If you want to settle in the UK or apply for British citizenship, you will need to pass the Life in the UK test, 24 multiple-choice questions chosen randomly by a computer to be answered in 45 minutes or less. To pass the test, you must answer 18 out of the 24 questions with topics ranging from local customs and traditions to laws and the British government.
These seven tips are from Life in the UK passers surveyed and interviewed for advice to pass the exam. Too often, we get mentally blocked when doing exams, mostly due to unnecessary fear and anxiety. But if we keep a clear head, we can go past those before-exam jitters.
Each candidate is given a unique set of questions.
Questions for your exam will be generated from a database containing hundreds of questions. The computer assigned to you will randomly select the 24 questions in your exam, making the odds of you and the person sitting next to you on both sides having the same questions will be slim to none. This is utilized to protect the exam’s integrity and minimize cheating.
Invest in the study guides and practice tests.
The study guides and companion practice tests are available on Amazon, with prices ranging from 6 to 10 pounds. A free edition is also offered, though its content quality is considerably less than that of the official guides.
These are two essential tools that can help you pass the exam. The contents of the two books differ, so you should get both to gain confidence to take the test. The study guide contains official study materials based on the government’s official textbook, and the practice tests are to show you how the exam is done.
You must understand all the topics in the study guide cover to cover because the exam questions are broad in topic, ranging from dates to people’s names to government laws. Try to answer all the practice tests to increase your chances of passing.
The practice tests have a degree of difficulty greater than the actual test.
Practice questions are developed to help exam takers become better equipped to handle the real test. The results of your practice tests often show a relationship to the results you will have in the actual exam questions. It is advised you take it seriously. Good practice test scores often lead to confidence in the exam and then good test results.
You might need to brush up on your English vocabulary.
Be prepared for some terms and names that aren’t common. Some questions would require a deeper understanding of the English language. Study materials have the glossary for a reason, refer to the dictionary for words that you don’t understand and try to brush up on your historical terms. If you are not confident in reading English, try taking English classes; remember, the exam is only available in English. If you are not confident enough in your knowledge of this, there is a high probability that you will fail.
You can spend 1.875 minutes per test question.
Spend time wisely; with 24 questions and 45 minutes, you can spend almost two minutes on each question. If you know the answer already without using up the 2 minutes allotted and you are sure of the answer then proceed to the next question. If you encounter a difficult question, analyze it thoroughly, you might remember reading it in the book or answering it in the practice test, you just need to focus and analyze.
Remember that the study guides and practice tests do not supply the actual questions, just a guide of what might come out in the exam. Most of the questions are phrased or structured differently from the book. Analyze and understand the question and find the correct answer from the choices. All potential topics are found in the study guide and the practice tests. Do not rush yourself and make the most of your given time.
There might be more than one correct answer.
This is where you have the option to answer “all of the above” – provided the above options are all correct in reference to the given question. The test given is a modified multiple-choice type wherein you must select all answers that apply to the question.
Some people are exempt.
Some people are exempt from taking the test, such as those under 18 or over 65 years old or those with certain medical conditions.
