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Original poster

I failed my life in Britain mock test

418 replies

Britishfailure · 04/10/2025 21:24

So I am a European citizen who has lived in London for 3 decades married to a Brit and raised 2 children. I have been toying with the idea of citizenship I light
of the Reform “we want to deport you all” rhetoric.

I took the mock citizenship test tonight and scored 71% which was not enough to pass. However, I made my British DH and children take it too and I actually scored way higher than they did.

The test is honestly crazy. Questions about roast beef. Honestly so weird. I think I won’t bother becoming a British citizen as I really don’t like roast beef 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Britishfailure · 04/10/2025 22:35

Kelticgold · 04/10/2025 22:20

I am curious, what was the roast beef question?

I am not a whinging OP. I simply don’t understand why knowing they roast beef is eaten in Englaaaand
makes me a good citizen. It’s bonkers 😆

OP posts:
burrito · 04/10/2025 22:35

I did it while living in London so often the questions didn’t match my experience/exposure to life. So you just had to learn the percentages and dates…

IceLollyMolly · 04/10/2025 22:35

You have to pay £50 each time you take the test
That's why I was determined to pass first go.

Anyway OP I started a similar thread in July worrying about the test, but I neednt have worried. You will pass too next time.

cardibach · 04/10/2025 22:34

Britishfailure · 04/10/2025 21:39

My point is British people themselves can’t pass this test unless they study for it which is a bit strange isn’t it. I have lived here for 30 years without any major issues and all of a sudden I can’t get citizenship because I cannot answer questions on roast beef 😂

I’ve just done 2 and got 88% in both, as a British Citizen by birth. I haven’t studied. I do have pretty good general knowledge though, because I read a lot and talk to people.

Ifeellikeateenageragain · 04/10/2025 22:31

stuckdownahole · 04/10/2025 21:49

I think you're right. It's basically an English proficiency test in disguise.

And the main thing that the whinging OP has missed is that YOU CAN TAKE THIS TEST UNLIMITED TIMES until you pass.

Show quote history

It's not English language proficiency to memorise what time pubs open in England and who was the inventor of the ball point pen.

It's hurdle setting for the sake of hurdle setting.

And don't get me started on the British "values" section (as though only Britain has "democracy" etc amongst all the countries of the world 🤦‍♀️)

Algen · 04/10/2025 22:31

Oh, I got the roast beef question! Most disappointing, it is just “roast beef is a traditional food of which country”

burrito · 04/10/2025 22:31

I did it years ago, you definitely need to learn the answers. Consider it an English test for those who don’t do the English classes.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 04/10/2025 22:30

Oh I've failed that test myself and I'm Northern Irish / British. Some of the questions are ridiculous, I struggled with the historical questions particularly, what they were asking wasn't taught on our curriculum when I was at school in NI. I've never much been into history anyway either. But yeah, generally the whole test is just ridiculous. Given that so many born & bred Britons couldn't pass it, YANBU!

MajesticWhine · 04/10/2025 22:29

Namechangedforthis25 · 04/10/2025 21:36

Some mock tests

very difficult

britizen.uk/practice/life-in-the-uk-test/1

I got 75% but I thought it was quite tricky.
But it’s not asking too much to study for it if you need to.

Idontpostmuch · 04/10/2025 22:29

Lifeiscraprightnow · 04/10/2025 21:29

I have a European colleague who has been in the UK for a number of years. She contributes significantly to the Uk economy and probably more so than many but yet has failed her citizenship test because she couldn’t remember how many people are on a Scottish jury. I mean ffs I am British and don’t know that and most of the other questions she mentioned.

I'm scottish, have been on a jury in Glasgow, and I couldn't tell you how many.

IceLollyMolly · 04/10/2025 22:28

I did think the Bayeux tapestry and Sutton Hoo questions were really fascinating. That was a gap in my knowledge.

I am looking forward to seeing the tapestry when it comes to London.

