bring notes, a phone or a bag into the test room.

If you fail

  • You can rebook after 7 days. You pay the fee again.
  • There is no limit on attempts. The result letter tells you which sections to work on.

What the test covers

The handbook has five chapters. Questions come from all of them, but the weight is uneven: history is the biggest chapter and most of the dates, names and numbers come from it.

  1. The values and principles of the UK — the fundamental principles of British life and your responsibilities as a resident.
  2. What is the UK? — the four nations, Great Britain versus the UK, the Crown dependencies and overseas territories.
  3. A long and illustrious history — from the Stone Age to today: Romans, the Middle Ages, the Tudors and Stuarts, the Industrial Revolution, the two world wars and post-war Britain.
  4. A modern, thriving society — population, religion, festivals, sport, arts, and everyday culture.
  5. The UK government, the law and your role — the monarchy, Parliament, elections, devolution, the courts and jury service, and how to take part in your community.

How to prepare

Read the handbook once, then spend your time on questions. What you can recall passes the test, not what you have read. Two things make the difference:

  • Ask every question you get wrong again, spaced out, until you answer it right from memory three times. That is the whole idea behind Until It Sticks.
  • Sit mock exams in the real format: 24 questions, 45 minutes, pass at 18. A mock a week tells you if you are ready.

A plan around your test date means you never cram. With 404 questions and a date a month away, that is about 15 new questions a day, 15 minutes.

Start here

Test rules and the fee are set by the Home Office. Check GOV.UK before you book. Last reviewed 2026-08-27.