I failed my life in Britain mock test

[Britishfailure]

So I am a European citizen who has lived in London for 3 decades married to a Brit and raised 2 children. I have been toying with the idea of citizenship I light
of the Reform “we want to deport you all” rhetoric.

I took the mock citizenship test tonight and scored 71% which was not enough to pass. However, I made my British DH and children take it too and I actually scored way higher than they did.

The test is honestly crazy. Questions about roast beef. Honestly so weird. I think I won’t bother becoming a British citizen as I really don’t like roast beef 😂

Wouldn't it !! Actually mean and do something

We are a few years off a GE, which is plenty of time to keep your eye on Reform policies and polls before doing something you find objectionable.

Yes currently holding my 🐴🐴

OP did say most, not all.

I studied and took the actual test and passed it but I had to study because other than the history bits which I learned in history classes growing up, the rest was things I never came across, asked, or told about. DH, his parents, and siblings went through the test with me after I passed, none of them passed at all and what they thought they knew, they did not and they love their trivia.

Plus, do most Brits know much about all of the countries in the UK or just about the ones they live in?

Plus, do most Brits know much about all of the countries in the UK or just about the ones they live in?

Probably mostly the one they live in. Some of us know more - a lot of British people do like trivia tests.

Well considering you are being deported for not knowing your own history, there can only be one place you'd be welcome. And that's the US.They wouldn't even notice you.

If you don't want questions on British history and you don't want questions on recent trending popular culture (boaty McBoatface), what should the questions be on?

I got 92% with no history education beyond 14 and no politics education ever, all through reading, following the news, watching TV, and interest in how politics and legal processes in this country work. The whole point is that they expect you to have shown an interest in the country you're choosing to live in (or to read a study guide if not) it's not a big ask.

I think you are a bit of a lone voice thinking these questions are relevant or the test is something the average Brit can pass. Personally, I think if most British people cannot pass a citizenship test do their own country, then it’s a bit strange to expect non Brits to do so. I also think the test should be an opportunity to test you know knowledge which could be a bit useful for life here.

If you live in a country without gaining citizenship of that country presumably you’re always running the risk of rules changing which are unfavourable to non-citizens. It’s a bit like people in long-term relationships without the legal security of marriage. Moaning about the specific questions you need to be able to answer to become a British citizen is a bit irrelevant if you don’t want to be one.

I've just had a look the tests. Bloody hell,there are some difficult questions! I did 2,failed the first one (67%) but passed the second one (80%). I was born in the UK and have lived here all my life. I have an O level in history,am interested in history generally and read a lot. Seems that that is still not enough! If I struggled with some of the questions,I hate to think how someone not from the UK would fare!

Okay, so give me some example questions, you'd like to see asked?

It's not about knowing the content. It's about demonstrating that you took your application seriously enough to study the book that contains all possible questions, and their answers.

I think such a test in 2025 is unnecessary. It doesn't prove that one prospective citizen is going to be an asset to the country. Or that they will belong more so than someone who fails the test.

And those prattling on about how they got 100% despite never having taking history/know nothing about the other topics etc, good for you. I really loathe this type of smug comparison, happens everywhere.

I'm over 50, post grad educated and 100% British by DNA. I've never lived in another country.
I just failed with 71%
I had no clue over the history questions.
How silly.

Ok so from the citizenship test from my native country (it’s also multiple questions) I have selected some which I think are a bit more relevant than UK questions on roast beef and carry on films -

• expected behaviour in schools
• Who provides social welfare
• is it legal to do jobs without paying taxes?
• why are references important when applying for work
• what are the 2 official languages of this country
• what are the main natural resources of the country

These are general knowledge questions about the UK. All of them except exact dates relate to things that will have been experienced and observable in your life.having a post grad qualification is irrelevant, as it should be. My dad, who left school at 14 would have been able to answer most of them.

It should be questions that access whether you actually understand the culture. Like:

What is the correct response if a waiter drops a tray of glasses in a restaurant? Applaud
What lives longer with calgon? Washing machines.
What will you be sing in your head all day from now? Washing machines live longer with calgon.
Complete this popular football chat: You should have gone to " ".? Specsavers.
If someone jumps the queue at the post office, what do you do? Tut.

Then we could access properly fit rather knowing how members are there in the Irish assembly (to which the right answer British answer is surely "fuck knows" or when did farmers come to the UK?

Who is the most hated advert character?
Gocompare singer

Just read the book before taking the test…maybe?

Exactly it should pull out the universal truths that make us British!

What does your boss mean when she says she'll think about it later? She already forgotten.

But, as with all these things, it is not about the questions, it is about the reading to learn about the British culture.I’ve asked several friends today to do the test, friends with various levels of education, all have passed easily.

It makes me wonder about the discussion of all the people failing. I find it difficult to believe that people who show any interest in the traditions and institutions of this country could fail the test, let alone line so many who are intelligent. Normally intelligence couples with curiosity. It’s strange there is quite some performative failings here.

But that wouldn’t be a British test would it? Surely after 30 years you’ve realised we do a mix of perfectly rational, irreverent and traditional all mixed in together?

I got 75% but admit a few were lucky guesses!

Some of the questions are so random. I didn't know:

> How many seats there are in the Irish assembly?
> When English became the official language in documents?
> The limit for using the small claims court in Northern Ireland
> The year the habeos corpus act became law?

You seem nice. Typical Brit, not quite seeing the point.