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 to keep the brown and black people out.

Sorry I am missing how?

I just did an online test and got asked when the first Christian communities were settled.

That's arguable. Some say approx late 3rd century, under the Romans, others consider not until St Augustine's mission from Rome (6th century?).

Fifty years after leaving school, and it's only just dawning on me how much history we were taught in RE (and how much I remember). We did the start of Islam and the Crusades, and the Roman persecution of Christians and Jews in RE, too.

Those who have taken a practice test and passed should do a couple more. Each test is different and many don't have particularly sensible questions about living in a modern British society. I would welcome a few questions about how to use public transit and what council tax is used for.

I've always loved history thanks to having a walking encyclopaedia as a dad, so the historical questions I knew the answer to, but some of the others were very hard and quite irrelevant to life in the UK. It's also very embarrassing as they announce whether you passed or failed publicly in front of the whole group (at least when I did it). It will be fine though. Thankfully I didn't have to retake it. I think if you read the guide and see the question, you will remember the answer to it.

I had never heard of the Chartists.

But knew that originally only landowners etc could vote.

I suppose everyone would define "essential history" differently.

We‘ve done the German test too, and it was certainly more practical, but also not necessarily obvious to the average German, despite going through the school system.
DD1 didn’t have to do the test, instead she had to show all her school reports to demonstrate she’d gone through the German school system and that she had sufficient language skills.
I actually revised all the practice questions and got all 33 right in 10 minutes, while DH got 32/33 in 15 minutes after eff all revision. But I can imagine it would be a real challenge to some from a bildungsferne background.
My fave practice question, which has sadly since been removed:
Inwiefern ist Deutschland ein Rechtstaat?
Option B: weil der Staat immer Recht hat.
Who says the Germans don’t have a sense of humour?
To come back to the main issue of why are the questions so tricky: I think it’s as much to do with people proving they’re willing to jump through hoops and thus demonstrate their commitment to engage culturally with their new country as it is with learning reams of historical dates.

He's definitely never taken a test. I'm a bit worried now about the type of visa he's got, but can't ask as he's on nights so asleep. I remember seeing the piece of paper he got from the home office after the Brexit referendum but before actual Brexit. Can't remember exactly what it said, but he doesn't have a British passport and I've got a feeling he's not entitled to UK benefits either, although I might be wrong about that part.

Maybe he needs to do this test too. I'll have to look into it. I just took the first two tests on the link above and failed both as can't remember much about history or sport.

None of the Mary Queen of Scots answers are correct. It’s 19 years.

When I was preparing to take mine, my British DH and quite a few relatives and British friends tried the practice tests out of interest. I don’t think any of them passed.

Do all the online free tests over and over again...they repeat the questions.

What bothers me is the amount of quiet indoctrination that's involved in the way those 'pointless facts' are presented.

As several people have pointed out, the real answers to a lot of the historical questions aren't simple multiple choice but 'it's complicated'. Similarly, the way they've chosen notable artists etc. is presented as if it's neutral.

IMO this is part of a wider tendency to eliminate discussion and different views in society, to turn everything into black and white issues.

"Where did Engineers come from in the Middle Ages." Similar question about farmers...

I thought it was supposed to be about the UK?

I read that one of the questions is "When did Jesus die?" to which the answer is supposed to be Good Friday. Not only is that not true, since when was Jesus British?

If the online practice tests are at all accurate, it is an extremely easy test, with questions like "What is the capital of England?". I got 23/24. I have no formal education past Y8. You don't need to answer every question right, just most of them.

Don't know what is going on in universities if posters upthread can't pass these tests with two degrees.

I agree. I doubt most British people could even answer the questions tbh!

I did a practice paper online. 20/24 so I passed...just. But this question about the first British Christians befuddled me. We are not taught this at school.

I'm English, lived in England all my life, and have a good aptitude for comprehension. But if English is a second or third language you have to read them very carefully.

Why are there not more practical questions? Why so much bullshit history?

Not in 1500. The Spanish Armada was 1588. The French did also try sending an invasion fleet, but not till 1545.

I embarrassingly failed the test

I have to admit I find bit concerning you have no idea about your partner immigration status and though you can just get married to gain citizenship/automatic right to stay? Have you two not talked about it?

It might that particular website but some of the questions are very old or out of date.

Sorry, but… 🤣🤣🤣🤣

It’s insane, I was born here and I don’t know the answers! 🤣

Really?

Yep... just everyday general knowledge...

Canada have a citizenship test too, which includes questions about the history of the country. I think it's fairly universal isn't it? I guess It shows a comment to the country you plan to move to.