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Original poster

How British are you????

66 replies

Gwenick · 16/06/2005 15:57

just seen this

On the BBC - in order to pass the new test to become a British citizen you've got to answer 24 questions based on the information on in the "Life in the United Kingdom" book published by the government!!!!

I scored 8/15 "seat in the district council" in this test - how did you do??

Can't believe some of the crazy things they could get questioned about!!

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 16/06/2005 18:47

I got 14. I'm very British. I didn't get the first one right.

cori · 16/06/2005 18:56

I got 9, and I am not British. mmm Will have some studying to do if I ever decide to take citizenship.

SenoraPostrophe · 16/06/2005 19:01

11 for me.

Tortington · 16/06/2005 19:17

7

marthamoo · 16/06/2005 19:17

I got 10. I didn't know dogs didn't need licences any more.

Caligula · 16/06/2005 19:31

I got 12. But I think they're wrong about Father Christmas - he comes from Lapland, not the North Pole!

Hulababy · 16/06/2005 19:38

I scored 13/15 - I got the last two questions wrong.

Original poster
Gwenick · 16/06/2005 20:41

To be fair, these are questions the BBC made up after reading the guide, not the official questions. I very much doubt most of these would ever be on the test paper...

True - but the questions the BBC made up are from the information in the book - and the questions for the test it's self will be from information in the book - so realisticly they COULD be asked questions similar to those!!

I didn't know that dog licenses were abolished in 1987 either, but then I don't own a dog, and was only 8 in 1987

OP posts:
Socci · 16/06/2005 20:49

Message withdrawn

HondaDream · 16/06/2005 21:34

I am stunned I got 11 and I have not lived in UK since 1989. Just goes to show....

Nightynight · 16/06/2005 21:44

I thought UK electricity had been updated to European standards 220V recently?

That buy a pint thing is really cheeky. dx, who was foreign used to say that British men would go out of their way not to buy him a pint, even if he'd bought them one, eg say they had to leave now when it was their turn.

colditz · 16/06/2005 21:46

i got 11 right. I think they are both difficult and irrelevent

charellie · 16/06/2005 21:50

I scored 11.

Answered questions 2, 7, 9 and 14 wrong

Janh · 16/06/2005 21:51

I got 12 - got voltage, divorce requirements and Q for solicitor wrong.

sallystrawberry · 16/06/2005 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tamula · 16/06/2005 21:54

9 Oooo well done me!!

stleger · 16/06/2005 21:54

Ten, but I'm Irish! We have a school subject like this, compulsory for 3 years at secondary level!

Skribble · 16/06/2005 21:55

I got 12 but I consider myself Scottish rather than British.

morocco · 16/06/2005 21:56

I got 9 - quite pleased with that actually as the questions were a bit tough. to be fair though, they would just have to learn the answers by reading the book so it wouldn't be that bad.
what's everyone's opinion about these tests then? I think it's not a bad idea to have to prove you know something about the country you want to become a national of. Different matter if you're just after a work visa for a few years stay for example but if you want to settle permanently then why not?

puska · 16/06/2005 21:58

10 for me - move over grumpy old councilor make way for a young'un - actually im not that young!

Original poster
Gwenick · 16/06/2005 22:04

I think it's not a bad idea to have to prove you know something about the country you want to become a national of.

ermm - because as proved by just this small sample of people on MN, lots of BRITISH people wouldn't know the answers to the questions.

Plus - like you said "all they have to do is read the book"............hands up all of those who remember everything they had to learn at school for exams?? especially where you had to practically be able to recite a whole book or series of poems........I know I certainly don't! Just because you can answer a few questions about our country - doesn't mean you're a suitable citizen!

I'm sure lots of foreigners who've studied history would know the The Magna Carta answer, many may disagree about whether it's lapland or the North Pole Father Christmas comes from - but in Zim all the kids said one of the two answers, Question 8 - common courtesy - same thing is probably 'done' all around the world, and as for question 15 I disagree with their answer - I think making sure they're qualified is the first priority,

OP posts:
OldieMum · 16/06/2005 22:15

13 for me. I didn't know that dog licences had been abolished - but then I don't have a dog...

morocco · 16/06/2005 22:27

sorry, but I don't think it even matters a jot if British people know the answers or not - they're citizens, well subjects, whether they like it or not and whether the government likes it or not - no choice in the matter really. British nationals don't have to prove they're able to hold down a half decent job either or won't just sponge of the state for the rest of their life either but lots of people who apply for British citizenship do. Not that citizenship classes wouldn't be a bad idea at school either - although no doubt most 18 year olds already know exactly what would really happen to them if they spilt a pint on some old codger down the pub without learning about it in school.
some of the information seemed a bit dubious, I agree, I could think of better things to test on. When I think about what I would include, it would be information to make sure that all wannabe citizens have a good grasp of the basics of life in the UK, to include consumer law (right to return faulty goods), voting system , how to get help from agencies like citizens advice, dealing with tax and benefits system, basic grasp of our cultural heritage etc. It's shocking that a lot of British people leave school without this knowledge too but that's another matter entirely.
Personally I'd also rather be able to just take a test than sit through loads of citizenship classes if I could learn most of it from reading a booklet but I am rather lazy that way. What are you suggesting btw gwenick, yearly re-tests to prove continuing knowledge of life in Britain?

Heathcliffscathy · 16/06/2005 22:28

dh sucks. he got 15 right! he is a freak

Skribble · 16/06/2005 22:30

I don't think these kind of questions have any worth other than for fun.