What Questions Come Up in the Life in the UK Test?
No website can show you the questions you will get. What we can show you is which topics people who passed say came up for them, and give you practice questions on those topics.
Last updated
What this page is, and what it is not
People who pass the Life in the UK test often post about what they remember being asked. We read 14 of those reports, from July 2025 to March 2026, and grouped them by topic. This page is the result.
The official question bank is not published. No website can show you the exact questions you will get. What we can show is which topics people report seeing most often.
So this page has two halves. The reported theme is our own description of what people say came up. Under it sits a practice question from our own question bank, which we wrote. We do not reproduce anything anyone remembered, and we could not show you the official questions even if we wanted to.
GOV.UK says you will "only be tested on information from the official Guide for New Residents". That guide is the source for everything on this page and the thing to revise from. See the official test page. We are not part of GOV.UK or the Home Office.
How to read the numbers
"Reported by 10 of 14" means ten different people mentioned that topic. It does not mean it was asked ten times, and it is not a measured frequency.
- It is a sample of memories, not of the test. People remember the questions that surprised them. A topic someone found easy may not get written down at all.
- Every test is different. You get 24 questions drawn from a much larger set, so two people sitting on the same day do not see the same paper.
- Reports contain mistakes. We checked every theme against the handbook and corrected six errors before writing any of this down. Two of those corrections are on the page below.
Used properly, the list is a revision order, not a shortcut. If a topic comes up in most reports, learn it first. Then learn the rest, because the topic that appears in nobody else's report may still appear in yours.
Themes people report most often
Ranked by how many separate reports mention them. Each one has a practice question of ours on the same topic, with the answer and the reason.
Reported by 10 of 14 test-takers
The year men and women could first vote at the same age. This is the single most reported topic in the whole set.
Our practice question on this topic
What significant event took place in the UK in 1928 concerning voting rights?
- Introduction of compulsory voting
- All men were given the right to vote
- Equal voting rights for women(correct answer)
- Formation of the Labour Party
Why: In 1928 women could vote at 21, the same age as men. Women over 30 had been able to vote since 1918.
Reported by 10 of 14 test-takers
What is expected of you as a resident or citizen. Several people report a question that asks for two answers rather than one.
Our practice question on this topic
What is one of the responsibilities of being a British citizen?
- To know all the laws by heart
- To serve in the military
- To respect the rights of others(correct answer)
- To never leave the country
Why: You are expected to respect the rights of others, obey the law, treat people fairly, and look after your family and the place you live.
Reported by 9 of 14 test-takers
The minimum age for things: driving, drinking, jury service and standing for election.
Our practice question on this topic
What is the minimum age to stand as a candidate for election to the House of Commons?
- 21
- 25
- 16
- 18(correct answer)
Why: You must be 18 to stand for election to the House of Commons. The age was 21 until the law changed in 2006.
Reported by 8 of 14 test-takers
The patron saints of the four nations, and which of their days are public holidays.
Our practice question on this topic
Who is the patron saint of Ireland, celebrated on March 17th?
- St Patrick(correct answer)
- St David
- St Andrew
- St George
Why: St Patrick is the patron saint of Northern Ireland. His day, 17 March, is a bank holiday there.
Reported by 8 of 14 test-takers
Which court hears minor criminal cases, and how Scotland differs from the rest of the UK.
Our practice question on this topic
What is a magistrate (or Justice of the Peace)?
- A professional judge appointed by the government
- A volunteer member of the public who sits in a magistrates' court to hear minor criminal cases(correct answer)
- A barrister appointed to senior courts
- A legal adviser to local councils
Why: Magistrates deal with less serious crimes. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland most of them are trained volunteers rather than paid judges.
Reported by 7 of 14 test-takers
Charles I, the Civil War, and the eleven years when the country had no king.
Our practice question on this topic
Who led the Roundheads to victory in the English Civil War?
- Henry VIII
- Oliver Cromwell(correct answer)
- Richard III
- Edward I
Why: Oliver Cromwell led the Roundheads, who fought for Parliament. The Cavaliers fought for the king.
Reported by 7 of 14 test-takers
How the monarchy came back, and the king who hid in an oak tree. One report names the wrong king for the oak tree: it was Charles II, after Worcester in 1651.
Our practice question on this topic
Which monarch was restored to the British throne in 1660?
- King Charles I
- King Charles II(correct answer)
- King James II
- King William III
Why: Charles II came back to the throne in 1660, after eleven years without a king. This is called the Restoration.
Reported by 7 of 14 test-takers
Christmas, Easter and which days are bank holidays.
Our practice question on this topic
Which of the following is a public (bank) holiday celebrated across the whole of the UK?
