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Original poster

I failed my life in Britain mock test

417 replies

Britishfailure · 04/10/2025 21:24

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 😂

OP posts:
YDBear · 05/10/2025 02:07

Just did a practise test and scored 83%. I’m British and that is just based on general knowledge. Of course I haven’t a clue what the maximum amount you can claim in a small claims court is, for example. But if most Brits can’t pass this test, as many seem to be saying here, then the state of general knowledge is appalling and it doesn’t say much for the education system.
I’m curious why people think they should be able to pass this test without studying. And seem to resent the idea that they should study. After all, you have to learn far more recondite stuff in the Highway Code to pass your driving test.

EBearhug · 05/10/2025 02:08

It's a bit like a pub quiz. So it's quite British in that sense.

persephonia · 05/10/2025 02:08

I got 88% but I do have a degree in History that I use in my job
I think it's possible to pass if you learn the book BUT all it really is is a test of your willingness and ability to memorise a number of random facts loosely connected to Britain.

PrincessSophieFrederike · 05/10/2025 02:09

EBearhug · 05/10/2025 02:08

It's a bit like a pub quiz. So it's quite British in that sense.

Good point!

persephonia · 05/10/2025 02:10

persephonia · 05/10/2025 02:08

I got 88% but I do have a degree in History that I use in my job
I think it's possible to pass if you learn the book BUT all it really is is a test of your willingness and ability to memorise a number of random facts loosely connected to Britain.

That's it the mock exam that's online. I haven't needed to take the actual one on account of being born here.

Shelllendyouhertoothbrushtoo · 05/10/2025 05:20

I just failed it. I'm a 42 year old british citizen. Grammar school/top uni/masters grad. Must have been an imposter all my life! I bet 90% of British citizens wouldn't pass this.

This is such a stupid way to decide if you're British enough. I'd love to see the results of all current citizens. Surely things like being integrated into your community, having a job, raising your children here should be the test? Or maybe things like kindness, integrity, contributions to society?

pimlicopubber · 05/10/2025 05:40

Britishfailure · 04/10/2025 21:24

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 😂

The test has useless questions, they should be focusing more on everyday life, values and culture rather than bingo knowledge.
It is expected you'll study the book or do practice tests but I'm not sure what's the point of forcing people to learn random knowledge about UK winning a football match 50 years ago

Pigeonpoodle · 05/10/2025 05:59

I did a Britizen test the other day. Some of the questions were ridiculously obscure and hard, and that I’m sure only a tiny fraction of Brits would know.

One question that stood out was “what year did Habeus Corpus become law?” with four dates in the late 1600s. I do a lot of pub quizzes and have a lot of nerdy knowledge, but I’m sure that would have stumped the most trivia-mad set of quizzers!

Summerhillsquare · 05/10/2025 06:45

CoralPombear · 04/10/2025 21:37

It’s an exam like any other I suppose. If you care enough then you’ll find a way to pass it. If it was too easy, it’d be pointless.

Yes. So what are measuring is the ability to study random questions to pass a test, not intrinsic love of or integration with the country. Pointless.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 05/10/2025 07:02

I took the Danish one, and most Danes can't pass it either. The point isn't you must know these things to be British, it's to show you've taken an interest.

Boomer55 · 05/10/2025 07:04

BIossomtoes · 04/10/2025 22:27

I just got 71%, born in the UK and lived here for 72 years. Some of those questions are insane - how does knowing Hitler invaded Poland prove Britishness ffs?

The start of us being at war with Germany…? 🤷‍♀️. History.

Pepperama · 05/10/2025 07:13

LivingOnCoffee567 · 04/10/2025 21:36

It's a tiny book you have to learn for FFS. I read it a couple of times during my commute and reserved a couple of hours on a Sunday morning for revision before the test on a Monday.

If you can read and write reasonably well in English, it's very very easy.

It's a challenge if you don't but then again, you really shouldn't be a citizen of a country if you're not fluent in the language.

A tiny book, a couple of hours? I must have done something wrong… it literally took weeks and that’s with decades in the country. Random historical dates of battles, order of kings, numerical facts from all four UK nations - number of MSPs, jury members etc. At the test centre, a large number of people walked out having failed. Talked to a lovely Greek nurse who’d had three attempts and was running out of time and money.

I think testing language skills is totally fine, making sure people understand something about basics of culture and everyday life - fine. Asking people to memorise random facts that no Brit knows and that several years later I never needed again is frankly idiotic

Jitterbuggs · 05/10/2025 07:14

stuckdownahole · 04/10/2025 21:49

I think you're right. It's basically an English proficiency test in disguise.

And the main thing that the whinging OP has missed is that YOU CAN TAKE THIS TEST UNLIMITED TIMES until you pass.

Show quote history

It's 100% an English language test in disguise. When I took the test for my ILR the test questions were worded completely differently to how they are worded in the official test prep. The questions were so awkwardly structured which is fine for a native speaker but going to be a challenge for anyone else. I also got the same question twice about, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud."

AprilinPortugal · 05/10/2025 07:15

I used to work with people from all over the world. They once tested me out by asking me some questions from the test..I hadn't a clue, which they found hilarious! Honestly I don't know what would happen to our hospital if they sent all non-Brits "home". We can't recruit enough British nurses, which is why we recruit from abroad!

Periperi2025 · 05/10/2025 07:16

I got 92% on my first attempt and i didn't do GCSE history and have never studied politics (I've worked in the NHS since i was 18).

(Mock test, obviously)

Charlize43 · 05/10/2025 07:17

Write the answers on a St. George flag and put it in your knickers.

Simonjt · 05/10/2025 07:18

I don’t know if its changed since I did it, but the answers for some of the NI based questions in the official book were wrong, so you had to purposely learn incorrect history to make the UK look better.

Nestingbirds · 05/10/2025 07:22

My friend has just passed - found it very stressful but glad she will have her citizenship now after three decades here xx

ImWearingPantaloons · 05/10/2025 07:31

I did a practice test and scored 42%. I’ve lived in the UK all my life!!

So many questions were utterly unrelated and irrelevant to living in the UK on a day to day basis.

PonkyPonky · 05/10/2025 07:32

I scored 92% but I think it’s more a test of English fluency than anything else. If you’re fluent in English then you can revise for it. Most of the questions are quite easy and could be answered without revision and you’d just know as a British person. But the history ones and the government ones might take a little bit of revision, particularly for people not originally from the UK.

autienotnaughty · 05/10/2025 07:34

I am British, I found these tests online and did one. I got 64%- a fail. I doubt many British people know the date we first had a prime minister or who started the NHS.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 05/10/2025 07:40

I have taken the test for another European country. Without studying for it I doubt many would pass that regardless of whether they are from the country or foreign either.

HauntedHero · 05/10/2025 07:41

First question I got is "what is lent"

The answer I suspect they want is 40 days before Easter which isn't even correct since Lent starts 46 days before Easter Sunday

CoffeeCantata · 05/10/2025 08:00

Just tried it and did well…but I have an A level in British Government and Constitution, and I think it’s hard!

But what I noticed on my test was…the idiots can’t spell parliament.

’Parliment’. 🙄

Original poster
Britishfailure · 05/10/2025 08:04

Famousinlove · 05/10/2025 01:11

How does it compare to the citizen test for your birth country OP?

Good question. I just did a sample test and it was one random question and the rest of the questions was relevant to living in the country and I passed it easily.

OP posts: