To resent the Life in the UK test?

[MooseBreath]

I will preface this by saying I am Canadian and have lived in the UK on a variety of visas for about 10 years. At 32 years old, this is basically my entire adult life.

I am finally at a point where I can become a permanent resident and can then apply for citizenship. In order to do this, I have to take the Life in the UK test. It is scheduled for later this month and I have bought the study guide and I am preparing to take the test so that I can continue living in the country with my DH and two British children.

Some of the knowledge required is absolutely ridiculous and a massive barrier to those with learning difficulties, those who speak English as a second language, or simply aren't highly educated. For example:

True or False: In 1500 the English defeated a large French fleet of ships that intended to land an army in England.

Which TWO facts relate to the UK's national heritage?
a. There are 25 national parks in England, Scotland and Wales.
b. All national parks are run by the National Trust.
c. There are 15 national parks in England, Scotland and Wales.
d. The National Trust is a charity that maintains much land and many historic properties.

Which TWO are famous British artists?
a. Thomas Gainsborough
b. Sir John Lavery
c. Benjamin Britten
d. Graham Greene

How many years did Mary Queen of Scots spend in prison?
a. 4
b. 11
c. 30
d. 20

How is this even remotely relevant to living in the United Kingdom in the 21st century? My DH (British born and bred, University educated to PhD level, excellent job) failed the practice test.

AIBU to be so resentful of having to learn all of this information to simply continue to live with my husband and children (and pay for the privilege)? I know I didn't have to move here and I didn't have to stay, but I met my DH whilst studying abroad and this is where life has led.

You are absolutely right OP. My wife is Australian and has lived here for years, paid full tax and thousands and thousands of pounds for visas (plus the medical charges she has to pay despite also paying full NI). Our daughter is British. The test is a joke and doesn’t in any way reflect her value to this country, or the huge amounts she has paid into the system to live here (far more than a lot of British people do). All it does is create resentment. If they want to test value to the country it should be based on completely different things. But knowing some random historical fact that 90% of the British public don’t know is pointless.

Just to add, she will pass it without issue - English is her first language, she’s got a great memory and is a good learner. But that isn’t what should get you the right to live here!

YANBU to be resentful. That is silly - I’m British, and university educated and would have to take a guess at those questions. They’ve had no bearing on my 30-some years of life in Britain.

If the purpose of the test is to ensure you are able to integrate into your community then a practical test of questions about queueing, which side of the road to drive on, which are your 3 nearest supermarkets, who is your local MP, etc would be more useful.

I thought if you were married you didn't need to apply for citizenship?

My partner doesn't have citizenship but some kind of indefinite right to remain, can't remember the exact terms, but we thought if his status ever changed we'd just get married.

It's ridiculous!

I’m British and don’t know the answer to any of those questions!

I have always struggled with memorizing facts, so it's a big challenge for me. It's just frustrating that I am spending so much of my time learning random historical facts when I could be spending time with my children, actually teaching them about how to live in the UK.

Absolutely ridiculous.

If I were to sit this exam as a person born and lived in England I would probably fail

Whats the point if you need to study for it

LaundyWoes puts it better

My DH had to do this and I think it's ridiculous. Feels really snobbish somehow? I don't know how to describe how it makes me feel.

I've done the German one. It's much, much more practical. You do need to know some history, but it's very basic stuff, and very connected to the roots of Germany as it is today, as a society. The rest is about being a citizen - what you can do if you disagree with a decision the public administration has made, what sorts of behaviours are within and outwith the law. The UK one, from what I know of it, seems to me to emphasise, in parts, a very limited, conservative (if not backward) view of integration and citizenship.

Edited for clarity

@LaundryWoes
I agree. I too have a degree and had to guess.

A test to do with modern life in Britain would work. To do with politics and economics as well as more day to day subjects.

It's a bullshit English language test by stealth. When I took the test there were a lot of test takers that were retaking the test again. Most of the questions were worded oddly and would easily confuse anyone who didn't speak English as their first language. My favourite bit of the test was getting the same question twice.

@Fallenangelofthenorth I need to take the test in order to have indefinite leave to remain. I don't know if it was different for EU citizens before Brexit, but as a Canadian, this has been standard for a long time. The citizenship is so that I could live in another country for a while if I had to (if my parents need me in Canada for a stretch of time when they become elderly, this could negate my residency) and could then return to the UK.

My DH took it mine years ago and the questions were just stupid, I would have definitely failed. My DH ended up reading out the questions and answers and recording them, as he's an auditory learner and thankfully passed. Hope you get on ok

@BasicPumpkinSpice

You're right.
The quest about a large fleet of French ships is a stealth question I think.
I think they were Spanish?

You don’t have to but it’s obviously safer to have citizenship. Immigration laws can change. I have children and a home in Britain so I applied for citizenship. I don’t want to rely on spousal visal.

I have a recent first class history degree and I wouldn't know the answer to any of those for sure
Totally ridiculous.

I took that test and actually enjoyed learning random facts about the U.K. Citizenship in any country is a privilege, and you will have citizenship in two dominant countries in the West. Don’t be so entitled.

Nope that was 1588.

@MooseBreath download the app and just do tons of practice questions. That helped me lots. Obviously read the book too.

It's ridiculous.

I haven't looked at the questions for ages, but my ex-husband had to take the test. He has a first in history from Oxford and found it both infuriating and funny that there were several history questions that were, basically, just bullshit. I seem to remember one of them being about Huguenot refugees.

The German test sounds much more useful and sensible.

(And, on that note - saying Mary Queen of Scots was 'in prison' is ... odd. She wasn't down Wormwood Scrubs FFS.)

The French ships question is still sneaky. The French fleet was in 1545.

Yanbu, I bet not many British citizens could answer those! I don't think I could with much certainty