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Life in the UK Practice Test 39 (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. Until what time of day are jokes traditionally played on April Fool's Day?

  1. Midday
  2. Midnight
  3. 6.00 pm
  4. There is no limit
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Answer: A — Midday

On 1 April people play jokes on each other until midday, and television and newspapers often run April Fool stories.

2. When do Mothering Sunday and Father's Day fall?

  1. Mothering Sunday is the Sunday three weeks before Easter
  2. Father's Day is the third Sunday in June
  3. Mothering Sunday is the first Sunday in May
  4. Father's Day is the second Sunday in July
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Mothering Sunday is the Sunday three weeks before Easter; Father's Day is the third Sunday in June

On each, children send cards or buy gifts for their parents.

3. Halloween has its roots in what?

  1. An ancient pagan festival marking the beginning of winter
  2. A Christian saint's day
  3. The Gunpowder Plot
  4. A Roman harvest festival
Show answer

Answer: A — An ancient pagan festival marking the beginning of winter

On 31 October young people dress up to play 'trick or treat', and many carve lanterns out of pumpkins.

4. When was the Cenotaph in Whitehall unveiled?

  1. 1920
  2. 1918
  3. 1945
  4. 1905
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Answer: A — 1920

The Cenotaph, unveiled in 1920, is the centrepiece of the Remembrance Day service, where wreaths are laid at 11.00 am on 11 November.

5. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Bank holidays have no religious significance.
  2. Bank holidays all mark Christian festivals.
Show answer

Answer: A — Bank holidays have no religious significance.

Bank holidays fall at the beginning of May, in late May or early June, and in August; in Northern Ireland the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in July is also a public holiday.

6. In Northern Ireland, what must a newly qualified driver display, and for how long?

  1. An 'R' plate — R for restricted driver — for one year after passing the test
  2. An 'L' plate for six months
  3. A 'P' plate for two years
  4. Nothing extra is required
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Answer: A — An 'R' plate — R for restricted driver — for one year after passing the test

Northern Ireland has an extra rule for beginners that does not apply in the rest of the UK.

7. Which dish is described as a favourite everywhere in the UK, rather than belonging to one nation?

  1. Fish and chips
  2. Roast beef
  3. Haggis
  4. The Ulster fry
Show answer

Answer: A — Fish and chips

Each of the four nations has its traditional dish — roast beef in England, Welsh cakes in Wales, haggis in Scotland, the Ulster fry in Northern Ireland — and fish and chips is a favourite everywhere.

8. The famous line 'Into my heart an air that kills' comes from which collection of poems?

  1. A Shropshire Lad by A. E. Housman
  2. Paradise Lost by John Milton
  3. Beowulf
  4. The Canterbury Tales
Show answer

Answer: A — A Shropshire Lad by A. E. Housman

A. E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad is the source of the much-anthologised line 'Into my heart an air that kills'.

9. Which TWO of the following are popular poets of more recent times?

  1. Sir John Betjeman
  2. Ted Hughes
  3. Geoffrey Chaucer
  4. John Milton
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Answer: A and B — Sir John Betjeman; Ted Hughes

More recent popular poets include Sir Walter de la Mare, John Masefield, Sir John Betjeman and Ted Hughes. Chaucer wrote in the Middle Ages and Milton in the 17th century.

10. Geordie, Scouse and Cockney are all examples of what?

  1. Dialects of English spoken in England
  2. Languages spoken in the Scottish Highlands
  3. Traditional British dishes
  4. Styles of British folk music
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Answer: A — Dialects of English spoken in England

English is spoken with many accents and dialects across the UK — in England alone the well-known dialects include Geordie, Scouse and Cockney.

11. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The UK population is ethnically diverse and changing rapidly, especially in large cities such as London.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
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Answer: A — TRUE

The UK population is ethnically diverse and changing rapidly, especially in large cities such as London, so it is not always easy to get an exact picture of the ethnic origin of the whole population.

12. Where can you raise an issue with your MP face to face?

  1. At a local 'surgery'
  2. Only at the House of Commons
  3. At a polling station
  4. At the Electoral Registration Office
Show answer

Answer: A — At a local 'surgery'

Many MPs, Senedd members and MSPs hold regular local 'surgeries', usually advertised in the local paper, where constituents can raise issues in person.

