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Politics

The new british citizenship test-would you pass it?

59 replies

mumnosbest · 08/07/2012 14:00

Take the test here www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/quiz/2012/jul/05/uk-citizenship-test

I scored 6 and DH (who passed the old one) scored 8. We're both smart enough, been to uni, ok jobs etc. You need 10 to pass!

Would you be allowed to stay or be deported with us?

OP posts:
Ponders · 09/07/2012 12:41

I got 11 (phew)

v surprised at answer to no 8!

whatinthewhatnow · 09/07/2012 12:37
  1. I'll get my coat. it's a ridiculous test. how on earth does that show that people are willing to be 'british'? I'm sure questions about modern culture and practices would be better. or do they have those already? the whole thing seems bananas to me.
slug · 09/07/2012 10:40

14 out of 15. That's a relief, I have to sit it for real later this year.

mumnosbest · 09/07/2012 09:50

maryz when you finish the test there are 2 boxes at the bottom 'try again' or 'see answers'. i missed this so did the test again choosing random answers and got 10/15!

OP posts:
MrJudgeyPants · 09/07/2012 09:45

I also got 13 - Like Corgito, I didn't even know that we dug canals in this country until the beginning of the Industrial Revolution - I guess the canals that these labourers dug would have been for irrigation?

I also got the one wrong about when English law was first applied to Wales - although, in my defence, I think this is misleading as England invaded, and held, various bits of Wales for various times from shortly after the Norman invasion onwards.

[Don's pedantic hat]

Question 1 is wrong in so much as Wales isn't a country, it's a principality.

Question 2 is wrong as Boudicca fought against the Roman occupation, not the conquest.

Question 3 is wrong, Alfred the Great didn't defeat the Vikings, and he fought them until they accepted the division of the country (Danelaw).

Question 4, the application of English law in Wales, is debatable.

And

Question 6, both Serfs and Yeomen worked the land.

Other than that, it's a perfectly entertaining pub quiz. Personally, I can't see the point of this at all and think it's stupid to bar British nationality to anyone who can't answer these questions. Many Brits wouldn't pass this test and, moreover, does knowing this information really make you a better subject?

CogitoErgoSometimes · 08/07/2012 23:33

13... I didn't think we imported canal builders in the Middle Ages (mediaeval canals? Hmm) and had no clue about the Welsh question.

TalkinPeace2 · 08/07/2012 22:14

I got 11
and I have my certificate for the old one

oreocrumbs · 08/07/2012 22:10

I scored 8, and two of those were guesses. I thought NI was part of Great Britain?

I'll fetch my coat. . . . Where will they be sending me?

Actually I passed the old American test in that place in New York where the imigrants arrived. Clearly my memory has deserted me since that point since I can't even remember the name of the sodding museum Shock. Perhaps they will send me back there!

CrystalQueen · 08/07/2012 22:10

12 - but I am a swot. Plus I have "A History of Britain" on DVD. I totally fail to see how that qualifies me to be a UK citizen.

Maryz · 08/07/2012 22:04

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Maryz · 08/07/2012 22:03

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flexybex · 08/07/2012 21:56

The question on the black death is ridiculous - they don't know how many people were alive at the time, nor exactly how many died. There were about 7-8 outbreaks of the black death in the 14th century.

What a stupid question.

Why do people need to know such specific questions on English history to be a citizen of the UK? I would have thought road signs or existing laws would be more useful.

flexybex · 08/07/2012 21:49

All my family are failures!
MY ds has a VERY good idea. Give this test to all members of the BNP. If they fail - deport them!

mumnosbest · 08/07/2012 17:12

ok out of our family of 8 the highest score was 8. DS7 then did it and scored 9!

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WitchOfEndor · 08/07/2012 16:34

DH got 4 Grin

globalmouse · 08/07/2012 16:33

I've got an a in history as level (European, not British), a first class degree and a pHd (science).

I got 8.

In my defence, i hate history, its really dull :) and i only managed 8 cos i guessed a lot of them!

Not sure what the test is meant to be doing. I'd be an asset to the UK but i wouldn't get in....

WitchOfEndor · 08/07/2012 16:27

I got 11 with a few guesses, but I haven't covered some of this stuff since school so it wasn't too bad. At least I get to stay!

2old2beamum · 08/07/2012 16:12

DH got 11 he thinks he is so clever Confused but I think as a yorkshireman he should deported. Me of alien descent got 12 Grin

Akermanis · 08/07/2012 14:51

I got 11 but I have no formal qualifications at all ( I think I may be an inverse snob )

I got 23 out of 25 for my Aussie test but that was because i refused to give the answer that Capt. Cook discovered Australia and I didn't know when the gold rush started in Victoria.

MummyDoIt · 08/07/2012 14:47

I scored 12 but a couple were lucky guesses. Some of those were really easy but others were impossibly hard!

Shanghaidiva · 08/07/2012 14:46

I got 12 -

TheWalkingDead · 08/07/2012 14:41

I got 12, and out of the five I guessed three of them were correct guesses. I put it down to luck

Empusa · 08/07/2012 14:36

I got 9. Always wondered how knowing any of that information makes someone a more desired citizen?

mumnosbest · 08/07/2012 14:33

looks like we might be getting some very clever foeigners coming to show us up A bit. by the way Im a teacher so im educating your children! sorry Blush

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onedaysandy · 08/07/2012 14:26

Rather surprisingly I got 11. I've been teaching English to international students recently and a lot of the course material covers British history. I think that's helped me brush up!