An Ultimate Guide to British Citizenship Test?

Applicants must pass the British citizenship test to show that they understand and know about British history, society, and politics in order to become a naturalised British citizens. On top of that, you must have a language qualification in English at least at the B1 level (CEFR) or its equivalent.

In this ultimate guide, we will discuss:

• Is the British citizenship test & Life in the UK test the same?
• British Citizenship Handbook.
• Questions asked in the British Citizenship exam.
• How to register for the British Citizenship test?
• Test duration, how to find out test scores, passing marks, etc.
• When test expire? 
• Can you retake the test or not?

People are still unhappy with the citizenship test because it covers too many topics and asks questions that don’t make sense. Applicants should read this comprehensive guide to ensure they are well-prepared, given the money and time needed to apply for naturalisation.

Is the Life in the UK test different from the British citizenship test?

The British citizenship test and the Life in the UK test are the same thing. They are both crucial tests that check how much someone knows about British society, geography, history, and politics in order to become a British citizen. It is also known as the Britishness test or the UK identity test from time to time.

People who want to become British citizens may also have to pass an English language test, which we will describe below.

British Citizenship Handbook

For the Life in the UK Test, you must apply knowledge from the official handbook. The guide offers details on the following:

• History of the UK
• The government of Britain
• UK geography
• Local customs

Every question on the test comes from the guide at random. You can also find study tools and sample questions and answers in it to help you pass the test. Moreover, practicing questions from the guide can raise pass rates.

There are a lot of practice questions for the British citizenship test online. So, you should use them to get ready for the real test.

Additionally, the handbook is available in a number of different forms, such as an audiobook, a printed book, an ebook, or an e-learning format.

How many questions are there on the test to become a British citizen?

The 24 multiple-choice questions come from the Life in the UK handbook and cover things like British traditions, rules, customs, and the government.

How long can I take the test?

Each question will take 45 minutes to answer. There should be two hours of time at the test place so that you can get there, show proof of ID, take the test, wait for the results, and get your pass/fail certificate.

You will receive your test score, along with either a pass or fail certificate. Additionally, you should give yourself two hours for the whole process, which includes 45 minutes for the test and checking your ID when you get there.

What do I need to take the test to become a citizen?

You have to show proof of who you are before you can take the test. You will need to bring the same forms of ID that you used to make the online booking with you so that you can go through an identification check when you arrive there. To prove your address, you will also need an original form of proof of location.

Who doesn’t have to take the British citizenship test?

Anyone who wants to become a British citizen or live in the UK permanently must take the Life in the UK test, unless they fall into one of the listed exceptions.

• You are younger than 18 or older than 65
• You must show proof of a long-term physical or mental illness in the form of a letter from a doctor.
• Additionally, you’ve already passed the Life in the UK test, maybe as part of your application for ILR.

Do people with ILR have to take the test to become British citizens?

There is no need to take the Life in the UK test again if you passed it for your ILR application. This also goes for your citizenship application.

Instead, you will show proof that you have met the standard by submitting your Life in the UK test certificate.

How much does it cost to become a British citizen?

Taking the test to become a British citizen costs £50. Additionally, this fee is non-refundable if you don’t pass or if you try to book at a test place that is far away from your home.

Where do I take the test to become a British citizen?

UK has about thirty places to take tests. You’ll have to pick the one that’s closest to your home. You need to bring proof of where you live to the test.

Moreover, you won’t be able to take the test and won’t get your money back if the place is too far away from where you live.

What’s the process for scheduling my British citizenship test?

Make sure you register for the test at least three days before the date you want to take it. You will need a valid email address, a bank or credit card, and one of the following forms of ID to book:

• a real passport
• Photographic ID that is good for travel (you can’t use an emergency ID)
• pass to live in the country 
• biometric residence card

You should email nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk if you don’t have any of these things. Moreover, when you book, use the exact name which is on your ID.

In case of any disability

You can make special requests for help with your disability when you book your test. For example, if you possess a disability and require extra equipment or help getting to the place, you can do so when you book your test.

What will happen if I get good marks?

You can use your Life in the UK award to move forward with your application for ILR or citizenship if you pass.

Does the test certificate for British citizenship expire?

This certificate is valid forever and can be used for all future applications to move to the UK. Put the paper in a safe place. Loss or misplacement may require retaking the test for your application.

Can I take the test again to become a British citizen?

Yes, you will be able to take the test again if you fail the first time. You will have to pay the fee and wait seven days before taking the test again. You can take the test again as many times as you want.

English Language Test

Individuals who want to become British citizens may have to pass more than just the Life in the UK test in order to become citizens. Unless they qualify for an exemption, people who want to become British citizens have to show that they can speak and understand English well.

People who are 65 years or older or who have long-term mental or physical problems do not have to speak English.

