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British Citizenship Tests - Would You Pass?

(57 Posts)
Magenta8 Wed 16-Jul-25 14:38:55

Has anyone come across the compulsory tests for people wishing to obtain British Citizenship? There are sample test papers available online.

I have done several and I didn't find them very easy but perhaps that is just me.

Visgir1 Wed 16-Jul-25 15:50:46

My DIL aced it. She's an American, one of the questions when she took it was "can you speak English".

What was nice few months after there was a lovely ceremony and I believe the local Mayor presented the certificate 's to the successful recipients.

Maremia Wed 16-Jul-25 16:33:45

Congratulations to your relative.

Magenta8 Wed 16-Jul-25 20:00:53

Well done to your clever DIL I hope she enjoys being a BritishCitizen.

I found some of the questions very hard and I've live in the UK all my life.

Aveline Wed 16-Jul-25 20:10:04

My friend was advised to watch breakfast television so she'd be able to answer questions on everyday aspects of life in UK. It worked.

keepingquiet Wed 16-Jul-25 20:14:46

I don't think they are intended to be a 'test' in some senses, but rather like obtaining a driving license, there should be things you should be able to do and know before you are let lose on the road!

Maybe a bad analogy, but I'm trying to say it isn't something you can study for in that sense.

I am surprised that anyone could learn anything from watching morning televison, but maybe that's the point...?

Deedaa Wed 16-Jul-25 20:22:53

The only ones I've looked at seem to have some very obscure political questions and random history ones. I think there are quite a large proportion of British born natives who would have problems with them. Just watch any TV quiz programme when simple history questions are asked.

JackyB Thu 17-Jul-25 06:24:50

When I applied for German nationality I was told I didn't need to take the test because I was over 60! I had looked at some sample tests when they first became a thing, though, and did better than some of my colleagues at work, simply because they were much younger and I had lived through more German history than them, notably the fall of the Berlin wall and also, as a churchgoer, I knew all about the various Bank Holidays. I was never quite sure about some of the constitutional points, but they were easily learned.

I would be interested to see how I would do in a British citizenship test. Having not lived there for so long now, I might not be quite up to date on some cultural topics, and definitely not sport (is that even part of the test?)

JackyB Thu 17-Jul-25 06:35:30

So I've just done a test and I got three wrong. (One because I didn't understand the question. I thought it was oddly worded)

And there was a sporting question: "Where did golf start?" wink

Allsorts Thu 17-Jul-25 06:38:44

Got them all right. Before such a test everyone expecting to live here should speak and understand the language and means to support themselves in the work market.

BlueBelle Thu 17-Jul-25 06:57:59

At the golf course JackyB

BlueBelle Thu 17-Jul-25 07:03:23

Just done one and I m packing my bags as we speak not sure where I ll go though

Greyduster Thu 17-Jul-25 07:22:58

I got 75% right, and I’m kicking myself for the ones I got wrong.

Witzend Thu 17-Jul-25 07:26:16

JackyB

So I've just done a test and I got three wrong. (One because I didn't understand the question. I thought it was oddly worded)

And there was a sporting question: "Where did golf start?" wink

Was it in Scotland, on the links?

ferry23 Thu 17-Jul-25 08:17:52

Well, I can stay, but note to self: brush up on Irish history

ReadyMeals Thu 17-Jul-25 13:43:54

I don't know anything about sport or movies, or modern pop music, so I guess I'd not get my citizenship.

mabon2 Thu 17-Jul-25 13:47:38

I haven't clue as I dont know what are the questions.

ReadyMeals Thu 17-Jul-25 13:57:14

I've just done one of the mocks and at least half of them I had no idea about. Historical, science history, political history... Stuff we didn't do at school and I haven't read about. How does cramming all that stuff tell anyone you're going to be a good citizen? Or is the idea of it just to exclude as many people as possible? It would make more sense to ask for references from two unrelated British neighbors that you're pleasant to live near.

Grantanow Thu 17-Jul-25 13:58:05

I doubt I would pass this government version of Trivia but then maybe the Royals wouldn't pass either.

grannyqueenie Thu 17-Jul-25 14:03:34

A very poor 71% on the one I tried. I’m sure I’d be a much better citizen if only I knew when the Battle of Agincourt took place 🤦‍♀️ They seemed mostly pretty ridiculous and irrelevant questions to me!

grannyqueenie Thu 17-Jul-25 14:06:30

BlueBelle if you happen find a country to go that’s governed by common sense then please let me know and I’ll come and join you!

Nancat Thu 17-Jul-25 14:09:04

I did a test online, scored 100%. questions included history, culture, traditions, values, national moral framework and laws. Nothing in the test were difficult, obscure or "trick questions", just a check that people wanting to come to live in the UK understand and respect our culture and values. It's a pity that it was not introduced years ago.

AuntieE Thu 17-Jul-25 14:13:06

If the British test is anything like the Danish one, then no, I would probably fail miserably.

Why? Because I know nothing about football or football players. My interests are classical music and ballet, theatre in general and literature. Not things that crop up in citizenship tests.

Schnackie2 Thu 17-Jul-25 14:36:07

I took this test 20 years ago, when it was a brand new 'thing'. I studied the sample questions and passed (also former American), but the only one I got wrong was "What would you call someone from Tyne and Wear?" All I knew was that Geordie was a person from Newcastle and hadn't heard of Tyne and Wear, so got that wrong. I did enjoy the new citizen ceremony.

cc Thu 17-Jul-25 14:39:55

A young man from the far east who worked for my husband had to take the test, there were questions about Dickens. Some of us may have read this at school but I doubt that most of the British population would know much detail - or whether it would stand a immigrant in good stead for his new life here.