Life in the UK test pass mark and results explained

The pass mark

You must score 75% or more to pass the Life in the UK test. With 24 questions, that means at least 18 correct answers – you can get up to 6 wrong and still pass.

Correct answers	Score	Result
24	100%	Pass
18	75%	Pass
17	71%	Fail

If you pass: your unique reference number

When you pass, you get a unique reference number. You need it to complete your citizenship or settlement application, and the Home Office uses it to check that you passed. You do not usually need to send a certificate.

If you took your test before 17 December 2019, you will have a letter with a test reference ID instead. GOV.UK says that if you have lost that letter, you should include a letter explaining this with your application.

You only need to pass once. If you passed the test for settlement, you do not need to take it again when you apply for citizenship.

If you fail

You can rebook the test as many times as you need, but you pay the fee each time. There is no fixed waiting period mentioned on GOV.UK – but rebooking straight away rarely helps. Use the time to find out what went wrong:

• Which chapters did the difficult questions come from?
• Were they about dates, numbers or names?
• Did you run short of time or misread “choose two” questions?

Then go back to those chapters, practise questions on them and take full mock tests until you pass them comfortably.

How to make sure you pass first time

Because every attempt costs £50, it is worth practising until you pass mock tests comfortably and consistently – not just once. In our app, mock tests work like the real exam: 24 questions, a pass mark of 18, and answers and explanations shown only when you finish. Practising your weak questions – the ones you have got wrong before – is the fastest way to raise your score. Read how to pass the Life in the UK test for a full plan.