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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:
CameForAVacationStayedForTheRevolution · 05/10/2025 10:56

EuclidianGeometryFan · 05/10/2025 10:38

It is really difficult to think up questions that:

  1. genuinely test knowledge of life in modern Britain
  2. are things that at least 80-90% of native British would know
  3. but are NOT things that any foreign person with a good education would probably know.

What color were public telephone boxes?
What is the spelling mistake in the above question?

But why does it matter if people know telephone boxes used to be red? It’s not relevant. Same as whatever David hulme did in the period of enlightenment isn’t particularly relevant. You could still be a model citizen without knowing that. Or alternatively you could be an absolute waster but know the answer.

i guess I’d like more questions on what’s considered acceptable behaviour (like the not listening to music on public transport without headphones) but I guess the issue is the answers may be more subjective.

Is it acceptable to queue jump?

Is it acceptable to put a sofa in your front garden and your whole extended family sit on it drinking and talking loudly till 1am every night?

Maybe some questions about laws, what you are allowed or not allowed to do? They should be less subjective and useful to know.

Longingforspringtime · 05/10/2025 10:55

I got 92%, but my DD's DH did it for real and got 100%. He's very proud to have his British passport now.

IceLollyMolly · 05/10/2025 10:43

EuclidianGeometryFan · 05/10/2025 10:38

It is really difficult to think up questions that:

  1. genuinely test knowledge of life in modern Britain
  2. are things that at least 80-90% of native British would know
  3. but are NOT things that any foreign person with a good education would probably know.

What color were public telephone boxes?
What is the spelling mistake in the above question?

"Color".

EuclidianGeometryFan · 05/10/2025 10:38

It is really difficult to think up questions that:

  1. genuinely test knowledge of life in modern Britain
  2. are things that at least 80-90% of native British would know
  3. but are NOT things that any foreign person with a good education would probably know.

What color were public telephone boxes?
What is the spelling mistake in the above question?

EuclidianGeometryFan · 05/10/2025 10:29

EdithBond · 05/10/2025 00:05

What’s the name of the polar research vessel, chosen in 2016 via a public poll:

(a) Sir David Attenborough
(b) The Black Pig
(c) HMS Enterprise
(d) Boaty McBoatface

Show quote history

I seem to recall that having decided a poll would be good for publicity and engagement, the stuffy, self-important powers-that-be decided they couldn't possibly go with the name the public voted for (Boaty McBoatface), so they went for the Sir David Attenborough, but as a nod to placate the masses they called the small boat carried on the main ship 'The Boaty'.

Now that tells you a lot about Britain.

EBearhug · 05/10/2025 10:28

EuclidianGeometryFan · 05/10/2025 10:19

what can carry on be associated with

Was the answer aeroplane luggage or bawdy films?

Show quote history

Films. Can't remember the other options, but I don't think it included anything luggage-related.

jen337 · 05/10/2025 10:25

TheNightingalesStarling · 04/10/2025 21:48

75%.
Some stuff is rite learning. Some stuff isn't really even British... like who Hitler invaded. Thats World History.
Other stuff is religion.

Hitler stuff is to train fixation on WW2, an essential part of being British.

EuclidianGeometryFan · 05/10/2025 10:19

zippydeedoo · 04/10/2025 22:44

Just done another.....same score.

One of the questions was "select two popular social network sites," !!

Another was "what can carry on be associated with"

I'm glad they've chosen the important questions 😂

Show quote history

what can carry on be associated with

Was the answer aeroplane luggage or bawdy films?

Simonjt · 05/10/2025 10:13

localnotail · 05/10/2025 09:55

If you think having knowledge about your chosen country irrelevant then what can I say?

Show quote history

What do you consider knowledge? When I did mine I had to learn lies about history in NI, is that knowledge?

Original poster
Britishfailure · 05/10/2025 09:59

Letmeooooout · 05/10/2025 09:56

I thoight everyone knew about Boaty McBoatface😂
You should look at Scottish gritters' names.
British public can be hilarious with names. If it's names by public it will be the odd name.

No but I am glad I know now 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Britishfailure · 05/10/2025 09:58

localnotail · 05/10/2025 09:55

If you think having knowledge about your chosen country irrelevant then what can I say?

Show quote history

It’s supposed to be a light hearted thread btw

I don’t think having knowledge about the country is irrelevant, but I think the type of knowledge I need to have to pass this test is irrelevant. It could have been put to better use surely. I mean, Boaty McBoatface? 😅

OP posts:
Letmeooooout · 05/10/2025 09:56

I thoight everyone knew about Boaty McBoatface😂
You should look at Scottish gritters' names.
British public can be hilarious with names. If it's names by public it will be the odd name.

