Short answer: you need at least 18 correct answers out of 24, a score of 75%. Seventeen is a fail. You have 45 minutes. GOV.UK confirms the 75% pass mark on its what happens at the test page.
What score do you need?
Every question is worth one mark, and the pass line is 75%. With 24 questions, that works out to exactly 18 correct answers.
| Correct answers | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 16 out of 24 | 67% | Fail |
| 17 out of 24 | 71% | Fail |
| 18 out of 24 | 75% | Pass |
| 20 out of 24 | 83% | Pass |
| 24 out of 24 | 100% | Pass |
A wrong answer scores the same as a blank one, so always choose an answer, even when you are unsure.
Quick check
Check what you know
Three questions on Becoming a Citizen. Each answer is explained as you go.
Test format
The test has 24 multiple-choice questions, and you have 45 minutes, a little under 2 minutes per question. You take it on a computer at an approved test centre, not online at home. GOV.UK says the questions are based on the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents.
Most questions ask you to choose one answer from four. Some are true-or-false statements, and some ask you to pick two correct answers. The official service says the test starts with a few practice questions that do not count, so you can get used to the system first. You can make notes during the test, but you must hand them to the supervisor before you leave.
The test is the same whether you are applying for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) or British citizenship. If you have already passed, GOV.UK says you do not need to take it again.
How you get your result
You find out on the day. After the test, staff tell you your result and give you your unique reference number (URN). The official FAQ says an email with your URN should arrive within 10 minutes, and every result is listed in your Life in the UK account.
If you pass, keep the URN safe: you enter it in your settlement or citizenship application, and the Home Office uses it to check that you passed. Our guide to Life in the UK test results explains what happens next.
What about the pass rate?
You will see pass rates quoted on many websites, often without a source. The last Life in the UK test data published on GOV.UK covers January 2010 to October 2013. It is more than a decade old and comes from a previous test provider, so it is not a reliable guide to the test you will sit.
A more useful number is your own. If you are scoring 20 or more out of 24 across several full mock exams, you have a margin above the pass line for a harder set of questions on the day.
If you fail
GOV.UK says you can book again as many times as you need, and you pay £50 each time. You are not given a list of the questions you got wrong, so use practice sessions to find the topics that made you hesitate before you rebook. Our page on what to do if you fail has a short repair plan.
How to know you are ready
- You pass full 24-question mock exams with 20 or more correct, not just once.
- You can tell apart the facts people commonly confuse, such as similar dates, kings and acts.
- No single unit is dragging your score down. A timed mock exam shows where you stand.
Not everyone needs to take the test: under-18s, people aged 65 or over and some people with long-term conditions are exempt. See exemptions.
Key Facts
- Pass mark: 75%, which means at least 18 correct answers out of 24
- 17 out of 24 is a fail; there is no partial credit
- 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes
- You find out on the day, and your unique reference number is emailed
- Retakes are unlimited, but each attempt costs £50
- The same test and pass mark apply for settlement and citizenship
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the Life in the UK test?
The pass mark is 75%. You need at least 18 correct answers out of 24 questions.
Is 17 out of 24 close enough to pass?
No. Seventeen correct answers is about 71%, which is below the pass mark. You need 18 or more.
How long is the Life in the UK test?
You have 45 minutes to answer 24 multiple-choice questions on a computer at a test centre.
What is the Life in the UK test pass rate?
There is no current official figure on GOV.UK. The last Life in the UK test data published there covers January 2010 to October 2013, so treat any recent-sounding pass rate without a source with caution.
What do I get if I pass?
A unique reference number. You need it for your settlement or citizenship application, because the Home Office uses it to check that you passed.
What happens if I fail the Life in the UK test?
GOV.UK says you can book again as many times as you need, but you pay £50 each time. Use the gap to repair the topics that made you hesitate.
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