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First sittings · Test 3 of 24

Life in the UK practice test 3: Beat the Clock

Paper 3 is your first timed sitting. Most people finish the official test in half the time they are given, so 45 minutes is far more generous than it sounds once you have seen the questions.

How to sit this one. Turn the clock on and aim to finish inside 30 minutes. Finishing early is normal; rushing an answer you already know is not.

24 questions in 45 minutes, with 18 correct to pass — the same 75% the official test asks for. Nothing is saved to an account: your progress stays in this browser, so you can close the tab and pick the paper up where you left it.

Questions
24
Time limit
45 minutes
Pass mark
18 of 24 (75%)
How do you want to practise?

Answers and explanations

Every question in paper 3, with the right answer and the handbook section it comes from. Open it after you have had a go.

Show all 24 answers and explanations

  1. 1. Which crosses are combined in the Union Flag?

    • The crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick — correct answer
    • The crosses of St George, St David and St Patrick
    • The crosses of St Andrew, St David and St Patrick
    • The crosses of St George and St Andrew only

    The Union Flag brings together the crosses of St George for England, St Andrew for Scotland and St Patrick for Ireland. Handbook section 4.3.

  2. 2. Select the TWO ways most people in the UK follow political news.

    • Television — correct answer
    • The internet — correct answer
    • Parliamentary committee minutes
    • Court transcripts

    Television and the internet are the main sources of political news for most people, together with newspapers and radio. Official records exist, but few people read them directly. Handbook section 5.12.

  3. 3. In which year was the Bill of Rights passed?

    • 1707
    • 1660
    • 1679
    • 1689 — correct answer

    The Bill of Rights was passed in 1689, after the Glorious Revolution. It confirmed the rights of Parliament and the limits on royal power. Handbook section 3.11.

  4. 4. What does a Police and Crime Commissioner do?

    • Sets local policing priorities and holds the Chief Constable to account — correct answer
    • Decides guilt in criminal trials
    • Commands officers on the street day to day
    • Writes the criminal law

    Police and Crime Commissioners are elected by the public in England and Wales. They set priorities for their force and hold the Chief Constable to account for results. Handbook section 5.14.

  5. 5. In which year was the Spanish Armada defeated?

    • 1558
    • 1588 — correct answer
    • 1605
    • 1485

    The Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588. It is the most famous event of Elizabeth I's reign. Handbook section 3.8.

  6. 6. In which year did Parliament invite Charles II to return as king?

    • 1660 — correct answer
    • 1666
    • 1649
    • 1653

    In 1660 Parliament invited Charles II to come back from exile and take the throne. This is known as the Restoration. Handbook section 3.11.

  7. 7. Select the TWO things a police officer must never do.

    • Misuse their authority — correct answer
    • Make a false statement — correct answer
    • Give evidence in court
    • Arrest someone they reasonably suspect of a crime

    Officers must not abuse their position, make false statements, be rude or abusive, or discriminate on racial grounds. Giving evidence and making lawful arrests are part of the job. Handbook section 5.14.

  8. 8. How do charities in the UK typically raise money?

    • Through donations, shops and fundraising events — correct answer
    • Through a share of income tax set aside by law
    • Through fines collected by the courts
    • Through council tax

    Charities raise money from public donations, charity shops, sponsored events and national appeals rather than from taxation. Handbook section 5.19.

  9. 9. Select the TWO values that the Civil Service Code requires of civil servants.

    • Integrity — correct answer
    • Impartiality — correct answer
    • Loyalty to one political party
    • Personal profit

    The Civil Service Code sets out four core values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. Party loyalty and private gain are the opposite of what is expected. Handbook section 5.11.

  10. 10. What was the population of the UK in 2010?

    • Just over 62 million — correct answer
    • Just under 40 million
    • About 50 million
    • About 75 million

    By 2010 the UK population had reached just over 62 million people, and it has continued to grow since then. Handbook section 4.1.

  11. 11. What are the Proms?

    • An eight-week summer season of classical music concerts — correct answer
    • A national competition for young singers
    • A weekly radio programme about folk music
    • A prize for the best British album

    The Proms are an eight-week summer season of orchestral classical music concerts, ending with the famous Last Night of the Proms. Handbook section 4.6.

