Edward VI and Mary I: Life in the UK test revision

Edward VI's short reign left one lasting mark: the Book of Common Prayer, written for services in the Church of England. Remarkably, a version of it is still used in some churches today. Keep it apart from the King James Bible, which came later under James I and is a Bible translation, not a prayer book.

Test Trap. the Book of Common Prayer belongs to Edward VI's reign; the King James (Authorised) Bible belongs to James I's reign. Charles I's revised Prayer Book is a third, separate item.

Why it matters: A known trap: the Book of Common Prayer (Edward VI) is often confused with the King James Bible (James I).

Memory hook: Edward's prayers, James's Bible: Prayer Book first, Bible later.

Official handbook: Chapter 3, section 3.6, page 33

Edward came to the throne as a child and never reached adulthood. He died at fifteen, having ruled for just over six years. The two numbers are easy to swap in a hurry, so fix them separately: fifteen is his age, six is his reign. His death handed the crown to his Catholic half-sister Mary.

Test Trap. 15 is Edward VI's age at death; six is the length of his reign in years. Questions swap the two.

Why it matters: Both numbers (age 15, reign just over six years) are tested, and they are easy to confuse with each other.

Memory hook: Fifteen and six: a teenage king, a six-year reign.

Official handbook: Chapter 3, section 3.6, page 33

After Protestant Edward came Catholic Mary, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon. She was devout, and she persecuted Protestants hard enough to earn the grim nickname 'Bloody Mary'. Her reign was short, and her half-sister Elizabeth would swing the country back to Protestantism. Three siblings, three reigns, two changes of religion.

Test Trap. three Marys appear in this section. 'Bloody Mary' is Henry VIII's Catholic daughter; Mary, Queen of Scots is the Scottish queen executed under Elizabeth; Mary II ruled jointly with William III.

Why it matters: Three Marys: 'Bloody Mary' (Henry VIII's daughter), Mary, Queen of Scots, and Mary II. Questions rely on you mixing them up.

Memory hook: Bloody Mary, Catholic and cruel: Catherine of Aragon's daughter.

Official handbook: Chapter 3, section 3.6, page 33

The son Henry had wanted so badly did inherit the throne, as Edward VI. He was strongly Protestant, and under him the Church of England moved firmly in a Protestant direction, including a new prayer book. He was still very young, which is why his reign was so short.

Why it matters: The religious swing from Edward (Protestant) to Mary (Catholic) to Elizabeth (Protestant) is a core sequence the test probes.

Memory hook: Edward: the Protestant boy-king who followed his father.

Official handbook: Chapter 3, section 3.6, page 33

Mary died after a short reign, and the throne passed to her half-sister Elizabeth. The two shared a father, Henry VIII, but had different mothers: Mary's was Catherine of Aragon, Elizabeth's was Anne Boleyn. Half-sisters, opposite faiths: Mary was a devout Catholic, Elizabeth a Protestant who restored the Church of England.

Why it matters: The succession order Edward, Mary, Elizabeth and the half-sibling relationships are frequently tested.

Memory hook: E-M-E: Edward, Mary, Elizabeth, three of Henry's children, one after another.

Official handbook: Chapter 3, section 3.6, page 33