13. How often do the main political parties hold policy-making conferences?

  1. Every year
  2. Every five years
  3. Only before a general election
  4. Every six months
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Answer: A — Every year

The main parties have branches in most constituencies and hold policy-making conferences every year.

14. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. In the Northern Ireland Assembly, a power-sharing agreement distributes ministerial offices among the main parties.
  2. In the Northern Ireland Assembly, all ministerial offices are held by the largest party.
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Answer: A — In the Northern Ireland Assembly, a power-sharing agreement distributes ministerial offices among the main parties.

The Northern Ireland Assembly operates under a power-sharing agreement which distributes ministerial offices among the main parties.

15. In Northern Ireland, what is the system for getting on the electoral register called?

  1. Individual registration
  2. Household registration
  3. The annual canvass
  4. Automatic enrolment
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Answer: A — Individual registration

Northern Ireland uses 'individual registration': everyone entitled to vote completes their own registration form, and stays on the register as long as their personal details do not change.

16. According to the official study material, members elected to the European Parliament are known as what?

  1. MEPs
  2. MSPs
  3. MLAs
  4. JPs
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Answer: A — MEPs

The study material describes European Parliament elections held every five years, electing MEPs by a system of proportional representation. The UK left the EU in 2020, but the test marks against the study material.

17. The National Citizen Service programme gives 16- and 17-year-olds the opportunity to do what?

  1. Enjoy outdoor activities, develop their skills and take part in a community project
  2. Vote in local elections
  3. Serve on a jury
  4. Stand for public office
Show answer

Answer: A — Enjoy outdoor activities, develop their skills and take part in a community project

The National Citizen Service gives 16- and 17-year-olds the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities, develop their skills and take part in a community project.

18. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. In Scotland, school governors are known as members of school boards.
  2. Only teachers may become school governors.
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Answer: A — In Scotland, school governors are known as members of school boards.

School governors — known in Scotland as members of school boards — are people from the local community who want to make a positive contribution to children's education.

19. After the Wars of the Roses, how did Henry VII make his position as king more secure?

  1. He strengthened the central administration and reduced the power of the nobles
  2. He gave the nobles more land and power
  3. He moved the capital away from London
  4. He abolished Parliament
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Answer: A — He strengthened the central administration and reduced the power of the nobles

Henry VII deliberately strengthened the central administration of England and reduced the power of the nobles, and he built up the monarchy's financial reserves.

20. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? When Henry VII died, his son Henry VIII continued the policy of centralising power.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Henry VIII continued his father's policy of centralising power in the hands of the monarchy.

21. Henry VIII is most famous for which TWO of the following?

  1. Breaking away from the Church of Rome
  2. Marrying six times
  3. Writing the Book of Common Prayer
  4. Founding the Royal Society
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Answer: A and B — Breaking away from the Church of Rome; Marrying six times

Henry VIII is remembered for establishing the Church of England after breaking away from the Church of Rome, and for his six marriages. The Book of Common Prayer came in Edward VI's reign and the Royal Society in Charles II's.

22. How many times did Henry VIII marry?

  1. Six
  2. Four
  3. Five
  4. Seven
Show answer

Answer: A — Six

Henry VIII married six times: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr.

23. Who was Henry VIII's first wife?

  1. Catherine of Aragon
  2. Anne Boleyn
  3. Jane Seymour
  4. Catherine Parr
Show answer

Answer: A — Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was a Spanish princess. She had several children, but only her daughter Mary survived.

24. Why did Henry VIII divorce Catherine of Aragon?

  1. She was too old to give him another child, and he hoped a new wife would give him a son
  2. She was accused of taking lovers
  3. She refused to convert to Protestantism
  4. She plotted against him with Spain
Show answer

Answer: A — She was too old to give him another child, and he hoped a new wife would give him a son

Only Catherine's daughter Mary had survived, and when Catherine was too old to give Henry another child he decided to divorce her, hoping a different wife would give him the son he wanted.

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