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2026 Edition

The British Citizenship Test, Decoded.

Everything you need to know about the British citizenship test (officially the Life in the UK test) — the format, cost, pass mark, sample questions and a free 45-test practice bank reviewed May 2026.

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What is the British citizenship test?

The British citizenship test — officially called the Life in the UK test — is a 24-question multiple-choice exam required for anyone applying for British citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). All questions come from the official handbook Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition).

Format at a glance

  • 24 questions, multiple choice, single or “select two” answers
  • 45 minutes to complete
  • Pass mark: 18/24 (75%)
  • Cost: £50 per attempt
  • Taken in person at an approved UK test centre
  • Valid for life once passed

The five topics covered

Every question maps to one of the handbook's five chapters: Values & Principles, What is the UK, A Long & Illustrious History, Modern Society, and Government & Law.

How to practise

Take our two free practice tests first to benchmark yourself. If you score below 18/24, drill weak topics in our training mode and revisit our cheat sheets for the dates, monarchs and saints that come up most often.
FAQ

Common questions

How many questions are on the British citizenship test?
The official Life in the UK test has 24 multiple-choice questions. You must answer at least 18 correctly (75%) to pass. You have 45 minutes to complete it.
How much does the official UK citizenship test cost?
The official test costs £50 and is booked via gov.uk. Our practice platform is independent: 2 tests are completely free; £9.99 unlocks the remaining 43 plus training mode and cheat sheets — one-off payment, no subscription.
What is the pass mark for the Life in the UK test?
You need 18 correct answers out of 24 — that is 75%. Our practice tests use the same scoring so you can benchmark yourself realistically.
Is the British citizenship test hard?
It is fact-heavy rather than trick-based. Most candidates pass after 4–8 hours of practice if they use exam-format tests and a community-reviewed question bank like ours.
Which book does the test come from?
All official questions are drawn from "Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition)". Every question on our site is mapped to that handbook.
Can I take the British citizenship test online?
The official test must be sat in person at a registered test centre. You can however practise online for free on this site — we replicate the exact 24-question format.
How long is my Life in the UK test pass valid?
A pass is valid for life — you only need to take it once. You will use it to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British citizenship.
Are these the real exam questions?
No — and no honest site has them, because the official question pool is confidential. Our questions are written in the exact same format and difficulty by people who recently sat and passed the test, and reviewed monthly.
Ready to practise?

2 tests free. Unlock 43 more for £9.99.

One-off payment. No subscription. Per-question explanations, infinite training mode, six cheat sheets.