Life in the UK test

1. Book the Life in the UK Test

You must book your Life in the UK Test online at least 3 days in advance. It costs £50.

There are around 60 test centres in the UK - choose one of the 5 closest to where you live.

If the centre isn’t close to where you live, you won’t be allowed to sit the test and you won’t get a refund. You must bring proof of your address to the test.

Prepare for the test

You’ll be tested on information in the official handbook for the Life in the UK Test - you should study this book to prepare for the test.

You’ll have 45 minutes to answer 24 questions about British traditions and customs and minimum to pass - 75%

Test Life in the United Kingdom A Guide For New Residents (3rd edition) 2016 valid with 2017,2018,2919,2020

Online test practice - for free - training

2. Book your Life in the UK test

Each person who wants to take a test will need to book separately.

To book your test you will need:

• Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). If you do not have a valid BRP, you can use your passport.Other acceptable forms of photo ID.O
• Details of your address and postcode
• A debit or credit card
• Your email address
• Details of any special requests you have

At your test you will need to prove your identity and address. If you fail to do so you will not be able to take the test and will not get a refund.

What to expect on the day of the test (We will also show you this information after you have booked your test)

3. Accepted forms of ID

You can use one of the following as ID to book the test:

• passport - it can be out of date
• UK photocard driving licence - full or provisional
• convention travel document (CTD), certificate of identity document (CID) or stateless person document (SPD)
• EU identity card
• immigration status document endorsed with a UK residence permit on a passport with a photo - it can be out of date
• biometric residence permit

Check the ‘Identification requirements’ document to make sure the ID you have is acceptable.

Email nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk for help if you don’t have any of these documents.

The name you give on your test booking must be an exact match with the name on the ID you use to book the test.

You must include any middle names on the booking form or your test will be rejected and you won’t get a refund.

If you have a disability

You can make special requests when you book your test, for example if you have a disability and need extra equipment or help accessing the centre.

Get help

Contact the Life in the UK Test Helpline if you need help with your booking.

When you don’t need to take the test

You don’t need to take the test if you:

• are under 18 or over 65
• have passed it before - for example, if you’re applying to become a citizen and already passed it as part of your settlement application
• have a long-term physical or mental condition - you must provide either a form or letter from a doctor confirming your physical or mental condition

There will be no change to the rights and status of EU nationals living in the UK, nor UK nationals living in the EU, while the UK remains in the EU.

4. What happens at the test

You have 45 minutes to answer 24 questions based on the Life in the United Kingdom Test.

You can’t bring children or other family members with you to the centre.

What to bring to your test

You must bring the same ID that you used to book the test.

You must also bring proof of your address that has your name and post code on it. It must be dated within 3 months of the day of your test. This can be a:

• gas, electricity or water bill
• Council Tax bill
• letter from the Home Office with your name and address on it
• UK photocard driving licence
• bank or credit card statement

Bank statements must be an original statement printed by your bank. If you don’t usually get paper statements, you can ask your bank for one. These statements must be stamped by the bank branch that gave you it.

If you don’t bring the correct documents you won’t be able to sit the test and you won’t get a refund.

If you pass the test

You must score 75% or more to pass the test.

You’ll get a ‘pass notification letter’. You must send the original with your citizenship or settlement application to prove you passed.

You’ll only get one copy of the letter - you can’t get a replacement.

Call the Home Office if you’ve lost your pass letter. You won’t get a new one but they’ll tell you what to do.

If you fail the test

You must wait 7 days before taking the test again, but you can take the test as many times as you need to. You need to book and pay again each time.

5. Cancellations, refunds and complaints If you can’t go to the test that you booked

You must cancel your test if you can’t make it.

You’ll get a refund if you cancel your test 3 days or more before the date of the test.

How to cancel

Sign into your Life in the UK account.

Select ‘Confirmed tests’.

Select ‘Cancel tests’.

If you’re eligible for a refund due to cancellation, the £50 fee will be refunded to the card you used to book the test - you don’t need to contact UK Visas and Immigration.

You can then book a test on another date.

Ask for a refund

You can ask for a refund if the test centre cancels the test.

You can’t ask for a refund for any other reason, for example if you brought the wrong ID, you were ill, you were late or you didn’t bring the right documents.

You must apply for a refund within 3 months of the test date.

Download and fill in in the refund request form. Send it to the address on the form.

Make a complaint

Contact learndirect to make a complaint.

You can also fill in a complaint form. Post it to the address on the form.

You’ll get a response within 10 working days.

You must send your complaint within 3 months of the test date.