Life in the UK test: how many questions, time and pass mark

The Life in the UK test has 24 questions. You have 45 minutes to answer them, and you need 18 correct answers to pass, which is a score of 75%. Every question is based on the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition).

That's the short answer. The rest of this guide explains what those numbers mean on the day, what the questions look like, and how to use the time well.

The test in numbers

Here are the key facts in one place. They come from the GOV.UK pages about the test, checked in November 2026, apart from the language row, which comes from the handbook.

What	Detail
Number of questions	24
Time allowed	45 minutes
Pass mark	75% or more (18 out of 24)
Most you can get wrong and still pass	6
Cost	£50 each time you book
Booking	Online, at least 3 days before the test
Where	At a registered test centre (there are over 30 in the UK)
Language	English (special arrangements exist for Welsh or Scottish Gaelic)
What it's based on	The official handbook only

You take the test at the centre you chose when you booked. You can't sit it at home.

Fees and rules can change, so check the official GOV.UK page before you book.

What the pass mark really means

A pass mark of 75% sounds high, but think of it the other way round. You can get 6 questions wrong and still pass. Nobody expects you to know everything.

What matters is not dropping below 18. If you score 17, you fail, even though it's only one question short. So aim well above the line in your practice. If you are scoring 20 or more out of 24 on full practice tests, again and again, you have some room for a bad day or a tricky question.

There is no grade or extra credit for a high score. A pass is a pass, whether you get 18 or 24.

How much time you have per question

45 minutes for 24 questions gives you just under 2 minutes per question. Most questions take far less than that to read and answer. Many people finish with plenty of time left.

Time pressure is rarely the problem. Rushing is. Some practical tips:

• Read the whole question first. Small words like "not" or "TWO" change the answer completely.
• Read every option before you choose, even if the first one looks right.
• If you're stuck, make your best guess rather than spending ages on one question.
• Use the spare time to double-check each answer before you confirm it, especially the ones you guessed.

The types of question to expect

Every question is multiple choice. You don't write anything yourself. Practice materials, including the questions in our app, use three main styles, and it helps to know each one before the day.

Choose one answer

This is the most common style. You get a question and four options, and one is correct. For example, a question might ask which battle took place in a given year, or who held a certain role.

Choose two answers

Some questions ask you to pick TWO correct options from four. The word "TWO" is usually in capitals so you don't miss it. Both of your choices need to be right, so check each one on its own before you move on.

For example, a question might ask which TWO things you must show to apply for citizenship or settlement. The answer is that you can speak and read English, and that you have a good understanding of life in the UK.

True or false

You read a statement and decide whether it's true or false. These look easy, but read them carefully. One wrong word, such as a date or a number, can make a statement false.

Remember: The test has 24 questions and you have 45 minutes. You need 18 correct (75%) to pass, so you can get up to 6 wrong. Every question comes from the official handbook, and the test is taken in English at a registered test centre.

Where the questions come from

GOV.UK says you will only be tested on what is in the official handbook. That's good news: you don't need to study anything else. If a fact isn't in the handbook, it won't be in your test.

The handbook has five main chapters. Questions can come from any of them:

1. Values and principles of the UK
2. What is the UK?
3. A long and illustrious history
4. A modern, thriving society
5. Government, the law and your role

The history chapter is the longest and has the most dates and names, so many people find it the hardest. Our key dates page puts the main ones on a single page.

You can't know in advance which 24 questions you'll get, so cover every chapter rather than guessing which parts to skip.

Facts about the test itself, like how many questions it has, come from the first chapter of the handbook, in the section about becoming a permanent resident. That section also explains why the test exists: to apply for citizenship or settlement, you need to show you can speak and read English and that you understand life in the UK.

What happens after the test

If you pass, you get a unique reference number. Your citizenship or settlement application asks for this number, and it's how your pass is confirmed. Keep it safe.

If you don't pass, you can book again. There's no limit on how many times you can take it, but you pay the full fee each time. That's a good reason to practise until you're confident before your first booking.

On the day, take the actual ID document you booked with; photocopies and phone pictures of it don't count. The centre will also photograph you as an identity check. Turn up without the right ID and you won't be allowed to sit the test or get your money back.

A quick way to check you're ready

The best way to get used to 24 questions in 45 minutes is to practise in exactly that format. For a quick warm-up, try our free practice test: ten questions from the first two chapters, with the answer explained after each one. Then move on to full sets of 24 questions with a 45-minute timer.

Treat a full set like the real thing: sit somewhere quiet, put your phone away, and don't look anything up. When you finish, look at which chapters your mistakes came from, then go back to those parts of the handbook. Repeat until you're scoring comfortably above 18 every time.