- St George's Day (23 April)
- Bonfire Night (5 November)
- Burns Night (25 January)
- Christmas Day (25 December)(correct answer)
Why: Christmas Day, 25 December, is a bank holiday everywhere in the UK. St George’s Day is not a bank holiday at all.
Reported by 6 of 14 test-takers
The flower or plant that stands for each of the four nations.
Our practice question on this topic
What is the traditional emblem of Scotland?
- Shamrock
- Thistle(correct answer)
- Rose
- Daffodil
Why: The thistle stands for Scotland. Wales has the daffodil, England the rose and Northern Ireland the shamrock.
Reported by 6 of 14 test-takers
Famous sporting events: rugby, cricket, horse racing and rowing.
Our practice question on this topic
What is the Grand National?
- The UK's oldest golf tournament
- A famous steeplechase horse race held annually at Aintree, Liverpool(correct answer)
- A yacht race around Britain
- A national athletics championship
Why: The Grand National is a horse race held every year at Aintree, near Liverpool.
Reported by 5 of 14 test-takers
Which places are Crown dependencies, and the fact that they are not part of the UK.
Our practice question on this topic
What are Crown Dependencies?
- Former colonies that are now fully independent Commonwealth nations
- Self-governing territories such as Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man, which are not part of the UK but owe allegiance to the Crown(correct answer)
- The royal estates and properties owned by the monarch
- Overseas territories like Gibraltar that are directly governed by the UK
Why: Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies. They are linked to the UK but are not part of it.
Reported by 5 of 14 test-takers
Who brought printing to England, and when.
Our practice question on this topic
Who introduced the first printing press to England in 1476?
- Geoffrey Chaucer
- William Tyndale
- William Caxton(correct answer)
- John Wycliffe
Why: William Caxton set up the first printing press in England in 1476. Books became much cheaper to make.
Reported by 5 of 14 test-takers
The building William the Conqueror put up after 1066.
Our practice question on this topic
Which English king built the Tower of London?
- Henry VIII
- William the Conqueror(correct answer)
- Edward I
- Richard III
Why: William the Conqueror built the Tower of London after he became king in 1066.
Reported by 4 of 14 test-takers
How many people sit on a jury, which is a different number in Scotland.
Our practice question on this topic
How many people typically sit on a jury in a Crown Court trial in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
- 9
- 15
- 12(correct answer)
- 7
Why: A Crown Court jury has 12 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A criminal jury in Scotland has 15.
Reported by 4 of 14 test-takers
Admiral Nelson and the battle he won and died in.
Our practice question on this topic
Who led the British forces to victory in the Battle of Trafalgar?
- Horatio Nelson(correct answer)
- Arthur Wellesley
- Duke of Marlborough
- Robert Clive
Why: Admiral Nelson led the British fleet at Trafalgar in 1805. He won the battle and was killed in it.
Reported by 3 of 14 test-takers
The battle fought in the air over Britain in 1940. People report being offered land, sea and air as choices.
Our practice question on this topic
What pivotal role did the Battle of Britain play during World War II?
- It was the first major Allied invasion of Europe.
- It marked the first time that Ethiopia repelled an Italian invasion.
- It prevented a planned German invasion of the UK.(correct answer)
- It was the final battle that ended WWII.
Why: The Battle of Britain was fought in the air in 1940. Winning it stopped a German invasion.
Reported by 3 of 14 test-takers
Who Britain fought in the Crimean War.
Our practice question on this topic
Which empire did Britain fight in the Crimean War?
- The Ottoman Empire
- The Russian Empire(correct answer)
- The Austro-Hungarian Empire
- The French Empire
Why: Britain fought Russia in the Crimean War, from 1853 to 1856, alongside France and Turkey.
Reported by 3 of 14 test-takers
The documents you need to apply for a National Insurance number.
Our practice question on this topic
What is the National Insurance (NI) number?
- A number that identifies a person for income tax purposes, issued by HMRC
- A unique personal reference number used to record National Insurance contributions and for tax and benefits purposes(correct answer)
- A passport number unique to each UK citizen
- A registration number for NHS medical records
Why: Your National Insurance number records what you pay in. You need one to work in the UK.
Reported by 3 of 14 test-takers
How old you have to be before you can ride a moped, which several people report being asked about directly.
We have no question on this yet, so here is the fact instead: you can ride a moped at 16, and drive a car or a motorcycle at 17. It is on our list to add.
Reported by 2 of 14 test-takers
Which royal houses fought the Wars of the Roses.
Our practice question on this topic
Which two royal houses fought against each other in the Wars of the Roses?
- Tudor and Stuart
- Plantagenet and Hanover
- Lancaster and York(correct answer)
- Windsor and Saxe-Coburg
Why: Lancaster and York fought the Wars of the Roses. They were not the sides in the Civil War, which is a common mix-up.
