← Life in the UK study appAll practice tests

Life in the UK Practice Test 35 (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.

Take this interactively — timed mocks, audio & progress tracking

1. Roughly how many people lost their lives in the violence in Northern Ireland in the decades after 1969?

  1. Some 3,000
  2. Some 300
  3. Some 30,000
  4. Some 300,000
Show answer

Answer: A — Some 3,000

Some 3,000 people lost their lives in the violence in Northern Ireland in the decades after 1969.

2. In which event did Mary Peters win an Olympic gold medal in 1972?

  1. The pentathlon
  2. The heptathlon
  3. The marathon
  4. Swimming
Show answer

Answer: A — The pentathlon

Born in Manchester, Mary Peters moved to Northern Ireland as a child and won pentathlon gold in 1972; she was made a Dame in 2000.

3. In which year was the European Economic Community formed?

  1. 1957
  2. 1973
  3. 1993
  4. 2020
Show answer

Answer: A — 1957

West Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands formed the EEC in 1957; it became part of the EU when the EU was formed in 1993.

4. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The UK was a full member of the European Union and adopted the Euro as its currency.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — the UK was a full member but NEVER adopted the Euro, keeping the pound throughout. It formally left the EU on 31 January 2020.

5. Which TWO policies did Margaret Thatcher's government pursue?

  1. Privatising the nationalised industries
  2. Putting legal controls on trade union powers
  3. Nationalising the coal industry
  4. Joining the Euro
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Privatising the nationalised industries; Putting legal controls on trade union powers

Her government restructured the economy, and deregulation greatly expanded the City of London's role in international finance.

6. Where was Margaret Thatcher from, and what was her father's trade?

  1. Grantham in Lincolnshire; her father was a grocer
  2. Manchester; her father was a solicitor
  3. London; her father was a politician
  4. Oxford; her father was a barrister
Show answer

Answer: A — Grantham in Lincolnshire; her father was a grocer

She was the daughter of a grocer from Grantham in Lincolnshire, and trained as a chemist and as a lawyer.

7. In which year was Margaret Thatcher elected Leader of the Conservative Party?

  1. 1975
  2. 1959
  3. 1970
  4. 1979
Show answer

Answer: A — 1975

Elected a Conservative MP in 1959, she entered the cabinet in 1970 and became party leader — and Leader of the Opposition — in 1975.

8. Which United States President did Margaret Thatcher work closely with?

  1. Ronald Reagan
  2. John F Kennedy
  3. Bill Clinton
  4. Franklin D Roosevelt
Show answer

Answer: A — Ronald Reagan

She worked closely with Ronald Reagan and was one of the first Western leaders to welcome the changes in the Soviet leadership that led to the end of the Cold War.

9. Which Prime Minister followed Margaret Thatcher and helped establish the Northern Ireland peace process?

  1. John Major
  2. Tony Blair
  3. Gordon Brown
  4. Harold Macmillan
Show answer

Answer: A — John Major

John Major became Prime Minister after Mrs Thatcher and helped establish the Northern Ireland peace process.

10. Where was Roald Dahl born, and to parents of what nationality?

  1. Wales, to Norwegian parents
  2. Norway, to Welsh parents
  3. England, to Norwegian parents
  4. Wales, to Danish parents
Show answer

Answer: A — Wales, to Norwegian parents

Roald Dahl was born in Wales to Norwegian parents and served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

11. Which TWO children's books were written by Roald Dahl?

  1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
  2. George's Marvellous Medicine
  3. The Jungle Book
  4. Under Milk Wood
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; George's Marvellous Medicine

Dahl began publishing in the 1940s and is best known for his children's books; several have been made into films.

12. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Blair government gave the Scottish Parliament substantial powers to make laws, and the Welsh Assembly fewer legislative powers.
  2. The Blair government gave the Welsh Assembly substantial powers to make laws, and the Scottish Parliament fewer.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Blair government gave the Scottish Parliament substantial powers to make laws, and the Welsh Assembly fewer legislative powers.

The Welsh Assembly was given fewer legislative powers but considerable control over public services.

13. The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in which year, and reinstated in which year?

  1. Suspended 2002, reinstated 2007
  2. Suspended 1998, reinstated 1999
  3. Suspended 1972, reinstated 1998
  4. Suspended 2007, reinstated 2010
Show answer

Answer: A — Suspended 2002, reinstated 2007

Elected in 1999, the Assembly was suspended in 2002 and not reinstated until 2007.

14. Who took over as Prime Minister in 2007?

  1. Gordon Brown
  2. Tony Blair
  3. David Cameron
  4. John Major
Show answer

Answer: A — Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister in 2007.

15. In the 1990s Britain played a leading role in coalition forces in which TWO conflicts?

  1. The liberation of Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion of 1990
  2. The conflict in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia
  3. The Falklands War
  4. The Suez crisis
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The liberation of Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion of 1990; The conflict in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia

Britain led in coalition forces in Kuwait and in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.

16. In which year did British combat troops leave Iraq?

  1. 2009
  2. 2003
  3. 2014
  4. 2010
Show answer

Answer: A — 2009

British combat troops left Iraq in 2009.

17. How many nations made up the UN-mandated ISAF coalition in Afghanistan?

  1. 50
  2. 28
  3. 9
  4. 15
Show answer

Answer: A — 50

The UK operated in Afghanistan as part of the UN-mandated 50-nation International Security Assistance Force, at the invitation of the Afghan government.

18. In May 2010 no party won an overall majority — the first time since when?

  1. February 1974
  2. 1945
  3. 1997
  4. 1979
Show answer

Answer: A — February 1974

It was the first time since February 1974; the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition and David Cameron became Prime Minister.

19. On what date was the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union held?

  1. 23 June 2016
  2. 13 July 2016
  3. 7 May 2015
  4. 31 January 2020
Show answer

Answer: A — 23 June 2016

The referendum was held on 23 June 2016 and the UK voted by 51.9% to 48.1% to leave.

20. By what margin did the UK vote to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum?

  1. 51.9% to 48.1%
  2. 60% to 40%
  3. 55% to 45%
  4. 50.1% to 49.9%
Show answer

Answer: A — 51.9% to 48.1%

The UK voted by 51.9% to 48.1% to leave the European Union.

21. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Every person in the UK receives equal treatment under the law.
  2. The law in the UK applies differently depending on where a person comes from.
Show answer

Answer: A — Every person in the UK receives equal treatment under the law.

Equal treatment under the law means the law applies in the same way to everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from.

22. Who usually investigates crimes under criminal law?

  1. The police or another authority such as a council
  2. The civil courts
  3. Parliament
  4. A jury
Show answer

Answer: A — The police or another authority such as a council

Criminal law relates to crimes, usually investigated by the police or another authority such as a council, and punished by the courts.

23. What is civil law used for?

  1. Settling disputes between individuals or groups
  2. Punishing crimes
  3. Making new legislation
  4. Electing Police and Crime Commissioners
Show answer

Answer: A — Settling disputes between individuals or groups

Civil law settles disputes between individuals or groups; criminal law deals with crimes.

24. For the purposes of the law on carrying weapons, what counts as a weapon?

  1. A gun, a knife, or anything made or adapted to cause injury
  2. Only a firearm
  3. Only a bladed article
  4. Only a weapon carried with intent to harm
Show answer

Answer: A — A gun, a knife, or anything made or adapted to cause injury

Carrying a weapon of any kind is an offence, even if it is carried for self-defence.

← Test 34 All tests Test 36 →