Incoming citizens are tested, through the Life in the UK Test, on how knowledgeable they are with regards to the culture and important aspects of the United Kingdom. It is important to know that this test is a prerequisite for immigrants who are interested in taking the British citizenship test or those who intend to stay in the UK indefinitely. The aim of the exam is that, in your preparation for it, you are expected to learn the culture and experiences of a modern day British citizen and that you’ll be able to successfully cope in the British community after you pass the test. Applicants who are 65 years of age and above or those who have a permanent condition that makes learning English or taking the test impossible are exempted and should ask for more information about their exemption.

The exam will be done in local test centers (for more information on the location of the local test center near your area, call 0044 (0)800 0154245) and it’s important that you bring a valid identification with photograph which will be asked before the exam. Examinees are given a practice test to help you get used to the exam and work you up for the real test. The whole test will be taken using a computer so for test takers who aren’t adept in using a mouse or keyboard, both practice test and the actual exam are available online and a staff will be assigned to assist for the duration of the exam. All instructions are very straight forward. Questions are in four different formats: true or false, correct or incorrect, choosing two out the four options and multiple choice. And as with most exams, you are not allowed to browse through any kind of material that will aid you in answering the questions in the exam. You are given 45 minutes to finish 24 questions wherein 75% or 18 answers should be correct for you to pass the exam. The time allotment for each question is estimated at 2 minutes which is more than enough time to read the question and the options thoroughly. If you find yourself with more time to spare towards the end of the exam, it is best to review the answers for the items you are least confident with. Timers are set to let you know if you’re halfway through the exam time limit and alarms for the ten and two minute markers. The whole exam experience also helps you get prepared for the British citizenship test.

Failing the test doesn’t have grave consequences so there’s no need to worry. There’s no limit in the number of times an applicant would like to retake the exam but you’ll have to wait for seven days or one week before you can take the exam again. The exam is not free and costs £34 so it’s still advisable to pass the first time you take the test so that you can move forward to taking the British citizenship test which is a requirement for immigrants before becoming a full pledged citizen.

Test questions will be based from the second edition of “Life in the UK Test: A Journey to Citizenship”. In preparing for the exam, make sure that you take the material you are reading into heart and understand the terms and facts outlined in the book. Take the opportunity of gaining all the knowledge that will be very useful for you while reviewing for the exam. Take time to read and re-read the facts and figures you encounter in the chapters and once you feel you are ready, you can take an online practice test. After passing the practice tests, you’ll know you are ready for the real thing and the British citizenship test.