I'm about to become British

[JoshandJamie]

I got a letter from the home office today say that I've been granted British citizenship. Just have to go to a citizenship ceremony and it's a done deal. I'll no longer be a South African. It's quite sad in a way - but good grief, how nice to not have to get visas for everywhere I go.

Hooray.

I got 7/10 Too many English to Scots/Welsh
and i thought Father Xmas came from French not German

Congrats JoshandJamie you must be more patient than me to do the test!

ooh welcome - do sit down and have a nice cup of tea and a rich tea biscuit

Am enjoying my morning cup of PG tips and a rich tea, thanks.

Just so you don't all despair, the questions in that online test aren't what is asked in the real thing. The book has about 10 chapters in it and they only ask you questions from three of them - which you learn verbatim. Believe me, you're even less likely to get the answers right from the chapters they quiz - it's all about government and the EU. The really useful stuff that would help the average citizen (like what you're supposed to do if you get a dog, whether you need a tv licence per tv or per househould and how the NHS process works if fall pregnant, is largely ignored)

LOL I apparently am the queen (and she's not even British!!!)

IS THE BOOK -- really necessary to pass the test? I have lived here almost 20 years and am only just () getting around to citizenship test in a few weks. I really dont' want to get the book, I just have this feeling that if I don't know the answers by now, i never will, and no amount of studying will change that. But I did the BBC test and 'only' got 9/14 right; thought Wales had more people in it... Got the Saints Day order right by skin of my teeth, I knew answers to the pocket money/bus driver questions, though.

yes you need the book

Do you want to sell me yours, J+J?

Found some more questions here , but it doesn't give answers. And an even longer version: here .

However, at least one of the answers is wrong on the long list... the parliamentary deposit is down as £500 on Parliament's own website but says £5000 on the long test!

And many questions bothered me -- eg, NO. 83 because only married women over 30 were allowed to vote in 1918; they had to wait until 1928 or so to get equal voting status to men.

Let me see if I can find it. No idea where it is. I'll have a hunt tonight and let you know!!

I got 11, just about passable, so at least they won't be coming to chuck me out. But honestly, how is it relevant to know how long you have to be married before you can get divorced?!

I would have thought some much better questions could include:

• who did you most empathise with in The Good Life?
• is it alright to say "Cardiff, my favourite English town" in Cardiff? (A Swedish friend was the author of this bon mot)
• we had a Civil War. Can you remember what it was about? (The right to wear floppy hats is all I can remember)
• who portrays history on the telly more accurately, Simon Schama or the cast of Blackadder?
• Take That v. Duran Duran. Discuss.

That would sort the wheat from the chaff!