Life in the UK test practice questions
Use short, original practice questions that match the public format: multiple choice or true/false, one fact, a short explanation. The real test is 24 questions in 45 minutes with 18 to pass. PassBritain’s free items all come from one public set; randomised papers from the full bank are paid.
Try a question now
One original practice item above the fold. Choose an answer to reveal the explanation, then read how practice maps to the real format.
Sample 1 of 1
In the UK constitutional system, who is the head of state?
What a useful practice question looks like
A good Life in the UK practice question is short. Most are four-option multiple choice. Some are true or false. The stem names one fact — who is head of state, who won Hastings, how many MPs sit in the Commons — and the wrong options are nearby facts, not jokes. If an option makes you laugh, it is probably not the trap. The trap is the neighbouring year or the similar institution.
The computer at the test centre will not explain why an answer is correct. That is why practice items should. Read the explanation even when you clicked the right option. A correct click with the wrong reason fails a rephrased stem on another day.
How this maps to the real sitting
GOV.UK is the source for the rules: 24 questions, 45 minutes, 18 correct (75%), fee £50. You are tested on the Guide for New Residents. PassBritain does not set those rules and cannot change them. We use the same shape for timed papers so the pass mark is a number you have felt, not just read.
Practice cannot sit the test for you. It also cannot tell you whether you need the test for a particular application. Eligibility, exemptions and booking sit on GOV.UK. Use this page to learn the material. Use the government site to book.
A simple way to use the samples
Try the question at the top without scrolling to the options’ neighbours in your head first: state versus government, Britain versus the UK, 1707 versus 1801. Then work through three items in each handbook area below. If you miss two in one area, stop. Rewrite those facts in one line and recap them tomorrow before you open a new chapter.
When the samples feel easy, sit the free 24-question mock with the 45-minute timer. After that, paid access adds randomised papers from the full bank, topic practice, flashcards and a miss log — still independent, still not immigration advice.
Values and principles
Democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and living together with respect. Three samples from the public practice set.
Sample 1 of 3
What does it mean to say the UK is a parliamentary democracy?
Sample 2 of 3
Which of these is a fundamental principle of public life in the UK?
Sample 3 of 3
From what age can most UK citizens vote in a general election?
A long history
From Roman Britain to the present: the events that shaped the UK. Three samples from the public practice set.
Sample 1 of 3
Who won the Battle of Hastings in 1066?
Sample 2 of 3
Magna Carta was sealed in which year?
Sample 3 of 3
The 1707 Acts of Union joined:
A modern society
Nations, languages, faiths, culture, and everyday life in the UK today. Three samples from the public practice set.
Sample 1 of 3
Which four countries make up the United Kingdom?
Sample 2 of 3
St George’s Day is celebrated on:
Sample 3 of 3
Remembrance Day is observed on:
Government and the law
Parliament, elections, courts, the NHS, and your role as a resident. Three samples from the public practice set.
Sample 1 of 3
Who is the head of government in the UK?
Sample 2 of 3
The two Houses of the UK Parliament are:
Sample 3 of 3
How many Members of Parliament sit in the House of Commons?
Questions people ask
- Are these the real Life in the UK test questions?
- No. PassBritain writes original practice items. They are not copied from the Home Office paper. Study the Guide for New Residents, and book only on GOV.UK.
- How does practice map to the real format?
- GOV.UK describes 24 questions, 45 minutes and a 75% pass mark (18 correct). Our timed mocks follow that shape. The wording on the day will be different.
- What can I do without paying?
- Today’s daily question, this page’s samples, the study guides, and one fixed 24-question mock. Unlimited randomised mocks, topic drills, flashcards and mistake review need a pass.
- Does a good practice score mean I will pass?
- No. A mock on this site is a signal that you can recall handbook-style facts under a similar clock. It is not the Home Office result and not a guarantee.
Related guides
Last reviewed 19 October 2026.
PassBritain is independent practice and is not affiliated with the Home Office. Questions are original, not the real test. Check GOV.UK for booking, eligibility and exemptions. We do not give immigration advice.