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Exam conditions · Test 16 of 24

Life in the UK practice test 16: Quiet Room

Paper 16 is worth sitting somewhere quiet. The real test is taken in a silent room among strangers, and a paper sat with the television on is not the same paper.

How to sit this one. Find a quiet 45 minutes and use all of them. The aim is to make the conditions boring long before the day itself.

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 16, 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. What is a constitution?

    • The set of principles by which a country is governed — correct answer
    • A list of every law passed by Parliament
    • The budget the government sets each year
    • An agreement between two countries

    A constitution is the set of principles that says how a country is governed and how power is shared between its institutions. Handbook section 5.2.

  2. 2. What does criminal law deal with?

    • Behaviour that is treated as an offence against society and is punished by the courts — correct answer
    • Disputes between neighbours about a garden fence
    • The rules of political parties
    • Agreements between two businesses

    Criminal law covers conduct the state treats as an offence, such as theft or violence. It is usually investigated by the police and punished by the courts. Handbook section 5.16.

  3. 3. What does Easter celebrate for Christians?

    • The death of Jesus Christ and his rising from the dead — correct answer
    • The birth of Jesus Christ
    • The founding of the Church of England
    • The end of the harvest

    Easter marks the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday. Handbook section 4.4.

  4. 4. What is the main role of the opposition in Parliament?

    • To hold the government to account and point out where it is failing — correct answer
    • To run the government departments
    • To appoint judges
    • To approve the monarch's speeches

    The opposition's job is to scrutinise, challenge and offer an alternative. A government that is questioned publicly is one that has to justify itself. Handbook section 5.6.

  5. 5. What is Big Ben?

    • The great bell of the clock at the Houses of Parliament — correct answer
    • The clock tower itself, since it was built
    • A bridge over the River Thames
    • The bell of St Paul's Cathedral

    Big Ben is the nickname of the great bell of the clock at the Houses of Parliament in London. Handbook section 4.15.

  6. 6. Which architect rebuilt St Paul's Cathedral after the Great Fire of London?

    • Sir Christopher Wren — correct answer
    • Sir Edwin Lutyens
    • Robert Adam
    • Sir Norman Foster

    Sir Christopher Wren designed the new St Paul's Cathedral after the Great Fire of London destroyed the old one in 1666. Handbook section 4.8.

  7. 7. How long do you have to complete the official Life in the UK test?

    • 45 minutes — correct answer
    • 30 minutes
    • 60 minutes
    • 90 minutes

    The test lasts 45 minutes. In that time you answer 24 multiple-choice questions on screen. Handbook section 1.3.

  8. 8. Which body normally decides whether a new building may be put up in your area?

    • The local council — correct answer
    • The House of Lords
    • The Crown Court
    • The Electoral Commission

    Planning decisions are made by the local council, which weighs the application against its plan for the area. Handbook section 5.10.

  9. 9. Which king of England was defeated and killed at the Battle of Hastings?

    • John
    • Harold — correct answer
    • Alfred
    • Edward I

    Harold was the Saxon king of England. He was defeated and killed at the Battle of Hastings, and William took the throne. Handbook section 3.5.

  10. 10. In which year did the Scots defeat the English at the Battle of Bannockburn?

    • 1284
    • 1314 — correct answer
    • 1348
    • 1415

    The Battle of Bannockburn was fought in 1314. The Scottish victory meant Scotland stayed unconquered by the English kings. Handbook section 3.6.

  11. 11. Who was invited to take the throne from James II in 1688?

    • William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands — correct answer
    • The King of France
    • Oliver Cromwell's son
    • The Archbishop of Canterbury

    Protestant leaders invited William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands, to take the throne. He was married to James II's daughter Mary. Handbook section 3.11.

  12. 12. Which voting system is used to elect members of the devolved parliaments and assemblies?

