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BritWise — Life in the UK Test Practice
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Life in the UK practice test 14: One Go Only

Paper 14 is a single sitting. You can leave and come back — your answers stay in this browser — but the value of this one comes from finishing it in one go.

How to sit this one. No breaks and no restarts. Submit whatever you have when the clock runs out, exactly as the official test does for you.

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 14, 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 two of these are national parks in the UK?

    • The Lake District — correct answer
    • Snowdonia — correct answer
    • The National Trust
    • The Chelsea Flower Show

    The Lake District in England and Snowdonia in Wales are national parks, areas of countryside protected for everyone to enjoy. Handbook section 4.12.

  2. 2. Can the Council of Europe make laws that bind the UK directly?

    • No, it agrees conventions and charters rather than passing binding law — correct answer
    • Yes, its decisions replace Acts of Parliament
    • Yes, but only about taxation
    • Yes, its rulings are enforced by the UK police

    The Council of Europe has no law-making power. Its influence comes through agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights, which the UK has chosen to sign. Handbook section 5.13.

  3. 3. In the pledge, new citizens give their loyalty to which of these?

    • The United Kingdom — correct answer
    • The county they live in
    • The European Union
    • The country they were born in

    The pledge gives loyalty to the United Kingdom and promises to respect its rights and freedoms and to uphold its democratic values. Handbook section 1.4.

  4. 4. Which of these is a British overseas territory?

    • St Helena — correct answer
    • The Isle of Man
    • The Republic of Ireland
    • Guernsey

    St Helena is a British overseas territory. The Isle of Man and Guernsey are Crown dependencies, and the Republic of Ireland is an independent country. Handbook section 2.4.

  5. 5. What is celebrated on Christmas Day, 25 December?

    • The birth of Jesus Christ — correct answer
    • The end of the harvest
    • The new year
    • The crowning of the monarch

    Christmas Day on 25 December is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and it is a public holiday. Handbook section 4.4.

  6. 6. What must you do before you are able to vote in an election?

    • Make sure your name is on the electoral register — correct answer
    • Join a political party
    • Pay a voting fee to your council
    • Attend a public meeting in your constituency

    Only people on the electoral register may vote. Registering is free and is handled by your local council. Handbook section 5.8.

  7. 7. Which tennis competition is the oldest in the world and is played on grass in London?

    • The Wimbledon Championships — correct answer
    • The US Open
    • Royal Ascot
    • The Open Championship

    The Wimbledon Championships is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and the only major one still played on grass. Handbook section 4.5.

  8. 8. Which of these is a fundamental principle of British life?

    • Respect for the rule of law — correct answer
    • Owning a home before you can vote
    • Belonging to a political party
    • Speaking more than one language

    Respect for the rule of law is one of the fundamental principles of British life. Everyone, including people in power, must obey the law. Handbook section 1.1.

  9. 9. What was William, the winner of the Battle of Hastings, called before he became king?

    • Duke of Normandy — correct answer
    • King of France
    • Earl of Wessex
    • Count of Flanders

    William was the Duke of Normandy, in northern France. After winning at Hastings he became King of England and is known as William the Conqueror. Handbook section 3.5.

  10. 10. What is the role of the judiciary?

    • To interpret the law and make sure trials are conducted fairly — correct answer
    • To pass new Acts of Parliament
    • To run the police service
    • To elect the Prime Minister

    Judges interpret the law and see that trials are fair. They are independent of government, so ministers cannot tell them how to decide a case. Handbook section 5.15.

  11. 11. Which two things have helped the UK population grow quickly in recent years?

    • Migration into the UK — correct answer
    • People living longer than before — correct answer
    • A fall in the birth rate
    • People leaving the cities

    The population has grown faster in recent years because people are migrating to the UK and because people are living longer. Handbook section 4.1.

  12. 12. Who captained the England football team that won the World Cup in 1966?

