Prepare for your UK Citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application. Practise now with our free mock exam containing 24 official syllabus questions.
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The Life in the UK Test is a mandatory computer-based exam set by the Home Office. It tests your knowledge of British history, values, laws, and everyday life. You must pass it before you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British citizenship (naturalisation).
The test is taken at an official PSI test centre. It cannot be completed online or at home. Once you pass, your certificate never expires — you do not need to retake it when moving from ILR to citizenship.
Not sure if you're ready to book yet? Use our ILR Eligibility Calculator to check your residency timeline first.
Here is what the official exam looks like on the day:
Our free mock test above replicates these exact conditions — 24 random questions, a 45-minute countdown, and an instant results breakdown so you can see where you went wrong.
Yes. Passing the Life in the UK Test is a legal requirement under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. It applies to most adults applying for:
It is the same test for both applications. There is no separate citizenship version. If you passed the test for your ILR application, you do not need to take it again for citizenship — simply keep your URN safe.
The test is part of the wider Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK (KoLL) requirement. You must also separately meet an English language requirement (typically CEFR Level B1 or above). The two are assessed independently.
Yes, and you should not leave it to the last minute. If you fail close to your visa expiry date, you may be unable to submit your ILR application in time, which can lead to complications with your lawful residence status.
We recommend sitting the test at least three months before your visa expires. This gives you time to retake if needed without affecting your application timeline.
You do not need to take the test if any of the following apply to you:
Note: A medical diagnosis alone is not sufficient for exemption. The Home Office expects evidence showing that your condition has a long-term functional impact that specifically prevents you from taking the exam.
All 24 questions are drawn randomly from the official Home Office handbook: Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd Edition). This is the only book you need to study. Questions cover five main areas:
Democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual tolerance and respect. Questions may test your understanding of fundamental British values and what it means to be a responsible citizen.
The geography and composition of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — including patron saints, national flowers, and the make-up of Great Britain versus the UK.
This is the most content-heavy chapter in the handbook and accounts for a significant portion of the test. Key areas include:
British culture including literature, music, art, sport, and media. Questions may cover famous British writers, sporting achievements, national holidays, and traditions such as Bonfire Night and Christmas.
How Parliament works (the House of Commons and House of Lords), the role of the Monarchy, devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the judicial system, and your rights and responsibilities as a UK resident.
Booking must be done through the official GOV.UK portal — not through third-party agents, who often charge additional fees. Here is how to book:
If you are using an eVisa (digital immigration status), you will need to generate a share code from your UKVI online account before you can complete your booking.
There are over 30 official test centres across the UK, all operated by PSI Services. During the GOV.UK booking process, entering your postcode will automatically display the nearest approved centres and their available dates.
Major test centre locations include London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. Centres are also available in many smaller cities and towns.
Always verify that the venue is listed on the official GOV.UK portal. Tests taken at unofficial locations are not recognised by the Home Office and will not count towards your application.
The official test fee is £50 per attempt. This is paid directly through GOV.UK at the time of booking and covers one sitting only. If you fail and need to retake, you must pay £50 again for each subsequent attempt.
There is no limit on the number of attempts. However, you must wait at least 7 days before booking a retake.
Given that each attempt costs £50, thorough preparation using a timed mock test makes clear financial sense. Passing on your first attempt saves both money and time.
No. The Life in the UK Test pass certificate does not expire. Once you pass, the result is valid for life and can be used for both ILR and a future British citizenship application.
This is very different from English language tests (such as IELTS for UKVI or Trinity), which expire after two years. Your Life in the UK pass is a one-time hurdle.
When you pass the test, you are issued a Unique Reference Number (URN) at the test centre. You must enter this number on your ILR or citizenship application form. The Home Office uses it to verify your result electronically. If you lose your URN, you may be required to retake the test, as the Home Office cannot always locate results without it.
Keep a photograph of your result confirmation screen, save the email, and store at least two backups of your URN in a safe place.
Yes. All official test centres offer audio voiceover support. You can request headphones so that the questions and multiple-choice answers are read aloud to you in English.
This option must be requested at the time of booking — it cannot be arranged on the day. Audio support is provided free of charge.
If you have additional needs — such as a physical disability, dyslexia, or other special educational needs — you can also request extended time or a private testing room when booking. Contact the booking service directly to discuss your requirements before you complete your reservation.
No. The official handbook — Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd Edition) — is protected by Crown Copyright and cannot legally be downloaded as a free PDF.
Be cautious of third-party websites claiming to offer a free official PDF. These are either unauthorised, outdated, or potentially altered. Using an outdated edition to study is a common reason candidates fail the exam.
You should purchase the official book from an approved government distributor in print or ebook format. It costs approximately £12.99 and is the only source the Home Office tests from.
To supplement your revision, you can download our free sample questions and ILR settlement checklist PDF below:
Each attempt costs £50 and failing close to your visa expiry can put your application at risk. Here is how to prepare properly:
There is no shortcut here. All 24 questions in the official exam are drawn directly from the 3rd edition handbook. You must read every chapter, including the history sections, which candidates often underestimate.
Reading the handbook is not enough on its own. The exam is timed, and unfamiliar phrasing can catch you out under pressure. Take multiple timed 24-question mock tests — like the one at the top of this page — until you are consistently scoring 20 or more out of 24.
After each mock test, go back through every question you got wrong. Our mock test shows you both your answer and the correct answer after you submit. Focus your re-reading on the specific handbook chapters covering your weakest areas.
A focused, structured week is usually sufficient for most candidates. Spend the first four days reading the handbook chapter by chapter, then spend the final three days doing timed practice tests and reviewing errors. Many people pass on their first attempt using this approach.
Many third-party question banks include questions on topics not covered in the official handbook. This wastes study time and creates confusion. Stick to the official 3rd edition book and practice tests based on it.
Our online exam simulator replicates the official exam conditions, selecting random syllabus questions and tracking your answers with a 45-minute countdown. You can also test your English language capabilities with our Free B2 English Mock Test.
Knowing what to expect at the test centre will help you feel calm and in control. Here is what happens on the day:
Failing is not the end of the road. There is no limit on the number of attempts, and a failed test does not go on any permanent record.
However, there are two important rules to be aware of:
The most important thing to do after a failure is to identify exactly which topics you missed. Our mock test results page shows you every question you answered incorrectly, along with the correct answer. Use this to target your revision before your next attempt.
If you fail close to your visa expiry date, speak to an immigration adviser as a matter of urgency. You may need to apply for further leave to maintain your lawful status while you prepare to retake.
In October 2025, the Home Office issued a policy statement indicating plans to update elements of the Life in the UK Test to better reflect contemporary civic life. However, as of mid-2026, no revised syllabus or new question bank has been published.
All questions continue to be drawn from the existing 3rd Edition handbook. You should study the current edition and not delay your booking on the basis of potential future changes. Our mock test questions are reviewed regularly and kept aligned with the current official syllabus.
The UK Government has also proposed Earned Settlement reforms that could extend the ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years. Use our ILR Eligibility Calculator to check how any changes may affect your timeline.
The Life in the UK Test is just one part of the ILR process. Before you apply for settlement, you also need to confirm that you have:
Use our free ILR Eligibility Calculator to confirm your qualifying date, and our B2 English Mock Test to prepare for the language requirement.
Ready to test yourself? 🇬🇧
Take our free 24-question mock test above. It mirrors the official Home Office exam — timed, randomised, and with a full mistakes breakdown at the end.
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