    • A form of proportional representation — correct answer
    • First past the post exactly as in a general election
    • Appointment by the Prime Minister
    • A show of hands at public meetings

    The Scottish Parliament, the Senedd in Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly all use forms of proportional representation, so seats are shared out more closely in line with votes cast. Handbook section 5.8.

  13. 13. What is local government's place in the way the UK is run?

    • It is part of the constitution, delivering services under powers set by Parliament — correct answer
    • It is a private business owned by residents
    • It is a branch of the courts
    • It operates entirely outside the law

    Local government is one of the institutions that make up the British constitution. Councils act within powers Parliament has given them. Handbook section 5.10.

  14. 14. Which TWO statements about the First World War are true?

    • It ended on 11 November 1918 — correct answer
    • Britain fought against Germany — correct answer
    • Britain fought against France
    • It began in 1939

    The war ended on 11 November 1918 and Britain fought against Germany. France was Britain's ally, and 1939 was the start of the Second World War. Handbook section 3.16.

  15. 15. What do new citizens do at a citizenship ceremony?

    • Give an oath of allegiance or an affirmation of loyalty, and a pledge — correct answer
    • Sit a second written test
    • Sign the electoral register
    • Give a short speech about their home country

    At the ceremony new citizens swear an oath of allegiance to the monarch, or make an affirmation of loyalty, and then make a pledge to the UK. Handbook section 1.4.

  16. 16. On which date did the First World War end?

    • 8 May 1945
    • 3 September 1939
    • 11 November 1918 — correct answer
    • 1 July 1916

    The First World War ended at 11 o'clock in the morning on 11 November 1918, with victory for Britain and its allies. Handbook section 3.16.

  17. 17. Where did the modern game of golf develop, and where is its most famous home?

    • In Scotland, at St Andrews — correct answer
    • In England, at Wimbledon
    • In Wales, at Cardiff
    • In Ireland, at Portrush

    The modern game of golf developed in Scotland, and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews is known as its home. Handbook section 4.5.

  18. 18. Can a serving civil servant stand for election as an MP?

    • No, civil servants may not stand while they remain in the civil service — correct answer
    • Yes, without any restriction
    • Yes, but only in local elections
    • Yes, if their minister agrees

    Standing for Parliament would conflict with the political neutrality the job requires, so civil servants are barred from doing so while in post. Handbook section 5.11.

  19. 19. Which of these is NOT one of the four countries of the UK?

    • The Isle of Man — correct answer
    • Wales
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland

    The four countries of the UK are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Isle of Man is a Crown dependency and is not part of the UK. Handbook section 2.1.

  20. 20. Which traditional English dish is served with Yorkshire pudding and gravy?

    • Roast beef — correct answer
    • Haggis
    • Welsh cakes
    • An Ulster fry

    Roast beef served with Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and gravy is a traditional English meal, often eaten on a Sunday. Handbook section 4.13.

  21. 21. After Christianity, which religion had the most followers in the UK at the 2011 census?

    • Islam — correct answer
    • Hinduism
    • Judaism
    • Buddhism

    Islam was the next largest religion after Christianity, with about 5 per cent of people describing themselves as Muslim. Handbook section 4.2.

  22. 22. On which date is Halloween celebrated?

    • 31 October — correct answer
    • 5 November
    • 1 November
    • 31 December

    Halloween falls on 31 October, when children dress up and go 'trick or treating' around their neighbours' houses. Handbook section 4.4.

  23. 23. For roughly how long did the Romans stay in Britain?

    • About 40 years
    • About 100 years
    • About 400 years — correct answer
    • About 1,000 years

    The Romans remained in Britain for about 400 years. That is far longer than any later invader ruled the country. Handbook section 3.2.

  24. 24. In which part of the UK is the Eden Project?

    • Cornwall, in south-west England — correct answer
    • North Wales
    • The Scottish Highlands
    • County Antrim in Northern Ireland

    The Eden Project is in Cornwall, in the south west of England, and it teaches visitors about plants and the environment. Handbook section 4.15.

What paper 16 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, 7 medium and 3 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.