    • Bobby Moore — correct answer
    • Sir Ian Botham
    • Sir Steve Redgrave
    • Sir Chris Hoy

    Bobby Moore captained the England football team that won the World Cup in 1966, the only time England has won it. Handbook section 4.5.

  13. 13. In which year was the Battle of Hastings fought?

    • 1215
    • 1348
    • 1485
    • 1066 — correct answer

    The Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066. It is one of the best known dates in British history. Handbook section 3.5.

  14. 14. How is domestic violence treated in the UK?

    • As a crime, whoever commits it and whatever the relationship — correct answer
    • As a private family matter outside the law
    • As a civil dispute only
    • As a matter for the local council

    Domestic violence is a criminal offence. Help is available from the police, from specialist support services and from the courts through protective orders. Handbook section 5.16.

  15. 15. Who ordered Hadrian's Wall to be built?

    • King Arthur
    • Emperor Hadrian — correct answer
    • Julius Caesar
    • Emperor Claudius

    Hadrian's Wall was built on the orders of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It ran across the north of England to keep out the tribes of the north. Handbook section 3.2.

  16. 16. What is an allotment?

    • A piece of land people rent to grow fruit and vegetables — correct answer
    • A small public park in a city
    • A garden attached to a museum
    • A payment made to gardeners by the council

    An allotment is a piece of land rented from the council or a private owner so that people without a garden can grow food. Handbook section 4.12.

  17. 17. Which flower is the traditional emblem of England?

    • The rose — correct answer
    • The thistle
    • The daffodil
    • The shamrock

    The rose is the traditional emblem of England and is often worn on St George's Day. Handbook section 4.3.

  18. 18. Which church is the national church of Scotland?

    • The Church of Scotland — correct answer
    • The Church of England
    • The Roman Catholic Church
    • The Baptist Church

    The Church of Scotland is the national church of Scotland and is a Presbyterian church. Handbook section 4.2.

  19. 19. What is the Commonwealth?

    • An association of countries that support one another and work together — correct answer
    • A military alliance that defends Europe
    • A trading bloc with a single currency
    • A court that hears appeals from the UK

    The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of more than 50 countries. Most were once part of the British Empire, although some members never were. Handbook section 5.13.

  20. 20. What was the Battle of Britain?

    • A sea battle in the Atlantic
    • A land battle in Kent
    • A battle fought in North Africa
    • An air battle in 1940 between the RAF and the German air force — correct answer

    The Battle of Britain was fought in the air in the summer of 1940. The RAF stopped the German air force from gaining control of British skies. Handbook section 3.18.

  21. 21. What struck London in 1665, killing thousands of people?

    • A famine
    • A major outbreak of plague — correct answer
    • A great flood
    • An earthquake

    In 1665 a major outbreak of plague swept through London. Thousands died, especially in the crowded parts of the city. Handbook section 3.11.

  22. 22. When did Queen Victoria reign?

    • From 1707 to 1760
    • From 1901 to 1936
    • From 1837 to 1901 — correct answer
    • From 1801 to 1860

    Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901. Her reign lasted more than 60 years and gave its name to the Victorian age. Handbook section 3.15.

  23. 23. Under the 'first past the post' system, which candidate wins a constituency?

    • The candidate with the most votes in that constituency — correct answer
    • The candidate with more than half of all votes across the UK
    • The candidate chosen by the outgoing MP
    • The candidate whose party spent the least money

    In each constituency the candidate with the largest number of votes is elected, even if that is less than half the votes cast. This is called first past the post. Handbook section 5.8.

  24. 24. Can the House of Commons overrule the House of Lords?

    • Yes, it has powers to do so, though they are not used often — correct answer
    • No, the Lords always has the final say
    • Only with the agreement of the Supreme Court
    • Only during a general election year

    The elected Commons has the final say and can push a bill through despite the Lords. Because that power exists, it rarely needs to be used. Handbook section 5.5.

What paper 14 asks about

These 24 questions come from 5 chapters of the official handbook. By the difficulty the questions were written at, that is 14 easy, 9 medium and 1 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.