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.

Surely these tests are designed to be difficult on purpose. The government only want the "best" (i.e. wealthy, highly educated) people to obtain citizenship. The kind of people who have the time to sit around and memorise obscure facts from English history. They don't want people with learning difficulties or poor English.

The question about “famous British artists” is problematic in several ways.

Gainsborough, yes. But Sir John Lavery? Not sure he’d qualify as “famous” nowadays? And “British” is also dubious, considering he was an Irish Catholic who - while born at a time where the whole of Ireland was part of (occupied by) Britain - was a supporter of Irish independence.

And the other two are famous in the fields of music and literature, which could be seen as part of the arts.

It's quite important to know that Britain used to occupy the whole of the island of Ireland.

Also to know that the term 'artist' is colloquially used to refer to creators of visual art.

You don't have to know who John Lavery is to get that question right. If you know that the other two were a composer and a writer, you can get it right by elimination.

I'm British, if I took this test I would be chucked out!

I agree, I've just done 5 more practice tests and passed them all.

I had such challenging questions as 'What is the name of the UK currency' and 'which two are political parties in the UK' (conservative party, Labour Party, office party, modern party were the answers),

I've also had questions on how old you have to be to buy a lottery ticket, how old you need to be for jury service, why you would use small claims, what a magistrates court is for etc so they certainly aren't all obscure arts and history questions

Roast beef is a traditional good"? That's not even English.

That was just a typo of mine @ZadocPDederick

It is not appropriate for a test like this to rely on which definition of the word artist is used. In large swathes of the world (particularly where American English has more influence) artist does include writer and composer.

This question also punishes people that looked up John Lavery before the test.

I agree that it is quite important to know that Britain used to occupy the whole of Ireland! That’s not what they’re asking about though. Instead they are claiming an Irish artist as British.

YABU. It’s not like these are random questions. It’s a 100 or so page book tgat you have to study. All the questions are from this book. And you don’t need to get a 100% on it, just a pass mark.

how entitled that you don’t want to even make this much effort.

Anyone know the length of the Bayeux tapestry by heart in ft?

With something as important as citizenship at stake the least they can do is ensure the questions and answers are clear and accurate.

I agree, OP.

I'm massively keen on people coming to this country to live being on board with UK culture and history and as far as I'm concerned, if you don't like this country or feel you can't support it or its values, then it's not for you, but wow - this test is bonkers! I too have a further degree in history/art history and I would struggle.

The questions are absurdly precise and even obscure. It should be about the constitution and legal system (only general knowledge level), the geography (eg main cities, mountain ranges, large rivers, industries (if we have any left!) etc at a top primary/lower secondary level. Also Ladybird Book-level history - some important people (kings, queens, inventors, reformers, military leaders that (once) 'every schoolperson would know'.

The kind of people who have the time to sit around and memorise obscure facts from English history.

The unemployed.

Agree, I think it's very offensive that we insist on immigrants jumping through these hoops that we don't consider important enough to bother teaching/learning ourselves. Horrible arrogant attitude to have as a country in my opinion.

I took this test. Really the easiest way to do it ime is to switch off your brain and memorise answers to the 20-30% of questions that aren't very obvious/just a language test. It's a very expensive money-grabbing exercise imo. Having already paid north of £6000 in various visa fees over the years and near-on £20,000 for a UK masters I feel very much done!

I took the test about a year ago, it was tedious to set time aside to study but I also kind of enjoyed learning about history that we didn’t cover at school in my native country. It was couple of weeks out of my life, I spent much longer to learn to drive…

Some questions are absurd and ridiculous but there are lots of very easy questions too. The test itself has 24 questions and you only need 18 correct answers to pass.

I got the citizenship having been here 25 years (most of my adult life)still didn’t feel like it should have been handed on a plate to me. It’s a privilege and it was a big deal for me (when I finally got around sorting it ).

The ceremony arranged by my local council was really lovely & heartwarming , the staff there really made me feel welcomed ❤️

I’m an immigrant and don’t find it offensive at all. My home country makes those who want the citizenship there to jump through the hoops too. It’s not just the UK.

When I did it in 2012, the history section wasn't part of it. They book had it for your FYI but that was it. Later, the omission become politicised- and the conservative government insisted it was updated.

I'd really hate to take it now. Sorry and good luck OP!

im british born and i dont know the answer to a single one and dont feel i need too.

Those questions make more sense than what’s on the UK test.

I remember taking it and found it odd that I had to take a citizenship test for Indefinite Leave to Remain but not to become a British citizen. The only reason I don’t have citizenship is due to the extra cost. Plans to save for it though jic the government decides to change the rules again and/or raise the cost.

My issue with it (in addition to the points raised above) is that it has a heavy English slant eg questions about the War of the Roses etc.

I was born in Scotland and grew up there. I learned Scottish /world history in school. NOTHING about the war of the Roses etc and yet I’ve been able to live my life without issue. It’s ridiculous.

Well, if everyone who went through the UK school system was taught these facts as basic history, then one assumes they already passed this test in some fashion. So, it doesn’t matter if they can’t pass it now.

And as someone pointed out, you are given, (have to pay for?) a handbook which you use to study. Even if they changed the content to more practical facts, as someone has said about Germany’s test, one presumes anyone taking the test would have to study a German handbook.

I am Canadian and just took the test posted above. I got 75%. I assume if I had studied I would scored better.

This highlights an issue I see with a lot of multiple choice tests - the person setting the question thinks the answer is clear (because they already know it) but it can be really ambiguous.

It’s not about letting the few in, it’s about keeping the majority out. Some of them might be jihadists.

I took the test a few years ago and I agree, the amount of detail you need to know is ridiculous, although practice questions do help you prepare. Maybe I was lucky, but the actual test seemed a lot easier than the practice questions, too.

However, I took great delight in making my British, degree-educated colleagues all have a go at the test and see them fail. I also found it funny when one of my friends, who has a degree and keen interest in history pointed out that a few of the supposed answers to the questions were actually wrong.

To this day I still don't know why knowing who designed a specific building in a city in the UK or what sportsperson won an award 15 years ago makes me a better citizen, but it's done now, and the peace of mind was worth the absurd tests and the obscene amount of money.

To the PP who said citizenship is a privilege - yes, but also consider just how few rights there are for people who have made a living here for many years, but who weren't born here. When Brexit was still going on there was even talk of stripping European citizens of the right to vote in local elections (they weren't allowed to vote in national ones). I mean, how can we demand taxes and all sorts of responsibilities from people who we don't even give basic rights to?