Life in the UK test pass mark: 18 of 24 in 45 minutes

How many questions are in the Life in the UK test

The Life in the UK test has 24 questions, and you have 45 minutes to answer them. You must score 75% or more to pass, which means at least 18 correct answers, so up to 6 can be wrong.

GOV.UK sets out the format on its page about what happens at the test. The questions are based on the Life in the UK handbook, the official Guide for New Residents.

Forty-five minutes for 24 questions works out at a little under two minutes each. That is an average: you will know some answers straight away and need longer on others.

This guide covers the test itself. To check whether you need it for settlement or citizenship, see who needs the Life in the UK test. If your own situation is not straightforward, GOV.UK can help you find an immigration adviser.

The pass mark and how many mistakes are allowed

GOV.UK gives the pass mark as a percentage: you must score 75% or more. It does not turn that into a number of questions, but the arithmetic is simple. Since 75% of 24 is exactly 18, 18 or more correct answers is a pass and you can get up to 6 wrong.

Six mistakes can sound like plenty of room. In practice, one or two weak topics can use it up quickly, so aim to know the whole handbook rather than relying on the margin.

Warm-up questions and accessibility options

The official booking service's help pages say the test begins with some non-scored questions. They are there to help you get used to the style of the test and how the system works, and they do not count towards your score.

The same help pages say the test system lets you adjust the font size and the screen background colour. You are also given headphones, so you can listen to audio of the questions.

If you find reading on a screen tiring, or you take things in better by listening, it is worth knowing these options exist before test day.

What is on the Life in the UK test

GOV.UK says you will only be tested on information from the official Guide for New Residents, and that you should study it to prepare. In other words, the handbook sets the limits of what can be asked.

The Stationery Office (TSO) describes the Guide as covering:

• the process of becoming a citizen or permanent resident
• the UK's values and principles
• traditions and culture from around the UK
• the events and people that have shaped the UK's history
• the government and the law
• getting involved in your community

For which book to study and the official formats it comes in, see the Life in the UK handbook guide. To revise one subject at a time, Learn Britain's topic notes and flashcards can sit alongside the handbook, not in place of it.

Life in the UK test centres and booking

GOV.UK says there are over 30 test centres in the UK, and you choose where to take your test when you book. The official booking service's help pages add that there is one test centre outside the UK, and only serving members of the British Armed Forces and their dependants can use it.

GOV.UK says the test costs £50 and you must book online at least 3 days in advance. Book through the Life in the UK test page on GOV.UK.

The booking guide walks through the steps, the optional extras the booking service sells, and what happens if you need to change or cancel.

How you get your Life in the UK test result

The official booking service's help pages say you should get an email with your Unique Reference Number (URN) within 10 minutes of finishing the test. If your results have not arrived within 24 hours, contact the helpline.

Each test you take has its own URN. You can see all your test results in the results tab of your Life in the UK account.

More about the URN, and what happens next whether you pass or not, is in the guide to Life in the UK test results.

Practising for the test format

Knowing the numbers is different from answering 24 questions against the clock. Once you have worked through the handbook, a timed run shows how 45 minutes feels and where you still hesitate.

Learn Britain's timed mock tests follow the same shape: 24 questions, 45 minutes and 18 correct to pass. They use original practice questions, not real test questions, and a practice score is feedback on that practice rather than a prediction of your result.

After each mock, go back over every wrong answer and every correct answer you guessed. Using mock tests well explains how to turn those into a short list of what to revise next.