Applicants from one of the following countries also do not need to go through the process. Since the language requirement also applies to applications for indefinite leave to remain, most people who want to become naturalised have already met and shown that they can speak the language as part of their settlement application.

To meet the English language standard, you must be able to show that you know enough English, specifically that you can read, write, speak, and understand English up to the required level.

You can show that you meet the English language standard in a number of ways, such as:

• Taking an official English test and getting a score of B1, B2, C1, or C2 on it
• Showing proof of a degree offered in English or based on English
• Moreover, demonstrating citizenship in an excluded country.

More waivers are available for people who want to settle down, but not for people who want to become citizens. So, even if you didn’t have to show that you could speak the language for your ILR application, you might still have to for your citizenship application.

Failure to provide the right kinds of proof could result in the rejection of your citizenship application.

Nationalities not included

If you are from one of these countries, you don’t have to do the English language test to become a British citizen:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• The Bahamas
• Australia
• Belize
• Barbados
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Canada
• Guyana
• Ireland (for citizenship only)
• Jamaica
• Malta
• St Kitts and Nevis
• New Zealand
• St Lucia
• Trinidad and Tobago
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• USA

Even if English is the official language of your country, you will have to show that you can speak English if you are from a country that isn’t on this list.

Passing Through the English test

If you are not exempt and don’t have the right degree, you must take an English language test to meet the criteria. You will need to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at the B1, B2, C1, or C2 level, which is an official test of your speech and listening skills.

The following organisations are allowed to give English citizenship tests to people who live in the UK:

• IELTS SELT Consortium
• The London Trinity College
• Language Cert
• Pearson

For people who aren’t in the UK, these are the approved test providers:

• IELTS SELT Consortium
• Pearson
• LanguageCert
• PSI Services (UK)

Must pass an English language test within two years of when you want to apply for British citizenship. To show that you passed the test when applying for citizenship, you can either give the exact reference number for the test or a copy of your test results.

Degree in English language

You will not need to take an English language test if you have a degree that was taught in English which shows you can speak the language well enough.

To use your degree to meet the English language requirement, it must have been from a university in the UK or a country where most people speak English as their first language.

You must send the original degree certificate if the degree is from the UK. If it is not, you must send a copy of the degree certificate along with an Academic Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS) from Ecctis stating that your degree is equivalent to a UK qualification and an English Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS) stating that the degree was taught in English.

More Requirements for British Citizenship

Two important things you need to do to become a British citizen are to pass the British citizenship test and the English language test.

To make your application work, you will also need to:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be of sound mind and able to think clearly.
• Have good morals.
• Plan to stay in the UK
• Meet the conditions for living there
• Have been legally present in the UK for at least the minimum amount of time, either as a permanent resident (if they are from the EEA) or as someone with indefinite leave to stay.

Requirement of  Good Character

People who want to become British citizens must show that they are a good person. That is, they have to show that they have always respected the UK by following its rules and doing what they are supposed to do as residents.

The Home Office will look at different parts of your past, such as your immigration history, your ability to pay your bills, and any criminal records you may have.

Criminality

You might still be able to become a British citizen even if you have a criminal record, but it depends on how bad the crime was, when it happened, and whether the conviction has been erased. If any of these things are true about you, your application for British citizenship is likely to be turned down:

• If you have a history of crime, the Home Office will look at how many times you have broken the law, how bad those crimes were, and how long ago they happened. In addition, they will look at how the crimes affected the people and whether the crimes got worse over time.
• Probably if the crime hurt the victims badly, like if it hurt their bodies or minds.
• Have committed a sexual crime

Criminal Charges from Abroad in UKVI Applications

The UKVI’s rules say that charges from other countries will only be taken into account if they are the same as a similar sentence in the UK. If you were found guilty of a crime that isn’t accepted by UK law because there isn’t a similar crime, your case may be subject to an exceptional grant. So, they won’t turn down your application unless you have other charges that put your good character at risk.

If you don’t say that you have a record abroad, your application will be turned down, unless you can show that you didn’t know about it. Moreover, if you are worried about something that could make it harder for you to become a British citizen, you should talk to someone.

Impact of Notices on UK Citizenship Status

Fixed penalty notices, penalty charge notices, and disorderly conduct penalty notices do not show up on a person’s criminal record. So they usually do not cause citizenship to be taken away.

You may not be able to travel to other countries if you have been accused of terrorism or international crimes like crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, or crimes during armed conflict. The Home Office will also look at this. These must be sent with your application.

Financially sound

When the Home Office judges your character, they will look at whether you have:

• Declared bankrupt—if this happened more than ten years ago, you might be able to become a citizen.
• Have been a part of the winding up or liquidation of a business. This includes an informal agreement, a CVA, or administration.
• public bills that haven’t been paid back, like NHS debts over £500.
• Taking part in scams involving public funds, like getting benefits you weren’t supposed to get.

