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.

It's ridiculous. I can answer the one about the artists, have a good guess about the National Trust/National Parks one and don't have a clue about the other two. I'm British born and bred and have a history degree!!

But the ability to name Henry VIII's wives and how they died isn't even remotely relevant to that proof.

It's something a lot of British people would know from way back, though, even if not particularly interested in the Tudors - they'll have memories of learning divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived at school or visiting some stately home where Catherine Parr lived and listening to a guide drone on about Henry VIII.

I agree it’s ridiculous and I suspect a money making venture , am presuming you have to pay to sit this test.

I’m reasonably educated with a top grade in History A Level and struggled with two of those questions.

I emigrated and became a citizen of a commonwealth country with far less hassle ( did have to swear allegiance to the queen 🙄). Were you not able to work to residence within 3 years? 10 years seems such a long time to be paying in and getting nothing out. Britain seems so unwelcoming.

They're just trying to stop anyone passing the test, aren't they.

Utterly bizarre.

As a Scot, I have very little knowledge of English history. It's a different flaming country!

Me either. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

YANBU for wanting to live in the U.K though. What it is you like about it? Just curious. I would love to live in Australia or Canada.

I’ve just had a look at indefinite leave to remain (which I have) you seem to tick the right boxes to apply for this without the test? Ie having lived here for 10 years as one? Being married to a British citizen as another? Maybe even your job?
for me I only need to do the test if I want a British passport

That one got me, too. There was the Battle of the Solent, which I think was against the French, but I'm pretty sure that was later in the 16th century. And I only know that much because I went to the Mary Rose museum when it was first open.

And I'm sure that I was taught at school that Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned for nearly 20 years, so I'm not convinced the right answer is on the list of options.

There's certainly nothing among those questions that have anything to do with the practicalities of living in Britain.

Think they must be specifically talking about artists as painters rather than people who work in the arts? Sir JOhn Lavery is an interesting one as he was actually Irish. Still British, obviously, because his birthplace was Belfast. But how many people would know that?! I mean, it's as if they're deliberately trying to confuse people. John Constable would have been a better example.

They're ridiculous questions.

They should be questions relevant to modern life that most people living in the UK know the answer to, but harder if you're foreign. Things like what day of the week are elections held etc

Those questions seem really irrelevant. It would be better to ask things like, ‘what’s the Police non-emergency/emergency number’ or name some high street chemists/supermarkets. E.g. things that would prove you’ve been living here and haven’t just landed in a dinghy 2 minutes ago.

Extreme example - but you can’t contest they are not accurate examples. Great you did so well in the test but these ‘extreme examples’ are examples of the type of questions that could be in it and therefore the learner has to learn!

But it's not a Life in England test. It's Life in the UK. It's totally silly, though, I agree.

Yanbu.

But it is not just history . It is also about life in the UK. Like what time do pubs open. Not joking

The only exceptions are if you are under 18, over 65, have taken it before as a part of a prior visa application, or have a long term physical or mental condition that prevents you from taking it.

We prospective British citizens (I am one! Australian with British ancestry) should feel lucky we aren't conscripted into the army - if all we have to do to demonstrate our loyalty and commitment to the country is fill out a multiple choice test!

You still have to apply. Marriage is not automatic visa or citizenship. Just the requirements change.

It’s ridiculous. People born and bred in the UK couldn’t answer most of these questions.

Have you actually looked at a Life in the UK test? Because I just have and OP is simply picking out the most obscure questions to make a point. The majority of the questions are about modern culture and I would say many British would easily pass with no practice.

I have taken a similar test to get my Australian passport, I think it was a privilege to be able to gain citizenship and I did not resent the investment of my time to brush up on facts about Australia.

I'd guess it's to make sure that you know about British history and culture so that it isn't lost as the country becomes more globalised.

Most questions I had were history. Bloody Tudors

I think there should be a test, just don't agree with what is asked. Knowing for example the minimum age of marriage, when in a crash the police have to be called, what are accepted forms of ID to vote, to give three examples.

No need to know when the Battle of Hastings was.

I've just taken one online and passed comfortably. I got a couple of the history questions wrong because they weren't periods I'd studied or have an interest in but most of the questions were very straightforward, and relevant, e.g. what do you need to get a National Insurance number.

I just found a free practice test online. I got 22 out of 24 correct. None of them were remotely obscure.

https://lifeintheuktests.co.uk/life-in-the-uk-test/

I recall reading a news story a few years ago where they tested a whole load of British people. They all failed!