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Life in the UK Practice Test 1 (2026) — free, with answers

24 original practice questions in the official Life in the UK Test formats — multiple choice, select TWO, TRUE or FALSE and “which statement is correct”. The real test has 24 questions in 45 minutes with a 75% pass mark (18 of 24). Every answer below includes an explanation. Written from the official study material; no log-in, completely free.

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1. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. There is no place in British society for extremism or intolerance.
  2. Britain encourages people to have extreme views and to act upon them.
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Answer: A — There is no place in British society for extremism or intolerance.

British society is founded on values that everyone is expected to respect, and there is no place in it for extremism or intolerance.

2. Which TWO of the following are fundamental principles of British life?

  1. Participation in community life
  2. Loyalty to a single political party
  3. Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
  4. Compulsory voting at every election
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Answer: A and C — Participation in community life; Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

The five fundamental principles are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and participation in community life.

3. What is a fundamental principle of British life?

  1. Democracy
  2. A relaxed work ethic
  3. Extremism
  4. Disrespect for the law
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Answer: A — Democracy

Democracy heads the list of five fundamental principles; extremism and disrespect for the law are the opposite of what is expected.

4. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? In the UK you are expected to respect the rights of others to have their own opinions.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
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Answer: A — TRUE

Respecting the rights of others, including their right to their own opinions, is one of the responsibilities you take on as a permanent resident.

5. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  2. The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
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Answer: A — The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Only Northern Ireland is part of the UK — the rest of Ireland is an independent country.

6. Which countries make up Great Britain?

  1. England, Scotland and Wales
  2. Just England
  3. England and Scotland
  4. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
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Answer: A — England, Scotland and Wales

Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales; add Northern Ireland and you have the United Kingdom.

7. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The official name of the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  2. The official name of the UK is Great Britain.
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Answer: A — The official name of the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain names only the island of England, Scotland and Wales; the country's official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

8. Which of the following is part of the UK?

  1. Northern Ireland
  2. The Channel Islands
  3. The Isle of Man
  4. The Falkland Islands
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Answer: A — Northern Ireland

The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies and the Falklands an overseas territory — linked to the UK, but not part of it.

9. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England united under King Alfred the Great.
  2. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England united under King Kenneth MacAlpin.
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Answer: A — The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England united under King Alfred the Great.

Alfred the Great united the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and defeated the Vikings; Kenneth MacAlpin united the kingdom that became Scotland.

10. Henry VII established the House of Tudor. What colour rose became the Tudor emblem?

  1. Red and white
  2. Red
  3. White
  4. Pink
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Answer: A — Red and white

Lancaster's red rose and York's white rose were combined into a red rose with a white rose inside it, marking the two houses as allies.

11. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Isaac Newton, who studied at Oxford University, showed in Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica how gravity applied to the whole universe.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
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Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — Newton studied at CAMBRIDGE University, not Oxford. His Principia Mathematica did set out how gravity applied to the whole universe, and he was among the early members of the Royal Society.

12. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Winston Churchill was the British Prime Minister during the Second World War.
  2. Winston Churchill was the British Prime Minister during the First World War.
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Answer: A — Winston Churchill was the British Prime Minister during the Second World War.

Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940, at the crisis point of the Second World War, and led Britain through it.

13. Which event is remembered on 5 November each year?

  1. A plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605
  2. The end of the Second World War
  3. The King's birthday
  4. The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588
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Answer: A — A plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605

Bonfire Night marks the failed plot of 1605 to blow up the Houses of Parliament, which is why bonfires and fireworks light the evening.

14. Diwali is celebrated by which TWO of the following religious groups?

  1. Hindus
  2. Sikhs
  3. Christians
  4. Buddhists
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Answer: A and B — Hindus; Sikhs

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, normally falls in October or November, lasts five days, and is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs to mark the victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge.

15. Which of the following UK landmarks is in Northern Ireland?

  1. The Giant's Causeway
  2. Big Ben
  3. Snowdonia
  4. The Eden Project
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Answer: A — The Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway, on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland, is a formation of volcanic lava columns about 50 million years old.

16. How old do you have to be to go into a betting shop in the UK?

  1. 16
  2. 17
  3. 18
  4. 21
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Answer: C — 18

You must be 18 to go into a betting shop or a gambling club, and people under 18 are also barred from taking part in the National Lottery.

17. Which TWO chambers form the UK Parliament?

  1. The House of Commons
  2. The House of Lords
  3. The House of Representatives
  4. The Senate
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Answer: A and B — The House of Commons; The House of Lords

Parliament is made up of two chambers, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Representatives and the Senate are chambers in other countries' systems, not in the UK.

18. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The UK is a member of NATO.
  2. The UK has never been a member of NATO.
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Answer: A — The UK is a member of NATO.

The UK is a member of NATO, the alliance whose members agree to help one another if attacked.

19. Which TWO are examples of civil law?

  1. Housing law
  2. Employment law
  3. Drugs law
  4. Racial crime law
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Answer: A and B — Housing law; Employment law

Civil law settles disputes between individuals or groups — housing and employment are civil matters, while drugs offences and racial crime are criminal.

20. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? If an accused person is aged 18 to 21, their case will be heard in a Youth Court.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
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Answer: B — FALSE

Youth Courts hear cases against people aged 10 to 17; from 18 an accused person goes before the adult courts.

21. How many fundamental principles of British life are there?

  1. Three
  2. Four
  3. Five
  4. Six
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Answer: C — Five

There are five: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and participation in community life.

22. Which TWO of the following are named as fundamental principles of British life?

  1. The rule of law
  2. Individual liberty
  3. Compulsory military service
  4. Membership of a trade union
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Answer: A and B — The rule of law; Individual liberty

The rule of law and individual liberty sit in the list of five principles alongside democracy, tolerance and participation in community life.

23. The fundamental principle of tolerance refers specifically to tolerance of people with different what?

  1. Faiths and beliefs
  2. Political parties
  3. Accents and dialects
  4. Levels of income
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Answer: A — Faiths and beliefs

Tolerance is one of the five fundamental principles, and it is defined narrowly: tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, not of differences in politics, speech or wealth.

24. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? There is no place in British society for extremism or intolerance.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

The fundamental values of British life are protected by law, customs and expectations, and extremism and intolerance have no place in British society.

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