Life in the UK citizenship test

Since November 1st 2005 all those seeking naturalization will have to take the “Life in the UK” test these measures came about by the British government to encourage immigrants to get to know the history and culture of the UK.

Basically this means all applicants who wish for UK naturalization need sit an exam and successfully complete the test before their application for UK citizenship may be submitted.

If you pass the “life in the UK” test and receive your certificate, we recommend that you contact us, because Coddan have a very experienced immigration team who can assist you further in helping you settle here in the UK. Our staff are experienced in all areas of immigration and they will be able to assist you in making your application a successful one very quickly.

Who needs to take the test?

This test was brought about for all those who wish to become British citizens, so the British Government introduced this in the hope that those taking the test will be able to demonstrate that they know about life in the United Kingdom.

You have to take the test if you are applying for naturalization as a British citizen and your English is at a good enough level. If your English is not up to a good enough standard and you intend to apply for naturalization, you will have to attend combined English language (ESOL) and citizenship classes instead. ESOL and citizenship classes will help you to improve your English and you will get to learn more about life in the UK.

It is possible to find out your level of English by being assessed at a local further education college which are based in most towns through out the UK.
Currently the test is only available in English, but very soon it will be offered in Welsh and Scottish Gaelic in the future. The test will not be made available in any other languages.

Timeline

We advise you to take the test before you apply for naturalization as a British citizen, if you meet the other requirements for naturalization and If you pass the test, you will be given a letter stating that you have been successful. This is what’s known as your pass notification letter. It is advised to keep this letter in a safe place, so as not to lose it, because if you do, you'll have to take the test again. Once you have this document, we can help you submit your application for UK citizenship.

There are books which can help you study for the test, if you fail we recommend that you read through these books so as to get a better under standing of the test and the UK itself. “Life in the United Kingdom: A journey to citizenship”.

The test questions

This consists of a series of 24 questions based on chapters 2, 3 and 4 of 'Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship.' You should read chapters 2, 3 and 4 of the 'Life in the United Kingdom' handbook very well. You will get 45 minutes to answer 24 questions. You can use all of the time that is available, so you should not be in too much of a hurry. It would be good idea to review your answers too.

If It is the case that you have a certain medical condition which you may think will hinder you, you might be allowed more time. It is important to mention this when you book the test.