Life in the United Kingdom test

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The Life in the United Kingdom test is a computer-based test for applicants for naturalisation as a British citizen.

1 Naturalisation requirements
2 Speculation about the test
3 Test Errors and Inaccuracies
4 "Cricket test"
5 See also
6 Further reading
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Naturalisation requirements

The Life in the United Kingdom test is a computer-based test for applicants for naturalisation as a British citizen. A pass in this test fulfils the requirement for "sufficient knowledge of life in the United Kingdom" which was introduced on 1 November 2005. <ref name="test_start">"New UK citizenship testing starts", BBC News, 1 November 2005.</ref> It simultaneously fulfils the language requirement by demonstrating "a sufficient knowledge" of the English language. The test is based on chapters 2 to 4 of the book "Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship".

The test lasts for 45 minutes during which time the entrants have to answer 24 multiple choice questions. Although example questions are given on the official test website, they are not in the multiple choice format of the real test.

The concept was recommended in 2003 by the "Life in the UK" advisory group, chaired by Sir Bernard Crick, and was endorsed by the then United Kingdom Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Legally, sufficient knowledge of Welsh and Scottish Gaelic can also be used to fulfil the language requirement. Home Office guidance states that if anyone wishes to take the test in these languages arrangements will be made for them to do so.

An alternative method of satisfying the language and life in the UK requirements is to attend a course of "language-with-civic-content" based on a set of published materials.

At the time of the initial introduction the materials were primarily about England. There were proposals for producing equivalent materials for the other parts of the UK.

[edit] Speculation about the test

Discussion of the test produced a lot of speculation about possible questions in the British media. Most of these were not based on factual information about what the test required.

Typical citizenship test questions (proposed) may look like: <ref>Travis, Alan. "Being a good Brit: a user's guide", The Guardian, 4 September 2003.</ref>

Who is the prime minister?
- As of 2006, the answer is 'The Right Honourable Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair, member of Parliament'
How do you pay a phone bill?
- In the UK, you pay your landline phone bill by either direct debit or filling the slip at the bottom with the payment at a post office (through Girobank) or bank.
What does it mean to be a good neighbour?
How did the United Kingdom come about?
- Through the Acts of Union in 1707 (to form the Kingdom of Great Britain) and in 1800 (to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland).
When was Britain last invaded?
- 1066, although, there was a failed invasion in 1797 in Fishguard by French forces.
Identify the political party with each of the following three policy statements ...
When was the Act of Union? <ref>"Q&A: The road to UK citizenship", BBC News, 25 February 2004.</ref>

[edit] Test Errors and Inaccuracies

There are many critics of the study materials for the test. Many of the claims in the materials are not factually correct <ref>"Citizenship guide fails its history exam", The Guardian, 29 April 2006.</ref> <ref>"Italy omitted as founding member state of the EU", Red Squirrel, 2006.</ref>

Claim: Describing the fighter pilots in the second world war, Winston Churchill said: "Never in the course of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few."
- Fact: He actually said: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
Claim: Queen Mary "came to the throne with Spanish support".
- Fact: Mary defeated Lady Jane Grey's bid to usurp the throne with a huge wave of English support
Claim: Great Britain includes Northern Ireland
- Fact: The United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland. Great Britain is made up of England, Wales and Scotland.
Claim: Charles II was recalled from exile in France
- Fact: He was recalled from Holland
Claim: The European Union was founded by five members Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands
- Fact: There were six founding members. Italy is missing as a founding member state of the European Union.

[edit] "Cricket test"

Former Conservative minister Norman Tebbit once suggested the "cricket test", also known as the "Tebbit test", where he suggested that people from ethnic minorities in Britain should not be considered truly British until they supported the England cricket team, as opposed to the country of their ancestors' birth.

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

Crick, Bernard (2004). Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship. The Stationery Office. ISBN 0-1134-1302-5.
Dillon, Henry (2006). British Citizenship Test: Study Guide. Red Squirrel Publishing. ISBN 0-9552-1592-7.