Booking and on the day
Life in the UK Test Centres
You sit the Life in the UK Test at an approved test centre and choose yours when you book, at least 3 days in advance. It costs £50 per attempt. On the day it is 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes on a computer, and you need 18 correct to pass.
Why there is no list of centres on this page
No government publishes a fixed list. You search by postcode when you book, and centres open and close. A list here would be out of date within months, and being sent to a centre that has closed costs you the appointment and the fee. The official service always has the current set.
Common questions
- Where can I take the Life in the UK Test?
- At an approved test centre, and you choose yours when you book. Centres are spread across the country and you search for the nearest by postcode on GOV.UK's booking service. There is no single published list, because the set of open centres changes, so the booking service is the only reliable source.
- How far in advance do I have to book?
- You must book at least 3 days in advance. Popular centres in large cities fill up further out than that, so treat the minimum as a legal floor rather than a plan. Booking earlier also gives you a fixed date to prepare against, which is worth more than it sounds.
- How much does the Life in the UK Test cost?
- £50. That is per attempt: if you fail you pay the full fee again for each retake, which is the entire argument for sitting practice tests until you are consistently clearing 18 out of 24 rather than scraping it once.
- What ID do I need to bring?
- One of: a valid passport; a valid EU, Swiss, Icelandic, Liechtenstein or Norwegian national identity card; a valid travel document with a photograph; a biometric residence permit or card; an eVisa share code. The name on your booking must be an exact match for the name on the ID you book with. Turning up with ID that does not match loses you both the appointment and the fee, so check it against your booking the day before.
- Who does not have to take the Life in the UK Test?
- You do not need to take it if you are under 18, or if you are 65 or over, or if you have already passed the test, or if you have a long-term physical or mental condition, with an exemption form or a doctor’s letter. Exemptions are decided by GOV.UK, not by us, and the medical route needs paperwork, so check the official page before you assume one applies.
- What happens on the day?
- The test is taken on a computer at the centre: 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, and you need 18 correct, which is 75%. Arrive with time to spare. The mock exams on this site reproduce that format so the day itself holds no surprises.
Fees, ID requirements and exemptions on this page were read from GOV.UK in August 2026. Rules change and only GOV.UK is authoritative. This site is independent and is not affiliated with any government.