UK Society Questions
The four nations, the NHS, schools, and the rules of daily life. These are facts you are likely to use as well as be tested on.
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What this part of the test covers
This part of the test is about how British society is organised. It covers the four nations and their capitals, the population, religion, health care and education.
It also covers the practical rules people live by. One example is which side of the road you drive on. Another is how old you must be to drive.
Below are 13 practice questions on UK society, with the answers explained.
- The four nations of the UK and their capital cities
- Population, languages and religion
- The NHS and how health care is paid for
- Schools, university and the age education starts
- Everyday legal rules, such as driving and alcohol
Before you answer these, it is worth reading the UK Society chapter in our free study guide.
Practice questions with answers
Here are 13 questions from our bank. The correct answer is marked with a tick, and under each one is a short reason.
Question 1. Approximately how many people live in the United Kingdom?
Topic: UK Society
- 45 million
- 57 million
- 67 million(correct answer)
- 80 million
Why: About 67 million people live in the UK, according to the 2021 census.
Question 2. What is the capital city of Scotland?
Topic: UK Society
- Glasgow
- Aberdeen
- Inverness
- Edinburgh(correct answer)
Why: Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. The Scottish Parliament sits there.
Question 3. What is the capital city of Wales?
Topic: UK Society
- Swansea
- Newport
- Bangor
- Cardiff(correct answer)
Why: Cardiff is the capital of Wales. The Senedd sits there.
Question 4. What is the capital city of Northern Ireland?
Topic: UK Society
- Londonderry
- Armagh
- Belfast(correct answer)
- Newry
Why: Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly sits there.
Question 5. On which side of the road do vehicles drive in the UK?
Topic: UK Society
- The right
- The left(correct answer)
- Either, depending on the region
- The right on motorways, the left on other roads
Why: In the UK you drive on the left. This is different from most of Europe.
Question 6. At what age must children in England start school?
Topic: UK Society
- 4
- 6
- 7
- 5(correct answer)
Why: Children in England must start school at 5. Many start at 4 in a reception class.
Question 7. Which is the oldest university in the English-speaking world?
Topic: UK Society
- Cambridge University
- St Andrews University
- Oxford University(correct answer)
- Durham University
Why: Oxford is the oldest university in the English speaking world. Teaching there goes back to at least 1096.
Practise all uk society questions
Drill this one topic on its own, with no timer and an explanation on every answer.
Practise this topicMore practice questions
Question 1. What is the minimum age to drive a car on public roads in the UK?
Topic: UK Society
- 16
- 18
- 21
- 17(correct answer)
Why: You must be 17 to drive a car on public roads. You can apply for a provisional licence a little earlier.
Question 2. What is the legal age for purchasing and consuming alcohol in the UK?
Topic: UK Society
- 16
- 21
- 18(correct answer)
- 17
Why: You must be 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, bar or shop.
Question 3. The NHS provides healthcare in the UK which is:
Topic: UK Society
- Free at the point of use for all residents, funded by taxation(correct answer)
- Available only to British citizens and paid for by private insurance
- Free only for those earning below a certain income
- Subsidised but requires co-payments for most treatments
Why: The NHS is free at the point of use for residents. It is paid for through taxes.
Question 4. What is the Church of England?
Topic: UK Society
- A private religious organisation with no official status in the state
- The established church of England, with the monarch as its Supreme Governor(correct answer)
- A denomination of the Catholic Church led by the Archbishop of Canterbury
- The official church of the entire United Kingdom
Why: The Church of England is the official church of England. The monarch is its head.
Question 5. Which religion is the largest minority faith in the UK?
Topic: UK Society
- Hinduism
- Sikhism
- Islam(correct answer)
- Judaism
Why: Islam is the largest minority faith in the UK. Christianity is the largest religion overall.
Question 6. How many nations make up the United Kingdom?
Topic: UK Society
- Two: England and Scotland
- Three: England, Scotland, and Wales
- Four: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland(correct answer)
- Five: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands
Why: The UK is made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
These are not the real exam questions. Those are not published by anyone. Ours are written from the same official handbook and use the same format.
How to use these questions
Reading answers helps. Answering questions yourself helps more. Do both, in this order.
- Read the UK Society chapter once.
- Drill this one topic with practice by topic. There is no timer.
- Read the reason under every question you got wrong, and every one you guessed.
- When all six topics feel steady, sit a full mock test against the clock.
You need 18 out of 24 to pass. Aim for 22 or more in practice before you book.
For a mixed set across all six topics, see our questions and answers page.
Common questions
What does UK society cover in the Life in the UK test?
The four nations and their capitals, the population, languages and religion, the NHS, schools, and the everyday rules that apply to residents.
Do I need to know the capital cities?
Yes. London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are worth learning, along with which nation each one belongs to.
How much do I need to know about the NHS?
Know that it provides health care free at the point of use for residents, that it is paid for through taxes, and that a GP is the first doctor you see.
Are the age rules tested?
They can be. The ages worth knowing are 5 for starting school, 17 for driving a car, and 18 for buying alcohol.
Where can I practise more society questions?
Use practice by topic and choose UK Society. Our bank is smaller for this topic than for history, so mix it with full mock tests.
Take a full mock test
24 questions across all six topics, 45 minutes, marked against the real pass mark.
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