Lie or dishonesty

If you lie to the Home Office or another government body about your citizenship application, they will likely turn it down. For example, lying to get benefits, getting services you don’t deserve (like housing), or giving false information to the government are all examples of this. If you lied on your citizenship application or any other visa application in the last ten years, your citizenship application is likely to be turned down as well because you don’t have good morals.

Notoriety

If you are “notorious” for any of the following, the Home Office may not let you become a British citizen: 

Criminal behaviour includes holding offensive views about 

• race, 
• religion, or 
• sexual orientation in public, 
• acting in a way that bothers other people, 
• polluting the environment, or
•  breaking the law over and over again on purpose.

Breaking the rules about immigration

The Home Office may turn down your application for citizenship if they think you have broken their rules. You might experience this if you worked without permission, violated your visa rules, employed illegal workers, or overstayed your visa.

Requirement of Residency 

Schedule 1 of the British Nationality Act of 1981 spells out the residency criteria. The main reason for the residency requirement is to let applicants show that they have strong ties to the UK and to let the Secretary of State decide how committed the applicant is to the country and, eventually, whether they should be given citizenship.

To become a British citizen, you must have lived in Britain for at least one year.

• The person applying for naturalisation must have lived in the UK for at least five years before applying, or three years if they are married to or a civil partner of a British citizen. 
• They also can’t have been away from the UK for more than 90 days in the twelve months before their application.
• In the five years (or three years) before the application, the person must not have broken any visa laws.

This means that since you arrived in the UK, you can’t have been away for more than 450 days in five years while still having legal standing (or 270 days if you are applying for UK citizenship through marriage). In addition, you can’t have been out of the country for more than 90 days in the 12 months before you apply.

British Citizens Spouses

If someone from outside of Britain gets married to a British citizen, that person does not immediately become a British citizen.

To become a British citizen through marriage, you must have lived in the UK as a permanent resident for at least three years straight before or after your application. Most of the time, you would do this by keeping one of the following:

• Under the EU Settlement Scheme, 
• the UK has given people the right to stay and 
• enter the country indefinitely.

You can’t have spent more than 270 days outside of the UK in the last 3 years. Additionally, you must have spent no more than 90 days outside of the UK in the 12 months before you start the application process.

If your British citizen partner has died, you will not be able to apply for citizenship as their spouse. Get help with your situation because you might be able to use other ways.

British citizenship Referees

When you apply to become a citizen, you must include two references. Referees have to sign a declaration and give the Home Office some personal details.

People who want to be officials must follow certain rules. Referees must be people who have known you for at least three years and cannot be family, friends, managers, lawyers, or people who work at the Home Office. In addition, someone convicted of a crime in the last ten years cannot be a referee until a certain amount of time passes. Moreover, the person giving you both recommendations needs to have known you for at least three years.

Someone needs to have “professional standing.” On the gov.uk website, you can find a full list of jobs that are allowed by the government. Jobs that fall into this category includes, but are not limited to, accountant, attorney, chemist, dentist, head of a VAT-registered business, journalist, member of parliament, optometrist, police officer, social worker, solicitor, and union official. Moreover, the person who writes the reference for your application doesn’t have to be a British citizen. They can be from any country.

For the second referee, who must be a British national at least 25 years old or a professional, the rules are different.

The Home Office asks applicants for references from people who meet the requirements. Moreover, if one of your sources does not meet these needs, it could delay your application.

What if your application for British citizenship is turned down?

There are multiple reasons for the refusal of British citizenship applications. Not living in the country long enough, having a criminal record, or passing the “good character” test are some of the most common reasons:

• You must have lived in the UK for at least five years in order to meet the residence standards.
• Not being able to meet the language requirements—you must show that you can speak English or Welsh well enough.
• Not having “good character”—you must have “excellent character,” which means you can’t have any crime records.
• Not passing the British citizenship test—if you fail the Life in the UK test, you will not be able to acquire British citizenship.

Are Looking for Assistance?

UK Immigration Solicitors is a law firm that focuses on helping people move to the UK. We help people through the process of becoming naturalised and give them advice on how to fill out the form and gather the necessary paperwork. Please get in touch with us at 02033844389 if you have a question about an application for British citizenship.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How hard is the test to become a British citizen?

Ans. To get ready for the test, you should use the official Life in the UK test and practise possible questions. You must pay the test fee each time. But you can take it again as many times as you need to.

Q2: How many questions are on the test to become a British citizen?

Ans. The Life in the UK test has 24 questions. To pass, you need to get 18 right.

Q3: What test do I need to become a citizen of the UK?

Ans. People who want to become British citizens must pass the Life in the UK test. With this computer-based test, you will learn about UK laws, history, culture, and politics.

Q4: When does the life in the UK test end?

Ans. Take the Life in the UK test whenever you want. The results of the English language test are good for two years.