What score do you need to pass the Life in the UK test?

You need 75 percent to pass, which is 18 of the 24 questions. The test lasts 45 minutes and costs £50.

How far ahead do you have to book the Life in the UK test?

You must book at least 3 days in advance through the GOV.UK booking service. You need an email address, a debit or credit card, and an accepted form of ID.

What happens if you fail the Life in the UK test?

You can take the test again. There is no waiting period before you can rebook, but you pay the £50 fee each time you take it.

Who is exempt from the Life in the UK test?

You do not need to take the test if you are under 18, if you are 65 or over, or if you have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement (you will need evidence, such as a letter from a doctor).

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Life in the UK Test: Format, Booking, Pass Mark & Exemptions

Last updated October 20266 min read

The Life in the UK test is the official test of knowledge of British life that most people take as part of applying for indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship. It is a computer based test taken at an official test centre: 24 questions in 45 minutes, all drawn from the official handbook, and you pass at 75 percent, which is 18 of 24. This guide covers the format, how booking works, what a pass gets you, and who does not have to take it.

Format: 24 questions, 45 minutes

Element	The test
Questions	24, multiple choice
Time	45 minutes
Pass mark	75 percent (18 of 24)
Fee	£50 per attempt
Source material	The official handbook, all five chapters
Where	An official test centre (over 30 across the UK)

Most questions ask you to choose one correct answer from four options. Some questions ask you to select two correct answers, some ask whether a statement is true or false, and some ask you to choose the correct statement from a pair. There is no listening or speaking part: the whole test is read on screen at the centre. You find out whether you passed before you leave, and a pass gives you a unique reference number that your citizenship or settlement application asks for.

The handbook is the syllabus

Every question is based on the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition). Its five chapters are: the values and principles of the UK; what is the UK; a long and illustrious history; a modern, thriving society; and the UK government, the law and your role. GOV.UK is explicit that everything in the test comes from the handbook, so studying anything else is wasted effort, and the history chapter is by far the longest, which is where most candidates lose their marks.

Booking: at least 3 days ahead

You book online through GOV.UK, and you must book at least 3 days in advance. You need an email address, a debit or credit card for the £50 fee, and an accepted form of ID; the name on the booking must match the ID exactly, and you take the same ID to the test centre. If you need extra support, for example because of a disability, you can request it when you book.

Passing, failing, and retakes

The pass mark is 75 percent: 18 or more of the 24 questions. If you do not pass, you can take the test again. There is no waiting period before you can rebook, but the £50 fee is payable on every attempt, which is why most people prepare until practice mocks are coming back as passes before they book the real test. A pass does not expire for the application it supports, so there is no reason to delay once you are ready.

Who is exempt

You do not need to take the test if any of these apply:

You are under 18.
You are 65 or over.
You have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement. This one needs evidence: an exemption form or a letter from a doctor who has been treating you.

Previous passes also count: if you have already passed the test once, you do not take it again for a later application.

About the practice questions on Solvi

The practice questions on this site are original questions written for Solvi against the official handbook, chapter by chapter, each with the handbook section it was written from shown next to its explanation. They are not official test questions: the Home Office does not publish the real questions, and any site claiming to sell them is not selling the real paper. Solvi is not affiliated with the Home Office. What practice can honestly reproduce is the format and the syllabus: four options, 24 questions, 45 minutes, pass at 18, and questions that test the same handbook facts the real test tests. One gap, stated plainly: the real test also includes a select-two-answers question type, and this practice set does not cover that type yet.

Practise under real conditions

Chapter practice sets and full mock exams: 24 questions, 45 minutes, pass mark 18 of 24.

Start practising

Sources

The test facts on this page (format, fee, booking window, pass mark, retakes, and exemptions) are the published GOV.UK position; check the GOV.UK Life in the UK test page for the current wording before you book, as fees and rules can change. The syllabus is the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition.