UK settlement, Life in the UK test
Life in the UK test practice questions, every topic
168 free practice questions in the real test style, grouped by topic. Each question has its own page with the right answer marked and a short explanation, so you can check exactly what you know and what you still need to revise.
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Why practise by topic
The official test draws questions from five themes: the UK's values, what the UK is, its history, a modern society, and how the UK is governed. In practice these show up as the topics below. Working through one topic at a time makes it easy to see which facts are already solid and which ones need another look.
History
47 practice questions
- The Battle of Hastings, when the Normans defeated the English, took place in which year?
- Who was the first woman to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
- Which document, signed in 1215, limited the power of the monarch?
- The Industrial Revolution, which transformed the UK, began in which century?
- Who was the monarch during much of the expansion of the British Empire in the 19th century?
- In which year did the Second World War end?
- Who is credited with the scientific laws of motion and gravity, published in the late 17th century?
- Which law of 1689 confirmed that the monarch could no longer rule without the agreement of Parliament?
- What name was given to the women who campaigned, sometimes through protest, for women's right to vote in the early 1900s?
- In which year did the Great Fire of London take place?
- Who is generally credited with developing the theory of evolution by natural selection, published in 'On the Origin of Species' in 1859?
- What did the Act of Parliament passed in 1807 achieve?
- The Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming is remembered for discovering what?
- In which year did the Battle of Britain, a major air campaign against the Luftwaffe, take place?
- Which monarch's break with the Roman Catholic Church led to the creation of the Church of England?
- Which event, marked each 8 May, celebrates the formal end of fighting in Europe during the Second World War?
- Which British scientist is best known for discovering penicillin in 1928?
- The London Underground, the world's first underground railway system, first opened to passengers in which century?
- In the early twentieth century, which group campaigned, sometimes using militant protest, for women to be given the right to vote?
- Which famous prehistoric monument stands on Salisbury Plain in southern England?
- Why did the Romans build Hadrian's Wall across the north of Britain?
- Which Anglo-Saxon king of Wessex is remembered for defending his kingdom against Viking invaders?
- What was recorded in the Domesday Book, ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086?
- What was the 'Black Death' that spread through Britain in the 14th century?
- The Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 brought which royal dynasty to the throne?
- During whose reign was the Spanish Armada defeated in 1588?
- Why is Henry VIII especially remembered in English history?
- What major disaster destroyed much of London in 1666?
- What happened to King Charles I at the end of the English Civil War?
- The 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 led to which two monarchs ruling jointly?
- The Act of Union of 1707 joined England and Scotland to create which state?
- Which admiral led the British navy to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805?
- For what is Florence Nightingale, active in the 19th century, best known?
- What does Remembrance Sunday, held near 11 November each year, commemorate?
- Isambard Kingdom Brunel is famous in British history as a great what?
- Which service, providing healthcare free at the point of use, was established in the United Kingdom in 1948?
- In which year did the First World War begin?
- The ship Empire Windrush, which arrived in 1948, is a well-known symbol of what event in modern British history?
- Who is widely regarded as the driving force behind the creation of the National Health Service as a government minister?
- The 1998 Good Friday Agreement was an important step in the peace process in which part of the UK?
- Which report, published in 1942, laid the foundations for the modern welfare state by identifying major social problems to be tackled?
- Approximately how many independent member countries make up the Commonwealth today?
- Who led the United Kingdom as Prime Minister for most of the Second World War?
- Women in Britain first gained the right to vote in national elections, initially with an age restriction, in the years around which conflict?
- Which 1919 treaty formally brought an end to the First World War?
- Which international military alliance, formed in 1949, does the United Kingdom belong to?
- In 1973, the United Kingdom joined which organisation, from which it later departed following a 2016 referendum?
Geography
27 practice questions
- Which of these is one of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom?
- What is the capital city of Wales?
- Which mountain is the highest in the UK?
- The flag of the United Kingdom is commonly known as:
- Which is the second-longest river in the United Kingdom, flowing through the centre of London?
- What is the name of the well-known chalk cliffs on the English coast near Dover, often the first sight of Britain for cross-Channel travellers?
- Which loch in the Scottish Highlands is famous for stories of a mythical monster?
- What is the capital city of Scotland?
- What is the capital city of Northern Ireland?
- Which is the longest river in the United Kingdom?
