Booking at a glance
- Test fee: £50 per attempt, paid by card when you book
- Booking: exclusively through the official GOV.UK booking service, at least 3 days in advance; over 30 centres to choose from
- Test format: 24 questions in 45 minutes; 75% (18 correct answers) to pass
- Cancellation: a refund only if you cancel or reschedule at least 3 days (72 hours) before your appointment
- ID: a valid passport, valid photo travel document, biometric residence permit or card, eVisa share code, or an EU, EEA or Swiss ID card. Bring the original, in exactly the name on the booking
How much does the Life in the UK test cost?
The test fee is £50, and because it applies per attempt, the most cost-effective strategy is to pass on your first try. There is no free sitting, no discount for booking early, and nothing to pay at the centre on the day.
Always book directly through the official GOV.UK portal. Third-party sites charge unnecessary premium fees, and a booking with the wrong name or details is a booking you cannot use.
Finding a test centre near you
There are over 30 approved test centres across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The booking service shows you the centres and dates available, so you pick the one that is easiest to reach rather than the nearest by name. Popular centres fill up in the weeks before a settlement or citizenship deadline, so look at availability before you settle on a study plan.
You need to book at least 3 days in advance. In practice, give yourself more than that: if you want to cancel or move the appointment and get your £50 back, you also need to do it at least 3 days (72 hours) before the test. Inside that window the fee is gone.
What you need to book
- An email address
- A debit or credit card for the £50 fee
- One of the accepted forms of ID: a valid passport, a valid EU/EEA or Swiss ID card, a valid photo travel document (not an emergency one), a biometric residence permit or card, or an eVisa share code. GOV.UK lists eVisa as the preferred option
The name on your booking must match the name on your ID exactly. If your documents disagree with each other, sort that out before you pay.
What happens on the day
Bring the original ID you booked with, not a photocopy and not a photo on your phone. The centre takes your photograph to confirm who you are. If you turn up without the right ID, or refuse the photo, you will not sit the test and you will not be refunded. You cannot bring children or other family members into the centre with you.
The test itself is 24 questions in 45 minutes, on a computer, drawn from the official handbook Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. You need 75% to pass. Pass, and you receive a unique reference number, which is what you quote on your citizenship or settlement application. There is no certificate to lose.
Who does not need to book
You are exempt if you are under 18, aged 65 or over, have passed the test before, or have a long-term physical or mental condition that stops you taking it. Please note that medical exemptions require an official exemption form or a formal letter from a medical professional. Everyone else applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British citizenship needs a pass. The test is one of the ILR requirements as well as a citizenship one.
When should you book?
We recommend starting your revision today and taking several full mock exams. To avoid paying for multiple attempts, wait to book your official test until your practice scores consistently sit comfortably above the 75% pass mark.