  12. 12. Which famous detective was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

    • Sherlock Holmes — correct answer
    • Oliver Twist
    • Robinson Crusoe
    • James Bond

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, the detective whose stories are still read and filmed all over the world. Handbook section 4.10.

  13. 13. In which year was the first census of the UK population taken?

    • 1801 — correct answer
    • 1601
    • 1901
    • 1951

    The first census of the whole population was taken in 1801, and one has been taken regularly ever since. Handbook section 4.1.

  14. 14. Which day directly after Christmas Day is also a public holiday?

    • Boxing Day, 26 December — correct answer
    • New Year's Eve, 31 December
    • Twelfth Night, 5 January
    • Advent Sunday

    Boxing Day on 26 December is a public holiday, so most people have both it and Christmas Day off work. Handbook section 4.4.

  15. 15. Who won the Battle of Bosworth Field and became king?

    • William of Orange
    • Edward IV
    • Richard the Lionheart
    • Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII — correct answer

    Henry Tudor of the House of Lancaster won at Bosworth and became King Henry VII, the first Tudor king. Handbook section 3.7.

  16. 16. Which of these is one of the main political parties in the UK?

    • The Labour Party — correct answer
    • The National Trust
    • The Confederation of British Industry
    • Liberty

    The main UK-wide parties are the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The other organisations listed are a charity and campaigning bodies, not parties. Handbook section 5.7.

  17. 17. Which principle protects a person's right to hold their own religious beliefs?

    • Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs — correct answer
    • Freedom of movement
    • The right to a state pension
    • The right to free healthcare

    Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs is a fundamental principle. People in the UK are free to follow a religion, or to follow none. Handbook section 1.1.

  18. 18. An MP represents which people in their constituency?

    • Everyone who lives there, whether or not they voted for the MP — correct answer
    • Only the people who voted for them
    • Only members of the MP's own party
    • Only people who own property there

    An MP represents every constituent. You can ask your MP for help even if you voted for someone else, or could not vote at all. Handbook section 5.4.

  19. 19. What is the national anthem of the UK?

    • God Save the King — correct answer
    • Land of Hope and Glory
    • Flower of Scotland
    • Rule, Britannia!

    God Save the King is the national anthem of the UK and is played at important national occasions and when the monarch is present. Handbook section 4.3.

  20. 20. At which time of year are pantomimes performed in the UK?

    • Around Christmas — correct answer
    • At Easter
    • In midsummer
    • On Bonfire Night

    Pantomimes are performed around Christmas and are usually based on well-known fairy tales. Handbook section 4.7.

  21. 21. Is Northern Ireland part of the United Kingdom?

    • Yes, it is one of the four countries of the UK — correct answer
    • No, it is a Crown dependency
    • No, it is a British overseas territory
    • No, it is part of the Republic of Ireland

    Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the UK, alongside England, Scotland and Wales. Handbook section 2.1.

  22. 22. What score do you need to pass the official Life in the UK test?

    • 75 per cent, which is 18 correct answers out of 24 — correct answer
    • 50 per cent, which is 12 correct answers out of 24
    • 60 per cent, which is 15 correct answers out of 24
    • 100 per cent, with no wrong answers allowed

    The pass mark is 75 per cent. That means 18 correct answers out of the 24 questions asked. Handbook section 1.3.

  23. 23. In which century did the Enlightenment take place?

    • The 18th century — correct answer
    • The 19th century
    • The 20th century
    • The 16th century

    The Enlightenment happened during the 18th century. It was a period of new ideas about politics, philosophy and science. Handbook section 3.12.

  24. 24. Which TWO of these places were built by people in Britain before the Romans arrived?

    • Skara Brae — correct answer
    • Hadrian's Wall
    • Westminster Abbey
    • Stonehenge — correct answer

    Stonehenge in Wiltshire and Skara Brae on Orkney were both built long before the Romans came. Hadrian's Wall is Roman and Westminster Abbey is far later. Handbook section 3.1.

What paper 3 asks about

These 24 questions come from 5 chapters of the official handbook. By the difficulty the questions were written at, that is 11 easy, 11 medium and 2 harder.

Chapters in this paper

The topics it leans on most

Revise before the next paper

A mock test tells you where you stand. These pages are where you close the gaps.