Taking the test

What will happen when I arrive at the test centre?
On arrival at your test centre, the test supervisor will record your full name, date of birth, nationality, country and place of birth, postcode, Home Office reference, and your purpose for taking the test. Your photographic ID will be checked and you will have to pay for your test (unless you have paid for it previously). You will then be logged on to a computer and will have time to complete a practice test on your computer before you begin the Life in the UK Test. The test supervisor will tell you when to begin your test and how long you have to complete it.

What will I be tested on?
The test is computer-based and is a series of 24 questions. It is based on 'Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship'.

It is important that you read the second edition of 'Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship'. This is the only official handbook for the Life in the UK test.

In order to be familiar with the test experience and to ensure you are as prepared as possible for the questions you should also read Life in the United Kingdom: Official Citizenship Test Study Guide and Passing the Life in the UK Test: Official Practice Questions and Answers. All these titles are available as instantly downloadable PDFs which is ideal if you need to start revising today. TSO have also created value packs so you can purchase these items together and receive a discount. Please visit www.tsoshop.co.uk/LIFE for more information.

Will the test be relevant to the part of the UK I live in?
Most of the test questions will be about life in the UK, as described in the 'Life in the United Kingdom' handbook. The test will also include a number of questions which ask you about the part of the UK you live in - England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

How do I prepare for my test?
You should study chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the second edition 'Life in the United Kingdom' handbook very carefully.

The Stationery Office are the only official publishers of the Home Office publications. All content found in their Life in the UK publications is the official source material. Please visit www.tsoshop.co.uk/LIFE for more information.

Also, look at the Prepare for the test section of this website. If you do not have a computer at home and you live in England, contact UK online for details of local centres providing computer and internet access. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, most local libraries offer free or low-cost computer and internet access.

Think carefully before purchasing any 'study guides' for the Life in the UK test that can be found in bookshops and on the internet. The guides have not been officially approved, even though some may suggest that they are. As a result they may not provide the support you require. Some may even mislead you by suggesting that you memorise answers to questions that aren't genuine and are very different to the ones you will be asked in your test.

The Stationery Office are the only official publishers of the Home Office publications.

How long does the test last?
You will have 45 minutes to answer 24 questions. This gives you plenty of time to choose your answers and check them again before the end. You do not need to rush to finish the test quickly; remember to use all of the time that you are given. If you have certain medical conditions, you may be allowed more time. You must tell the test centre of any medical conditions when you book your test.

What types of question are there?
Visit the Navigation tutorial to practise finding your way around the test system and answering the different types of question. Remember, you can do the tutorial as many times as you want. You should feel comfortable about answering questions on the computer. You can also do a practice test at your test centre before you take the Life in the UK Test.