Life in the UK test 2026 · last checked 20 October 2026
Has the Life in the UK test changed in 2026?
No. The test you book today is the same test as before. Some rules around it are changing, and some bigger changes have been proposed but not decided. Here is the difference, in plain English, with the official page for each point.
The test today: what has not changed
- 24 questions in 45 minutes.
- You need 75% to pass. On 24 questions, that is 18 right.
- It costs £50. You book online, at least 3 days before, at one of over 30 test centres in the UK.
- The questions come only from the official guide, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. GOV.UK has not announced a new edition.
- You can retake it as many times as you need, but you pay £50 each time.
- If you have already passed, you do not need to take it again. You also do not need to take it if you are under 18, 65 or over, or have a long-term physical or mental condition (you need a form or a doctor's letter for that).
What is changing around the test
English for settlement goes up from B1 to B2
This is a separate requirement from the Life in the UK test, but most people need both. The Immigration Rules say settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027 need English at B2 level. Applications made before then still need B1. The Life in the UK test itself does not change.
Using an old residence permit (BRP) as ID
GOV.UK says that if you book with a biometric residence permit or card, you must take the test no later than 24 months after it expired, or before 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. If your BRP is your only ID, check the GOV.UK page before you book. You can also book with an eVisa share code or a valid passport.
What is only proposed
"Earned settlement" and a 10-year route
In November 2025 the government consulted on a new settlement system, with a default qualifying period of 10 years instead of 5. The consultation closed on 12 February 2026. As of 20 October 2026 no outcome has been published, so none of it is a rule yet.
A "revised" Life in the UK test
The same consultation proposed keeping the Life in the UK test as a requirement, and asked whether integration should be tested in other ways, including "a revised Life in the UK Test". That was a question, not a decision. There is no new test, no new handbook and no date.
So what should you study?
The test as it is now. Waiting for a new version that has no date could cost you months. If anything official changes, we will update this page and say what changed and when.
Three things to sort out before you book:
- Practise under the clock. 45 minutes for 24 questions feels generous until you are in the room. Our free mock test uses the same shape.
- Learn the mix-ups as well as the facts. Most lost marks are two things that look alike. See the Test Traps.
- Bring the same, original ID you booked with. GOV.UK says a copy or a screenshot will not do, and you will not get a refund if your ID is wrong.
See where you really are.
The free mock test is the real shape: 24 questions, 45 minutes, 18 to pass. No account, no email, and every answer is explained. Take the free mock test.
Every topic, in full, is in the Complete Study Guide. The code printed inside either book opens all 2,451 practice questions, one topic at a time.
Where this comes from
- GOV.UK: Life in the UK test (format, fee, booking, ID, exemptions)
- GOV.UK: What happens at the test (pass mark, retakes, ID on the day)
- Immigration Rules: Appendix KoLL (B1 and B2 dates for settlement)
- GOV.UK news: higher standard of English to settle
- GOV.UK: Earned settlement consultation (status and proposals)
Last checked against these pages on 20 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it and say so.