Official source: GOV.UK explains what happens at the test, including ID checks, photos, results and retakes. The official booking service sends your arrival time and centre details by email.
Before you leave home
Your booking confirmation email tells you what time to arrive. The official terms set the minimum arrival time at 30 minutes before your appointment unless your email says otherwise. If you are late, you may not be able to sit the test, and you will not get a refund. Plan your journey, and allow up to 2 hours at the centre in total.
Bring the same original ID you used to book. If you booked with an eVisa share code, you do not need other ID, but bring an ID document or bank card that shows your signature. Copies, printouts and screenshots are not accepted. Our guide to what to bring has the full list.
Do not bring children or other family members. GOV.UK says they cannot come to the centre, and there is no waiting room or childcare for people who are not taking the test.
Check-in
A member of staff checks your ID, or your eVisa details, against your booking. They check that the photo looks like you, that the document is valid and that your details match. They also check your signature, and you sign an attendance list.
Your photo is taken before the test to confirm your identity. GOV.UK says you cannot take the test if you refuse. If you made special requests when booking, bring the supporting evidence, such as a letter from your doctor.
Security
Phones and other electronic or smart devices, watches, the handbook and any notes go in a locker. You are searched before you enter the test room. If you need privacy for the search, you can ask the test centre manager, and the official FAQ says you can request a same-gender member of staff, subject to availability.
During the test
The official FAQ says the test begins with a few practice questions that do not count, so you can get used to the system. Then come the 24 scored questions, and you have 45 minutes for them: a little under 2 minutes per question, so there is no need to rush.
Most questions ask you to choose one answer from four. Some are true-or-false statements, and some ask you to choose two answers. A wrong answer scores the same as a blank one, so always choose an answer, even when you are unsure. You can make notes during the test, but you must hand them to the supervisor before you leave the room.
Stay silent and keep your eyes on your own screen. Talking to other candidates or looking at their screens counts as cheating, and the official service reports cheating to the Home Office.
After the test
You wait in the waiting area while staff confirm your result. They tell you whether you have passed and give you your unique reference number (URN). The official FAQ says an email with your URN should arrive within 10 minutes, and the result also appears in the results tab of your Life in the UK account.
You need 75% to pass: at least 18 correct answers out of 24. If you pass, keep your URN safe. You need it for your settlement or citizenship application, because the Home Office uses it to check that you passed. Our guide to test results covers what to do next.
If you do not pass, GOV.UK says you can book again as many times as you need, and you pay £50 each time. Use the gap to repair the topics that made you hesitate.
Common worries
Many people worry about the timer, but 45 minutes for 24 questions is generous, and practising with timed mock exams makes the pace feel familiar.
If English is not your first language, the questions use plain English, and you can take the test in Welsh at a centre in Wales or in Scottish Gaelic at a centre in Scotland. If a technical fault stops you finishing, tell a member of staff straight away; the official FAQ says that if your test cannot be recovered, you can take it again on another day without paying.
If you have a disability or health condition, GOV.UK says you can make special requests when you book, for example if you need extra equipment or help accessing the centre.
Key Facts
- Arrive at the time in your booking email: at least 30 minutes before, unless told otherwise
- Bring the same original ID used to book, or follow your eVisa instructions
- Your ID and signature are checked, your photo is taken, and you are searched
- Phones, watches and notes stay in a locker
- 24 questions in 45 minutes, after a few practice questions that do not count
- Staff tell you your result, and your reference number is emailed the same day
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive for the Life in the UK test?
Arrive at the time given in your booking email. The official terms set a minimum arrival time of at least 30 minutes before your appointment unless you are told otherwise. If you arrive late, you may not be able to sit the test and you will not get a refund.
How long will I be at the test centre?
The official booking service says you will be at the centre for up to 2 hours in total, including check-in, security and the 45-minute test.
What if my ID does not match my booking?
You will not be able to take the test and you will not get a refund. Check your booking details against your original ID before test day and contact the Life in the UK Test Helpline if anything has changed.
Can I take my phone into the test room?
No. Phones and other electronic or smart devices, watches and written material must be stored in a locker before you enter the test room.
When do I get my Life in the UK test result?
On the day. Staff tell you your result before you leave, and the official FAQ says an email with your unique reference number should arrive within 10 minutes.
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