Okiedokie123 · 04/10/2025 22:28

Namechangedforthis25 · 04/10/2025 21:36

Some mock tests

very difficult

britizen.uk/practice/life-in-the-uk-test/1

I agree that was tricky!
I am chuffed however cos I got 20/24. History being my favourite subject helped a lot

BIossomtoes · 04/10/2025 22:27

I just got 71%, born in the UK and lived here for 72 years. Some of those questions are insane - how does knowing Hitler invaded Poland prove Britishness ffs?

eggandonion · 04/10/2025 22:25

I got 83 percent and am very smug. I'm not British but did live half my life in the UK.
.

CakeKiller · 04/10/2025 22:25

NautilusLionfish · 04/10/2025 22:12

I took it and passed but had studied for 10 days straight, and was doing at least a mock test a day the last week and more than once the last 3 days with a pass rate between 95% and 100%. Thats how much i didnt want to fail it. It's ridiculous. I want to naturalise and have to do it again. Not sure what it is that will make me more deserving of the naturalisation just because I take it twice in 1.5 years. Why can't they use my 2024 results. How will that make me uphold British values?

You don't have to do it again as the results of your first test will still be valid. See the bottom of this page.
https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test

Life in the UK Test

Use this official service for booking a Life in the UK Test as part of your application for citizenship or settlement

https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test

11811B · 04/10/2025 22:22

I just did it and got 75% which is a pass but didn't feel great. Lots of it felt like a history test I did for sponsorship in y6 where we had to revise facts over a wknd. My DH had to do it but other than testing ability to read English and memorise facts I don't see what it tests, certainly not a priority for me that those seeking naturalisation have a working knowledge of primary school history. Some of the questions do seem to reflect useful things to know about British life but it's mostly random shit

ILikeBigBookssandIcannotlie · 04/10/2025 22:22

DS (14 ) just did it and got 84%.

IceLollyMolly · 04/10/2025 22:22

childofthe607080s · 04/10/2025 22:18

No idea as I am not bothered by sport - is that now compulsory? I must toe the line ?

edit - isn’t the essence of Britishness eccentricity , going your own way and such a huge range of hobbies and interest?

Edited
Show quote history

No, NOBODY wants eccentric immigrants. 😂

ILikeBigBookssandIcannotlie · 04/10/2025 22:22

Algen · 04/10/2025 22:17

I just took another test from the link posted upthread and got 92%. It was the dates for Walpole and the Habeas Corpus Act that got me - I do know who Walpole was and why the Habeas Corpus Act is important, which is surely more relevant than the dates!

Yes same here, those dates threw us!

IceLollyMolly · 04/10/2025 22:21

childofthe607080s · 04/10/2025 22:18

No idea as I am not bothered by sport - is that now compulsory? I must toe the line ?

edit - isn’t the essence of Britishness eccentricity , going your own way and such a huge range of hobbies and interest?

Edited
Show quote history

Ellie Simmonds.
To be fair, all the questions come from the LITU booklet provided.
I think in these times, all immigrants have to toe the line.
It's fine. I have passed far worse tests. DS, 21, studied the booklet for 5 days and passed.

Kelticgold · 04/10/2025 22:20

I am curious, what was the roast beef question?

childofthe607080s · 04/10/2025 22:18

IceLollyMolly · 04/10/2025 22:14

I found the actual test easier than the materials. All 3 of us got the question:
Which paralympian has won 8 medals?

Edited

No idea as I am not bothered by sport - is that now compulsory? I must toe the line ?

edit - isn’t the essence of Britishness eccentricity , going your own way and such a huge range of hobbies and interest?

Algen · 04/10/2025 22:17

I just took another test from the link posted upthread and got 92%. It was the dates for Walpole and the Habeas Corpus Act that got me - I do know who Walpole was and why the Habeas Corpus Act is important, which is surely more relevant than the dates!

ILikeBigBookssandIcannotlie · 04/10/2025 22:17

79% for me and I didn't think the questions were particularly silly. One of the ones I didn't know was the small claims one which is embarrassing as I'm a lawyer and should know it Blush

80smonster · 04/10/2025 22:17

I did this test when my friend was studying to become a passport holding Brit, I’m a Londoner born and raised, I couldn’t answer most of the questions. There was one about the battle of Hastings as I recall, I managed that one, but the questions were utterly bizarre and rather bonkers.

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