UK Visa and Immigration

Although the life in the UK test consist of 24 short multiple choice questions, it is important that you have in-depth knowledge about life in the UK.

Below we have listed the topics that are covered in the test.

Migration to the UK

• Where migrants have come from in the past and the reasons why.
• What sort of work have migrants done whilst in Britain?

The role of women

• The changing role of women with regards to equal rights in voting, education and work.

Children and family

• How many children live in single parent families or step-families?
• How many children go on to higher education and when are national tests taken at school?
• What drugs are illegal and the minimum age for purchasing alcohol and tobacco?

Population

• How many people live in the UK and the different countries?
• What are the largest minority groups and how many people belong to an ethnic minority?
• Where are there large ethnic communities?
• What is the census?

Regions of Britain

• Where are different dialects spoken?
• What other languages are spoken in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales?

Religion and tolerance.

• What are the largest religious groups?
• How many people say they have a religion and how many attend religious services?
• What is the Church of England and who is its head?
• What are the main Christian group?

Customs and traditions

• What sports and events are popular?
• Where do the majority of people live? In the cities or in the country?
• The patron saints’ days of the four countries.
• What are bank holidays?
• The main Christian festivals and other traditional days that are celebrated

How the UK is governed

• The Queen’s official role and the ceremonial duties that she has.
• What type of constitution does the UK have?
• What is the House of Lords and who are its members?
• Who forms the government and how often are elections held?
• What are MPs?
• How do elections for the House of Commons work? What do the speaker and whips do?
• What does the Prime minister do?
• What are the opposition and the role of the leader?
• What is the civil service and how do civil servants work with the government?
• Which areas of policy remain under the control of the UK government?
• What is proportional representation and where is it used?
• What services are provided by local authorities?
• What judges apply the law?
• How are the police organised?
• What are quangos and non-departmental public bodies?
• How is political debate reported? Are newspapers free to publish opinions or do they have to remain impartial?
• Who has the right to vote and at what age? How and when do you register to vote?
• Who can stand for public office? How can you contact an elected member? How can you visit Parliament?
• What are the roles and powers of the main institutions of Europe? How is European law organised?
• What rights do citizens of European Union states have to travel and work?
• What is the Commonwealth? What is the United Nations and what is Britain’s role within it?

Housing

• How many people in the UK own their own home? What is a mortgage?
• What do estate agents do? What do solicitors and surveyors do?
• How is the process of buying a house different in Scotland?
• Which organisations can people rent houses from?
• How do people apply for council accommodation? What is a shared ownership scheme? What is a tenancy agreement?
• Which organisations offer help to homeless people?

Services in and for the home

• Where can people find information on how to pay for water, gas, electricity and telephone services? What are the different ways to pay these bills?
• How and where is refuse (rubbish) collected?
• What does local government spend council tax on? What does the amount of council tax charged depend on? Which groups of people can receive council tax reductions or benefits?
• What is buildings and household insurance?

Money and credit

• What are the values of the UK bank notes? Where can people get or change foreign currency?
• How can people open a bank or building society account?
• What is a cash card or debit card? What is a credit card or store card?
• What is a credit union?
• What types of insurance do people buy?
• What is social security and who receives it?
• How can people get information about benefits?

Health

• What is the NHS?
• What is the role of a general practitioner (GP)? How can people find their local GP?
• How do people receive medicines from a GP? Which groups of people receive free prescriptions?
• What is NHS direct, and NHS direct online?
• How can people find a dentist? Which groups of people receive free dental treatment?
• What services are available to pregnant women? Which organisations offer information on maternity and ante-natal services?
• How can people register births?

Education

• What are the ages of compulsory education? How does this differ in Northern Ireland? Who is responsible for ensuring a child attends school?
• What are the different stages of education? At what age do children leave school? Where can people get details of local schools?
• At what age do children go to secondary school? How does this differ in Scotland?
• What are faith schools? What are independent schools?
• What is the national curriculum? At what ages do children take key stage tests in England? At what age do children take GCSEs and A levels?
• How is education different in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales?
• What is the role of a school governing body (or a school board in Scotland)?
• What do further education colleges offer?
• What is ESOL? What are adult education classes?
• How do university students pay their tuition fees?

Leisure

• What is the film classification system? What are the classifications?
• What is a television licence? What is the licence money used to pay for?
• What is the National Trust?
• How old must people be to buy alcohol? How old must people be to go into betting shops?
• What services are offered by vets?

Travel and transport

• Which organisations provide information about trains, buses and coaches? Which groups of people can get discount tickets?
• How can a person get a driving licence? How long can overseas driving licences be used for in the UK?
• What is motor insurance, road tax and MOT? Where can people purchase a road tax disc? Who can provide an MOT certificate?
• What are the laws covering seat belts, crash helmets and holding mobile phones whilst driving? What are the speed limits for cars and motorcycles?
• What should people do if they are involved in a road accident?

Identity documents

• What identity documents are generally accepted?

Looking for work

• Where are jobs advertised? Where can people access advice on finding jobs and claiming benefits?
• What is a CV? Who can be a referee? What is the purpose of a job interview?

Equal rights and discrimination

• Which organisations offer information on law and discrimination?
• What can individuals do if they are subject to sexual harassment?

At work

• What are the legal responsibilities of employers? What is the purpose of a contract? What is the purpose of a pay slip?
• What is tax? How is it paid?
• What is National Insurance? How is it paid? How can people obtain a National Insurance number?
• What is a State Pension? What is the State Pension age for men and for women?
• Who can offer information on occupational or personal pensions?
• What are trade unions? For what reasons can employees be dismissed from their job? What is an employment tribunal?
• What is redundancy? What is jobseeker’s allowance?

Working for yourself

• What responsibilities do self-employed people have?
• Where can people get advice on setting up their own business?

Childcare and children at work

• What is maternity leave? What is paternity leave?
• Where can people access information on childcare and registered childminders?
• What is the earliest legal age at which children can do paid work? What documents must a child have before they can work?
• What type of jobs can children NOT do? What are the limits on working hours and times for children?