- Which is the largest freshwater lake in the United Kingdom by surface area?
- What is the highest mountain in Wales?
- What is the highest mountain in England?
- Which flower is the traditional national emblem of England?
- Which plant is traditionally associated with Wales and often worn on St David's Day?
- Which is the largest national park in the United Kingdom?
- What is the name of the wide tidal estuary between south Wales and south-west England, into which the River Severn flows?
- Which of the UK's four nations has the smallest population: England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland?
- Which sea lies to the east of Great Britain, separating it from continental Europe?
- What is the name of the large, low-lying wetland area of eastern England, historically drained to create farmland?
- The Giant's Causeway, a famous natural landmark of stone columns, is found in which part of the UK?
- Which city, built around the estuary of the River Clyde, is Scotland's largest city by population?
- Roughly what proportion of the United Kingdom's total population lives in England?
- Which stretch of water separates England from mainland Europe at its narrowest point, near Dover?
- Which UK city is home to the Ordnance Survey, the national mapping agency of Great Britain?
- Which sea lies between the island of Great Britain and Ireland?
- What is the name of the range of hills sometimes called the 'backbone of England', running through the north of the country?
Institutions and government
32 practice questions
- How many members of Parliament (MPs) does each constituency in the UK elect to the House of Commons?
- Where does the UK Parliament meet?
- Who is the head of state of the United Kingdom?
- How often are UK general elections normally held, at most?
- The official residence of the Prime Minister is:
- Which two chambers together make up the UK Parliament?
- Before a bill can become an Act of Parliament and pass into law, what must it receive?
- Who is responsible for running the government day to day and appointing its senior ministers?
- In which city does the Scottish Parliament sit?
- Before it was renamed the Senedd in 2020, what was the Welsh Parliament officially called?
- Where does the Northern Ireland Assembly meet?
- Who keeps order and chairs the debates in the House of Commons?
- How are civil servants, the officials who help carry out government policy, expected to work?
- What is the group of the most senior government ministers, chosen by the Prime Minister to lead key departments, called?
- At which yearly event does the monarch formally open a new session of Parliament and set out the government's plans?
- In which year was the National Health Service (NHS) first established?
- Which statement best describes how NHS care is provided to UK residents?
- Which statement best describes the UK civil service?
- What is the highest court of appeal for civil cases across the whole of the United Kingdom?
- How is the BBC mainly funded?
- Which of these helps to fund the local services provided by councils?
- Which body decides whether to bring criminal prosecutions in England and Wales?
- What is the name of the devolved parliament that makes laws for Wales?
- Roughly how many members currently sit in the House of Commons, each representing a constituency?
- Where does the Prime Minister formally answer questions from MPs on a weekly basis when Parliament is sitting?
- Which body makes laws on many matters specifically for Wales?
- Which government body is mainly responsible for collecting income tax and enforcing tax law in the UK?
- Which UK regulator is responsible for overseeing television, radio and telecoms standards?
- In 1999, new devolved bodies were created for Scotland and Wales. What did this process of transferring some powers away from central government become known as?
- The UK is described as a constitutional monarchy. What does this mean?
- Which of the following best describes the UK civil service?
- Which of these describes how members of the House of Lords typically reach their position?
Values and principles
13 practice questions
- Which of these is a fundamental principle of British life?
- In the UK, the rule of law means that:
- Which of these is something residents in the UK are expected to do?
- Which of these is a fundamental right protected in the UK, alongside the responsibilities that come with it?
- In a democracy such as the UK, how are the people who run the country chosen?
- In a democracy such as the UK, where does the authority of government ultimately come from?
- Which of these is a fundamental freedom that people in the UK are expected to respect and enjoy?
- Which of the following is a fundamental right that people in the UK are entitled to?
- Which of these best reflects the value of 'mutual respect and tolerance' expected of everyone living in the UK?
- Under UK equality law, what is true of treating someone unfairly at work simply because of their race, sex or religion?
- What must an eligible resident do before they are able to vote in UK elections?
- Which of the following is one of the fundamental principles of British life?
- Treating people equally regardless of their religion, ethnic background, or gender is an example of which British value?
Culture and traditions
27 practice questions
- The patron saint of Scotland is:
- The traditional celebration on 5 November, with fireworks, remembers:
- Which sport is associated with the annual event at Wimbledon?
- Which of these authors wrote plays such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet?