Reported by 2 of 14 test-takers
The official record of what is said in Parliament. One report calls it Britain's constitution document, which it is not.
Our practice question on this topic
What is Hansard?
- The official report of proceedings in the UK Parliament(correct answer)
- The register of MPs' financial interests
- The schedule of Parliamentary committees
- The official government gazette
Why: Hansard is the written record of what is said in Parliament. It is not a constitution: the UK does not have one single written constitution.
Reported by 2 of 14 test-takers
The 2012 Olympic Games and where they were held.
Our practice question on this topic
What was the significance of the 2012 London Olympics?
- It was the first Olympics to be held in the UK
- It was the third time London had hosted the Summer Olympics, and was celebrated as a major national success(correct answer)
- London was the only city to bid, making the games uncontested
- It was the first Olympics where women competed in all sports
Why: London hosted the Olympic Games in 2012. It was the third time, after 1908 and 1948.
Reported by 2 of 14 test-takers
The yearly rowing race between Oxford and Cambridge.
Our practice question on this topic
What iconic event occurs annually on the River Thames in London?
- Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race(correct answer)
- Henley Regatta
- Royal Ascot
- The Grand National
Why: Oxford and Cambridge row against each other on the Thames every year. It is called the Boat Race.
Other reported topics
Mentioned by one or two people each. Worth knowing, but learn the list above first.
History
Boudica and the tribe she led against the Romans. Who invaded after the Romans left. The Spanish fleet of 1588 and the queen who was on the throne. Henry VIII, his break with Rome and the church he founded. Mary Queen of Scots. The Domesday survey. The famine in Ireland in the 1840s and the crop that failed. The Highland Clearances. Robert the Bruce and Bannockburn. The Black Death. Read the British history timeline if these dates run together in your head.
Government and the law
What a constituency is and what MPs do. Prime Minister's Questions and how often they happen. What a by-election is. The shadow cabinet. What the civil service does. What devolved governments can and cannot decide. The poll card that arrives before an election. Small claims. The youth court. How to complain about the police.
Society and daily life
The capital cities, Belfast most often. Whether Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes can be used across the UK. The share of the population with a parent or grandparent born abroad. What the National Trust does. Which charity is an environmental one. What the law says a dog must wear when it is out. That forcing a wife to have sex is a crime, which it is, in every part of the UK.
Culture and science
The runner who first went under four minutes for the mile. Who invented the jet engine and who invented radar. Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Isaac Newton. Adam Smith. Edward Elgar. The Turner Prize. Wallace and Gromit. Where Snowdonia is. What the Cenotaph is and what happens there in November.
A few reported items were wrong and are corrected above rather than repeated here. Great Britain, for instance, is England, Scotland and Wales, not England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is all four.
Find out which topics you already know
A free mock test in the real format: 24 questions, 45 minutes. No account needed for your first one.
Start a free mock testHow to use this page
- Read the official handbook first. Everything in the test comes from it, and no list of themes replaces it.
- Use the themes above to decide what to revise first, not what to revise only.
- Take a free mock test in the real format: 24 questions, 45 minutes, 18 to pass.
- Drill the topics you got wrong with practice by topic, rather than sitting whole mocks again.
Reports last updated: August 2026. Content last checked against the handbook and GOV.UK: August 2026.
Common questions
Are these the real exam questions?
No. The official question bank is not published, and we do not have it. No website can show you the exact questions you will get. The questions on this page are ones we wrote ourselves, on the topics that people who passed say came up for them. The official test is drawn from the Home Office handbook, which is the thing to revise from.
Where do the reported themes come from?
From 14 public posts written between July 2025 to March 2026 by people who had just passed and wrote down what they remembered. We grouped those memories into topics, checked each topic against the handbook, and describe them in our own words. We do not republish what anyone wrote.
Do the same questions repeat?
Topics repeat. Whole questions may or may not: nobody outside the Home Office knows how large the bank is or how it is drawn from. What the reports show is that some areas of the handbook come up again and again, which makes them worth learning first.
How should I use this page?
As a revision order, not a shortcut. Learn the most reported topics first, then cover the rest of the handbook. Someone who studies only these themes will meet questions they have never seen, because every test is different.
Are the reports accurate?
Not always, which is why we check them. People are remembering, sometimes weeks later, and they get things wrong. We found six clear errors in this set, including one report that named the wrong two sides in the English Civil War and another that said you must be 21 to stand for election, when the age is 18. Anything that contradicted the handbook was corrected or dropped.
Is it against the rules to share what came up?
The official questions are Crown copyright and are not published, so we do not reproduce them and we would ask you not to either. Describing the topics you found hard is a different thing, and that is all this page does.
Revise the topics that come up most
Practise by topic and the site remembers what you got wrong, so your next session starts with your weakest area rather than the beginning.
Practise by topic