If I live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, will there be test questions specific to those places? If you do, you will be asked to fill in a special arrangement booking form in which you need to specify your special request and provide any additional information regarding your requirements. Make sure you select an answer for each question, even if you’re not sure it’s correct. There is a chance you will get the answer correct, even with a guess. If there are only 2 possible answers to the question, you have a 50% chance of answering correctly. You can make special requests when you book your test, for example if you have a disability and need extra equipment or help accessing the centre. Get help Some people find that using different coloured pens or pencils to highlight important information – names, dates, numbers, etc. – helps them to remember facts more easily.

The best mnemonics are ones that make you laugh or that you make up when you are learning. This helps make strong connections in your brain. If a question has 4 options and you don’t know the answer, try to eliminate the options which are obviously wrong. This will narrow down the alternatives and increase your chances of getting the answer right. The name you give on your test booking must be an exact match with the name on the ID you use to book the test.

Plan your journey to the test centre so that you arrive with plenty of time to spare before the test begins. Aim to arrive at least half an hour early. Plan your time wisely and refer to the timer on the screen when you need to. Keep in mind that the vast majority of people complete the test using no more than half the allotted time (about 22 minutes). The test lasts 45 minutes, so you don’t need to rush. If you don’t know when your most productive time of the day is, try studying at different times during the day to find which time best suits you. There is no one “best” time to study; each person will have their own preference. Some people find they study better in the morning whilst others prefer studying during evening hours. Regardless of what time you prefer studying, ensure you get a sufficient amount of sleep. Your concentration will suffer if you’re tired.

First and foremost, ensure you arrive at the test centre at least 30 minutes before your test is due to start. If you arrive with less than 5 minutes remaining, you may be prohibited from taking the test. Give yourself some breathing space in case something goes wrong. A mnemonic (pronounced nem-onic) is a memory aid; a technique for helping your brain to remember something. Mnemonics are commonly used for remembering lists, spellings, numbers or learning a new language. The word comes from Ancient Greek and means ‘of memory’. Mnemonics do not need to make sense. A common mnemonic is to use the first letter of each word you need to remember and use them to make up a sentence or story. Humour helps to make a mnemonic more memorable. For example, the sentence below: Make sure you’re well-hydrated before the test and take a bottle of water with you. Dehydration affects the performance of your brain. Make the date memorable by linking it to personal information – the year you, or a family member or friend, were born or the number of a house where you lived.The Life in the UK Test is available in different formats or styles to allow people with disabilities or special needs to take the test. When you’re booking the test online, you’ll be asked whether you have any special requirements. The test is entirely computer-based and will be conducted on a computer provided by the test centre.

additional time if you have a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, or cannot read in your first language If you find yourself getting nervous, stop for a few moments, refocus and carry on. Know that if you prepared sufficiently, you’ll pass the test. If you don’t pass, it’s not the end of the world. Once you start the test, read each question carefully and make sure you fully understand what the question is asking.

Alternative formats

If you know someone else studying for the Life in the UK Test, you could ask them to be your study partner so you could help each other learn. Having a study buddy is a great idea, providing that you’re both sensible and focused. On the other hand, you may find having a study partner is distracting and counter-productive; do what works best for you. Or you could use more than one letter at the start of the word. This sentence reminds you of the names of the four UK capital cities: One of the most effective things you can do when studying the Life in the UK Test book is to plan your time. For the vast majority of people, studying in small amounts on a regular basis works best. If you need to go to the toilet or get some water, do so now because you won’t be able to leave your seat once the test starts. Many people find dates and numbers that mean little to them difficult to remember. If this is you, try some of the following tips:

You should also find a suitable studying environment. Find a comfortable, quiet place, preferably without distractions such as a television or computer. If you can’t find a suitable place to study in at home or work, try a local library or community centre. If the weather is good and you enjoy the outdoors, you could take your books to the park or another open space. When you arrive at your test centre, you will be sat in a room with other people taking the test. The test supervisor will then proceed to register your details. You’ll be tested on information in the official handbook for the Life in the UK Test. You should study it to prepare for the test. The handbook is available as a book, an eBook, an e-Learning subscription or in audio formats. Write your own questions on your cards. You can use them to test yourself or give them to someone else to test you. If you do choose to study with someone else, you can have discussions on different topics and bounce ideas off one another. As you read each section of the book, you can write down your own questions to ask your study partner and vice versa. You

Link a date or number to information from the country where you were born. So to remember that British women over the age of 21 got the right to vote in 1928, link it to the date when women could vote in that country or an event you know about that happened during that year. According to data based on tests taken between 2009 and 2014, the pass rate is 70%. Individuals from EU member countries have a greater pass rate (86%) than those from outside the EU (68%).