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Life in the UK Practice Test 21 (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 TWO of the following are famous British music festivals?

  1. Glastonbury
  2. Creamfields
  3. The Proms Fringe
  4. The Laurence Olivier Festival
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Answer: A and B — Glastonbury; Creamfields

Famous festivals include Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight Festival and Creamfields.

2. The National Eisteddfod is an annual cultural festival held in which country?

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

The National Eisteddfod of Wales is held in a different part of Wales each year, largely in Welsh, with important poetry competitions.

3. The Mercury Prize is awarded each September for what?

  1. The best album from the UK and Ireland
  2. The best British film
  3. The best contemporary artwork
  4. The best new play
Show answer

Answer: A — The best album from the UK and Ireland

The Mercury Prize is given each September for the best album from the UK and Ireland.

4. Which annual awards have categories such as best British group and best British solo artist?

  1. The Brit Awards
  2. The Mercury Prize
  3. The Turner Prize
  4. The Laurence Olivier Awards
Show answer

Answer: A — The Brit Awards

The Brit Awards are an annual music event with categories including best British group and best British solo artist.

5. London's West End is so famous for theatre that it has which nickname?

  1. Theatreland
  2. The Fringe
  3. The Globe
  4. Poets' Corner
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Answer: A — Theatreland

The West End is known as 'Theatreland'.

6. Which TWO of these comic operas were written by Gilbert and Sullivan?

  1. HMS Pinafore
  2. The Mikado
  3. Peter Grimes
  4. Evita
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Answer: A and B — HMS Pinafore; The Mikado

Gilbert and Sullivan wrote HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado in the 19th century.

7. Which TWO musicals did Baron (Andrew) Lloyd-Webber write with Sir Tim Rice?

  1. Jesus Christ Superstar
  2. Evita
  3. Cats
  4. The Phantom of the Opera
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Answer: A and B — Jesus Christ Superstar; Evita

With Sir Tim Rice he wrote Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita; he also wrote Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

8. In a British pantomime, who traditionally plays the Dame?

  1. A man
  2. A child
  3. Two actors in one costume
  4. A member of the audience
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Answer: A — A man

The Dame is a woman played by a man; there is often also a pantomime horse or cow played by two actors in one costume.

9. At what time of year is pantomime traditionally produced?

  1. Christmas
  2. Easter
  3. Midsummer
  4. New Year only
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Answer: A — Christmas

Pantomime is a peculiarly British tradition of light-hearted plays with music and comedy, based on fairy stories, produced at Christmas for family audiences.

10. The Laurence Olivier Awards are named after a British figure best known for his roles in whose plays?

  1. Shakespeare's
  2. Milton's
  3. Chaucer's
  4. Dickens's
Show answer

Answer: A — Shakespeare's

Sir Laurence Olivier, later Lord Olivier, was best known for his roles in various Shakespeare plays.

11. Which TWO painters working in Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries came from abroad?

  1. Hans Holbein
  2. Sir Anthony Van Dyck
  3. Thomas Gainsborough
  4. John Constable
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Hans Holbein; Sir Anthony Van Dyck

Many painters working in Britain then came from abroad, such as Holbein and Van Dyck; Gainsborough and Constable were British.

12. Tate Modern in London is housed in what kind of former building?

  1. A power station
  2. A railway station
  3. A church
  4. A prison
Show answer

Answer: A — A power station

Tate Modern is based in the former Bankside Power Station in central London.

13. Which TWO of the following are named national galleries or museums outside London?

  1. The National Museum in Cardiff
  2. The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh
  3. Tate Britain
  4. The National Gallery
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Answer: A and B — The National Museum in Cardiff; The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh

Works hang in the National Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern in London, the National Museum in Cardiff and the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh.

14. Thomas Gainsborough was a painter best known for what?

  1. Portraits, often set in country or garden scenery
  2. Large bronze abstract sculptures
  3. Engravings and stained glass
  4. Art Deco ceramics
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Answer: A — Portraits, often set in country or garden scenery

Gainsborough was a portrait painter who often set his subjects in country or garden scenery.

15. The Scottish portrait painter David Allan is most famous for which work?

  1. The Origin of Painting
  2. The Hay Wain
  3. Dedham Vale
  4. The Fighting Temeraire
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Answer: A — The Origin of Painting

David Allan's most famous work is The Origin of Painting.

16. Joseph Turner is considered the artist who did what for British painting?

  1. Raised the profile of landscape painting
  2. Founded the Pre-Raphaelites
  3. Introduced pop art
  4. Revived religious wall painting
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Answer: A — Raised the profile of landscape painting

Turner was an influential landscape painter in a modern style, considered the artist who raised the profile of landscape painting.

17. Sir John Lavery was a very successful portrait painter from which part of the UK?

  1. Northern Ireland
  2. Cornwall
  3. The Scottish Highlands
  4. Mid Wales
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Answer: A — Northern Ireland

Sir John Lavery was a Northern Irish portrait painter whose subjects included the Royal Family.

18. Henry Moore is best known for what kind of work?

  1. Large bronze abstract sculptures
  2. Detailed religious paintings
  3. Stained glass
  4. Furniture design
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Answer: A — Large bronze abstract sculptures

Henry Moore was an English sculptor best known for his large bronze abstract sculptures.

19. John Petts was a Welsh artist known for which two forms?

  1. Engravings and stained glass
  2. Portraits and landscapes
  3. Ceramics and furniture
  4. Sculpture and film
Show answer

Answer: A — Engravings and stained glass

John Petts was known for engravings and stained glass.

20. Lucian Freud, a German-born British artist, is best known for what?

  1. His portraits
  2. His landscapes
  3. His abstract sculpture
  4. His pop art prints
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Answer: A — His portraits

Lucian Freud is best known for his portraits.

21. David Hockney was an important contributor to which movement of the 1960s?

  1. Pop art
  2. The Pre-Raphaelites
  3. Art Deco
  4. The gothic revival
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Answer: A — Pop art

Hockney contributed to the 'pop art' movement of the 1960s and remains influential today.

22. In which year was the Turner Prize established?

  1. 1984
  2. 1968
  3. 1927
  4. 2003
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Answer: A — 1984

The Turner Prize was established in 1984 and is named after Joseph Turner.

23. How many works are shortlisted for the Turner Prize each year?

  1. Four
  2. Two
  3. Six
  4. Ten
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Answer: A — Four

Four works are shortlisted every year and shown at Tate Britain or a regional venue.

24. Which TWO of the following are previous winners of the Turner Prize?

  1. Damien Hirst
  2. Richard Wright
  3. Henry Moore
  4. David Allan
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Damien Hirst; Richard Wright

Previous Turner Prize winners include Damien Hirst and Richard Wright.

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