The test day
Life in the UK test pass mark: 18 out of 24
Type a score into the checker to see where it lands. The rule itself fits in one line; what it means for your preparation takes a little longer.
Is my score a pass?
Result
Pass
| Pass mark | 18 of 24 (75%) |
| Your score | 79% |
| Margin | 1 answer above the mark |
To pass the Life in the UK Test you must score 75% or more, gov.uk says, and the test has 24 questions, so the pass mark is 18 correct answers. 17 correct is 70.8%, below the line, and there is no rounding up: 6 wrong answers is the most you can afford. You have 45 minutes for the whole test, which Guide AN describes as lasting up to 45 minutes and taken on a computer at the test centre. Every question carries the same weight, whatever its chapter, and an unanswered question simply counts as wrong, so a reasoned guess is always better than a blank. A pass gives you a unique reference number for your settlement or citizenship application; a fail means rebooking and paying £50 again. Because a single question separates the two, aim to clear 18 with room to spare in practice, not to scrape it.
What my practice rate means on the day
Estimated chance of 18 or more
94%
| Expected score | 20 of 24 |
| Pass mark | 18 of 24 |
| Model | each question right with the same rate |
A statistical estimate from your own practice rate, not a forecast: the real questions are worded differently and some topics may be weaker than your average.
Questions, dates and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
Every score from 15 to 24
| Correct answers | Percentage | Result | Wrong answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 / 24 | 62.5% | Fail | 9 |
| 16 / 24 | 66.7% | Fail | 8 |
| 17 / 24 | 70.8% | Fail | 7 |
| 18 / 24 | 75.0% | Pass | 6 |
| 19 / 24 | 79.2% | Pass | 5 |
| 20 / 24 | 83.3% | Pass | 4 |
| 21 / 24 | 87.5% | Pass | 3 |
| 22 / 24 | 91.7% | Pass | 2 |
| 23 / 24 | 95.8% | Pass | 1 |
| 24 / 24 | 100.0% | Pass | 0 |
The step from 17 to 18 is the whole difference between a reference number and another booking. Each question is worth a little over four percentage points, so there is no such thing as a near pass.
Read the table the other way round too. The right-hand column is your budget of mistakes: 6 at most. A candidate who arrives knowing that tends to stay calm after two early doubts, because two errors still leave room; one who thinks every miss is fatal often rushes the rest.
The format at a glance
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 24 |
| Time | up to 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 75% (18 correct) |
| Where | a test centre in the UK, on a computer (over 30 centres) |
| Content | only the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents |
| Fee | £50 each sitting |
Why margin matters more than the mark
A sitting of 24 questions samples a handbook full of facts. Even a candidate who knows nine facts in ten will sometimes meet three or four of the tenth kind in the same paper. That is why a practice average just above 75% is risky: the average hides the bad draws. The estimator under this section shows the effect. Enter the share of practice questions you usually get right and it returns a statistical chance of reaching 18 on a single sitting, assuming every question is equally likely to be right. Try a few values: the chance climbs steeply between 75 and 90 per cent, which is the zone where extra revision pays off most.
The estimate is a model, not a forecast. Real questions are worded differently from ours and a weak chapter can drag the result below what the average suggests. Use it to set a target, then check that target on a timed mock test.
Getting the most out of 45 minutes
The time limit works out at close to two minutes per question, generous for questions you know. Answer in one pass, choose your best option where you hesitate, and use the remaining time to revisit doubtful questions. Change an answer only if you recall a specific fact that contradicts it, not out of a vague feeling. And make sure nothing is left blank: a guess between two remaining options is right half the time, a blank never.
After the result
gov.uk says that if you pass you get a unique reference number, which the Home Office uses to check the pass when you apply. If you do not reach 18, you can rebook as many times as you need, paying each time. The result page covers what to do with the reference number, and the page on failing explains how to diagnose what went wrong before trying again. Sources: what happens at the test (gov.uk), Life in the UK Test (gov.uk) and Guide AN.