Life in the UK Practice Test 42
Free Life in the UK practice test 42 of 52: 24 questions in the real exam format, drawn from all five chapters of the official handbook. The real test has 24 questions, a 45-minute limit and a pass mark of 18 out of 24 (75%). Tap an answer to check it instantly and read the explanation.
Question 1 · Chapter 4: Modern Society
Which of these is NOT a Christian festival?
Wesak is a Buddhist festival celebrating events in the life of the Buddha, so it is not Christian. Good Friday and Easter Sunday are central to the Christian story of Jesus's death and resurrection, and Christmas Day celebrates his birth.
Question 2 · Chapter 4: Modern Society
Clotted cream for a traditional cream tea is a speciality of which TWO south-western counties?
Choose TWO answers — select both to see the result
Clotted cream is the speciality of Devon and Cornwall, and the two counties famously disagree about whether the jam or the cream goes on the scone first. Somerset and Dorset are neighbouring south-western counties, but clotted cream is not their speciality.
Question 3 · Chapter 4: Modern Society
Which dish of chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce, created for British tastes, is often described as one of Britain's favourite dishes?
Chicken tikka masala — chicken in a creamy spiced tomato sauce — was developed in Britain for local tastes and is often described as one of the country's favourite dishes.
Question 4 · Chapter 4: Modern Society
Bakewell tart, a pastry case filled with jam and almond-flavoured sponge, takes its name from a town in which county?
Bakewell tart is named after Bakewell, a market town in Derbyshire, in the Peak District.
Question 5 · Chapter 4: Modern Society
What does the Muslim festival of Eid ul Adha commemorate?
Eid ul Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, remembers Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. An animal is sacrificed and the meat is shared between family, friends and the poor. It is a different festival from Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
Question 6 · Chapter 4: Modern Society
The Yeomen Warders who guard the Tower of London and guide its visitors are popularly known by which nickname?
The Yeomen Warders of the Tower of London are popularly known as Beefeaters, and are instantly recognisable in their Tudor-style red and gold uniforms.
Question 7 · Chapter 4: Modern Society
The Rosetta Stone, one of the most famous objects on display in the British Museum, is important because it did what?
The stone carries the same text in three scripts, including Greek, which scholars could already read. Comparing the versions gave them the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Question 8 · Chapter 4: Modern Society
Which TWO items traditionally mark out an Ulster fry from other cooked breakfasts?
Choose TWO answers — select both to see the result
Alongside the usual sausages, bacon and eggs, an Ulster fry traditionally includes fried soda bread and potato bread, known as potato farls. Haggis is Scotland's national dish, and laverbread is a Welsh speciality — neither belongs to an Ulster fry.
Question 9 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Members of the House of Commons are chosen in what way?
MPs are elected — each constituency elects one MP using first-past-the-post.
Question 10 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
A jury in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has 12 members.
Juries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have 12 members; in Scotland a jury has 15 members.
Question 11 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Members of the Scottish Parliament are called MLAs.
They are MSPs — Members of the Scottish Parliament, which sits at Holyrood in Edinburgh.
Question 12 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
The Prime Minister chooses the members of the Cabinet.
The Prime Minister appoints around 20 senior ministers to form the Cabinet.
Question 13 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Where does the Northern Ireland Assembly meet?
The Assembly sits in the Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast; its members are MLAs.
Question 14 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
The police in the UK take instructions from the government of the day.
The police protect life and property and detect crime, and they operate independently of government.
Question 15 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Under the 'first past the post' system, a constituency candidate wins by:
First past the post means the candidate with the most votes in the constituency wins the seat.
Question 16 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Which TWO of these statements about paying income tax are correct?
Choose TWO answers — select both to see the result
Employees pay income tax through PAYE (Pay As You Earn), where the employer deducts tax from their pay before they receive it. Self-employed people do pay tax, and they are responsible for arranging to pay it themselves — neither their customers nor their bank pays it for them.
Question 17 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
The Council of Europe drew up which important document after the Second World War?
The Convention protects human rights and freedoms; the Council of Europe is separate from the European Union.
Question 18 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
What is the minimum age for buying a National Lottery ticket or scratch card in the UK?
The official handbook gives the minimum age for taking part in the National Lottery as 16. (The age was raised to 18 in 2021, after the handbook was published — but 16 is the figure the test is based on.)
Question 19 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Which of these is a way ordinary people can take part in their community and democracy?
Taking part includes voting, helping with elections, standing for office, volunteering and serving on juries when summoned.
Question 20 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Who is the head of state of the UK?
The monarch is head of state; the Prime Minister leads the government.
Question 21 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Most members of the House of Lords today hold their seats because they were given which kind of peerage?
Most Lords are life peers, appointed for life rather than elected. The Lords reviews and suggests changes to laws passed by the Commons.
Question 22 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
In the House of Commons, what does the Speaker do during a debate?
The Speaker is an MP who chairs Commons debates impartially, keeping order and making sure the rules of debate are followed.
Question 23 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
A UK general election must normally take place within which maximum period?
MPs are elected in a general election, which is held at least every five years.
Question 24 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
When is a by-election held for a seat in the House of Commons?
A by-election fills a single constituency seat that has become vacant between general elections.
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