Life in the United Kingdom test
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The Life in the United Kingdom test is a computer-based test for individuals seeking Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK or naturalisation as a British citizen.
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[edit] Purpose of the test
A pass in the test fulfils the requirements for "sufficient knowledge of life in the United Kingdom" which were introduced for naturalisation on 1 November 2005 [1] and which will be introduced for settlement on 2 April 2007 [2]. It simultaneously fulfils the language requirement by demonstrating "a sufficient knowledge" of the English language.
Legally, sufficient knowledge of Welsh and Scottish Gaelic can also be used to fulfil the language requirement. Home Office guidance states that if anyone wishes to take the test in these languages arrangements will be made for them to do so.
An alternative method of satisfying the language and life in the UK requirements is to complete a course of "language-with-civic-content" based on a set of published materials. These courses are often referred to as "ESOL with Citizenship" and lead to a nationally-accredited ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) certificate. It is the certificate which fulfils the requirement for sufficient language and knowledge of life in the UK.
The concept was recommended in 2003 by the "Life in the UK" advisory group, chaired by Sir Bernard Crick, and was endorsed by the then United Kingdom Home Secretary David Blunkett.
[edit] Content of the test
The test lasts for 45 minutes during which time the entrants have to answer 24 multiple choice questions. The questions are based on chapters 2 to 4 of the book "Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship". However from 2 April 2007 a new version of the test will be based on chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 of a revised handbook, due to be published early in 2007. The official test website includes a section describing What you need to know for each chapter, but the questions are not in the multiple choice format of the real test.
At the time of the initial introduction the materials were primarily about England. There are equivalent materials for the main other parts of the UK, (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) which will be extended in the April 2007 version.
[edit] Speculation about the test
Discussion of the test produced a lot of speculation about possible questions in the British media. Most of these were not based on factual information about what the test required.
Typical citizenship test questions (proposed) may look like: [3]
- Who is the prime minister?
- As of 2006, the answer is 'The Right Honourable Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair, member of Parliament'
- How do you pay a phone bill?
- In the UK, you pay your landline phone bill by either direct debit or filling the slip at the bottom with the payment at a post office (through Girobank) or bank.
- What does it mean to be a good neighbour?
- How did the United Kingdom come about?
- Through the Acts of Union in 1707 (to form the Kingdom of Great Britain) and in 1800 (to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland).
- When was Britain last invaded?
- Identify the political party with each of the following three policy statements ...
- When was the Act of Union? [4]
[edit] Test Errors and Inaccuracies
There are many critics of the study materials for the test. Many of the claims in the materials are not factually correct [5] A revised handbook is due to be published in early 2007.
- Claim: Describing the fighter pilots in the second world war, Winston Churchill said: "Never in the course of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few."
- Fact: He actually said: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
- Claim: Queen Mary "came to the throne with Spanish support".
- Fact: Mary defeated Lady Jane Grey's bid to usurp the throne with a huge wave of English support
- Claim: Great Britain includes Northern Ireland
- Fact: The United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland. Great Britain is made up of England, Wales and Scotland.
- Claim: Charles II was recalled from exile in France
- Fact: He was recalled from Holland
- Claim: The European Union was founded by five members Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands
- Fact: There were six founding members. Italy is missing as a founding member state of the European Union (then known as the European Economic Community).
[edit] "Cricket test"
Former Conservative minister Norman Tebbit once suggested the "cricket test", also known as the "Tebbit test", where he suggested that people from ethnic minorities in Britain should not be considered truly British until they supported the England cricket team, as opposed to the country of their ancestors' birth.
[edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
- Crick, Bernard (2004). Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship. The Stationery Office. ISBN 0-11-341302-5.
- Dillon, Henry (2006). British Citizenship Test: Study Guide. Red Squirrel Publishing. ISBN 0-9552159-2-7.
[edit] References
- ^ "New UK citizenship testing starts", BBC News, 1 November 2005.
- ^ "Introduction of new rules for people applying for settlement", Immigration and Nationality Directorate, 4 December 2006.
- ^ Travis, Alan. "Being a good Brit: a user's guide", The Guardian, 4 September 2003.
- ^ "Q&A: The road to UK citizenship", BBC News, 25 February 2004.
- ^ "Citizenship guide fails its history exam", The Guardian, 29 April 2006.