- On which date is St David's Day, honouring the patron saint of Wales, celebrated each year?
- The Eisteddfod, a festival of music, poetry and performance held annually, is a well-known tradition from which nation of the UK?
- Which annual sporting fixture, first played in 1872, is the oldest football cup competition in the world and is contested by English clubs?
- What does wearing a red poppy each November represent?
- Which poet is regarded as Scotland's national bard and wrote the words traditionally sung on New Year's Eve as 'Auld Lang Syne'?
- In which English town was the playwright William Shakespeare born?
- Which of these classic novels was written by Charles Dickens?
- The Beatles, one of the most influential bands in popular music, came from which British city?
- The Turner Prize is a prominent British award given each year in which field?
- Where is the National Gallery, home to a major collection of paintings, located?
- Who composed the well-known orchestral suite 'The Planets'?
- Which poet, closely linked to the Lake District, wrote the famous poem often known as 'Daffodils'?
- Which of these popular sports is generally considered to have originated in Scotland?
- The Grand National, one of Britain's most famous annual sporting events, is what kind of contest?
- The Six Nations Championship is an annual international competition in which sport?
- Who became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes?
- Sir Christopher Wren is best known for designing which famous London building?
- Which author created the detective Sherlock Holmes?
- On what date is St George's Day, celebrating the patron saint of England, observed?
- Which annual musical event, held at the Royal Albert Hall each summer, is known for its 'Last Night' finale of patriotic songs?
- The classic novel 'Pride and Prejudice' was written by which English author?
- Which annual carnival, held in west London over the August bank holiday, celebrates Caribbean culture with music, dance and costume?
- Which dish of battered fish served with chips, traditionally wrapped in paper, is a classic British takeaway meal?
Everyday life
22 practice questions
- At what age can you usually vote in a UK general election?
- If you are called for jury service, you are:
- Which UK institution is responsible for issuing banknotes used across England and Wales and for setting the base interest rate?
- To receive free treatment from a local family doctor, what should a resident do?
- What do you need in order to work and pay tax and National Insurance in the UK?
- What is the name given to 26 December, the public holiday that falls the day after Christmas Day in the UK?
- Which side of the road do drivers use in the United Kingdom?
- National Insurance contributions paid by workers mainly help to fund what?
- When first issued to an adult, how long is a UK passport normally valid for?
- By law, how many days of paid holiday is a full-time worker in the UK (working five days a week) entitled to each year?
- When a tenant pays a deposit on an assured shorthold tenancy in England, what must the landlord do with it?
- In the UK, at what age does a child normally reach compulsory school age and have to be in education?
- In England, a car must usually start passing an annual MOT roadworthiness test once it reaches what age?
- Unless a sign shows a different limit, what is the usual speed limit for cars on a street with lamp posts in a built-up area in England?
- Which telephone number should you dial for the police, fire service or an ambulance when there is a life-threatening emergency?
- To get most non-emergency NHS healthcare, what should a new resident usually do first?
- Under UK consumer law, goods that you buy from a shop must be which of the following?
- Which of these services is normally provided by your local council?
- Which of the following is a legal right for most employees in the UK?
- What must a person do before they are legally allowed to drive a car alone on UK public roads?
- In the UK, how often is a national census of the population normally carried out?
- In order to vote in a UK election, what must an eligible person first do?
Frequently asked questions
Are these real Life in the UK test questions?
No official question is ever reused. These are original practice questions, written in our own words to test the same facts as the official handbook, in the same style and difficulty as the real test.
How many practice questions are there?
Over 160 practice questions across all five official themes: the UK's values, what the UK is, its history, modern society, and how it is governed. New questions are added over time.
Which topics come up most in the real test?
History and institutions (Parliament, the law, how the UK is governed) are large topics with many possible questions. Values, geography, culture and everyday life also come up regularly. It is worth practising all of them.
Can I see why an answer is right, not just whether I was right?
Yes. Every question on this page has a short explanation. In the app, that explanation can also be shown in your own language.
Is this a substitute for reading the official handbook?
No. Use these questions alongside the handbook, to check what you remember and find the topics you need to revise.
Our practice questions are original and teach the facts in our own words; the official handbook is Crown copyright and is never copied. Speak & Stay is an independent preparation service and is not affiliated with the Home Office. Practice results are feedback, not an official result, and nothing here is immigration advice.