BIossomtoes · 05/10/2025 09:56

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 05/10/2025 09:47

But the tests are really simple. There’s a couple with dates in that you would know if you studied for the test but even just general knowledge and using the 5min of the 45 min allowed I was getting between 8@-85% I can’t believe anyone who is vaguely intelligent and has lived their life in the UK couldn’t get a pass mark. What sort of questions are people failing?

I had three questions with dates and got them all wrong. You’d better believe it because I’ve lived in the UK for 72 years and have a Masters. I suspect I’m vaguely intelligent which is no help at all for what is essentially a general knowledge quiz.

localnotail · 05/10/2025 09:55

Britishfailure · 05/10/2025 09:35

I remember the driving test being relevant to driving a car.

Show quote history

If you think having knowledge about your chosen country irrelevant then what can I say?

Original poster
Britishfailure · 05/10/2025 09:50

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 05/10/2025 09:47

But the tests are really simple. There’s a couple with dates in that you would know if you studied for the test but even just general knowledge and using the 5min of the 45 min allowed I was getting between 8@-85% I can’t believe anyone who is vaguely intelligent and has lived their life in the UK couldn’t get a pass mark. What sort of questions are people failing?

Well I failed the question above. I think the answer is Boaty McBoatface? I thought that was just a joke answer and I think I went for the HMS Enterprise.
It’s multiple choice so ofc you can be lucky and get a high score.

OP posts:
MyHeartyCoralSnail · 05/10/2025 09:47

But the tests are really simple. There’s a couple with dates in that you would know if you studied for the test but even just general knowledge and using the 5min of the 45 min allowed I was getting between 8@-85% I can’t believe anyone who is vaguely intelligent and has lived their life in the UK couldn’t get a pass mark. What sort of questions are people failing?

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 05/10/2025 09:46

EdithBond · 05/10/2025 00:05

What’s the name of the polar research vessel, chosen in 2016 via a public poll:

(a) Sir David Attenborough
(b) The Black Pig
(c) HMS Enterprise
(d) Boaty McBoatface

Show quote history

Ooooh trick question, love it! This is the kind of thing we want, knowing how that vote went makes you proud to be british 😂

Luckyingame · 05/10/2025 09:37

I'm an European citizen, currently reluctantly applying for a British passport (after 25 years). This test is a part of it. It needs to be learned, simple as that.
There's no way my husband would score 50%, but that's the way it is.

Original poster
Britishfailure · 05/10/2025 09:35

localnotail · 05/10/2025 09:28

Erm you would need to prepare for it? You would not take a theory part of the driving test without preparing, so why not citizenship test? Maybe also learn a thing or two while you at it.

I remember the driving test being relevant to driving a car.

OP posts:
localnotail · 05/10/2025 09:28

Erm you would need to prepare for it? You would not take a theory part of the driving test without preparing, so why not citizenship test? Maybe also learn a thing or two while you at it.

Original poster
Britishfailure · 05/10/2025 09:18

Middlechild3 · 05/10/2025 09:05

This. I think making volunteering a condition of residency is a good idea too. Too many claim contribution, i.e. working and paying taxes, but live in little enclaves, grouping together, only speaking their own language unless absolutely necessary, sending earnings back home. This isn't integration. Have conditions that force integration. If people don't want this don't come here.

Show quote history

I lived here for 30 years and now you want me to do volunteering too? 😀

OP posts:
kattaquack · 05/10/2025 09:18

IceLollyMolly · 05/10/2025 08:58

I think there should be a question on not playing music on ipads without headphones as this drives me mad!
Also a question on recycling garbage.

Both these are sometimes not done in other countries.

I actually think the recycling one is a great question. It helps with teaching societal values and is actually useful in everyday life.
Also people who are integrated into British society would also know the rules.

Letmeooooout · 05/10/2025 09:08

Britishfailure · 05/10/2025 08:55

It’s not that I can’t study for it and pass it. It’s just that the questions are so pointless when actually could have been more relevant to life in Britain. It’s called the life in Britain test after all.

It's called life in the UK test....

Letmeooooout · 05/10/2025 09:06

It's normal. I failed mock for my native country. It's general knowledge test. Lots of it was mentioned at school etc, but most people don't remember small facts after the years.
I do agree some questions are a useless knowledge though.

Middlechild3 · 05/10/2025 09:05

FastFood · 05/10/2025 08:40

I passed it last year. I read the book, did plenty of mock test and here I am, passer it the first time. Really not that hard.

I see no problem with that test. We're talking about aquiring citizenship, its not a pub quiz.

This. I think making volunteering a condition of residency is a good idea too. Too many claim contribution, i.e. working and paying taxes, but live in little enclaves, grouping together, only speaking their own language unless absolutely necessary, sending earnings back home. This isn't integration. Have conditions that force integration. If people don't want this don't come here.