Skip to the main content
BritWise — Life in the UK Test Practice
Start free test
First sittings · Test 6 of 24

Life in the UK practice test 6: Build Confidence

Paper 6 closes out the first block. By now the format should feel ordinary: one question at a time, four options, no trick wording. If your score is climbing, it is working.

How to sit this one. Sit it timed and without notes. Compare the score with paper 1 — that gap, not the score itself, is the thing worth watching.

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 6, 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 did Protestants believe about the Bible?

    • That it should be kept in Latin only
    • That it should not be read at all
    • That people should be able to read it in their own language — correct answer
    • That only the Pope should read it

    Protestants believed people should read the Bible in their own language rather than rely on priests reading Latin to them. Handbook section 3.9.

  2. 2. By what other name is the Union Flag commonly known?

    • The Union Jack — correct answer
    • The Royal Standard
    • The White Ensign
    • The Saltire

    The flag of the United Kingdom is called the Union Flag, and it is often known as the Union Jack. Handbook section 4.3.

  3. 3. In which year was the Great Fire of London?

    • 1666 — correct answer
    • 1688
    • 1642
    • 1660

    The Great Fire of London broke out in 1666, the year after the plague. It destroyed much of the city. Handbook section 3.11.

  4. 4. What was the Blitz?

    • A British bombing campaign over Germany
    • The building of air raid shelters
    • The heavy bombing of British cities by German aircraft — correct answer
    • The evacuation of children to the countryside

    The Blitz was the heavy bombing of British cities by German aircraft. London, Coventry and many other cities were badly damaged. Handbook section 3.18.

  5. 5. Who first built the Tower of London?

    • William the Conqueror — correct answer
    • Henry VIII
    • Sir Christopher Wren
    • Queen Victoria

    The Tower of London was first built by William the Conqueror after he became king in 1066. Handbook section 4.15.

  6. 6. What is the equivalent of a magistrates' court in Scotland?

    • The Justice of the Peace court — correct answer
    • The Crown Court
    • The county court
    • The High Court

    In Scotland minor criminal cases are heard in a Justice of the Peace court, with a Justice of the Peace sitting as the judge. Handbook section 5.15.

  7. 7. How often is a census of the UK population normally taken?

    • Every ten years — correct answer
    • Every year
    • Every five years
    • Every twenty-five years

    A census counts the population once every ten years, so the government can plan schools, housing and health services. Handbook section 4.1.

  8. 8. Who became Prime Minister after the general election of 1945?

    • Margaret Thatcher
    • Clement Attlee — correct answer
    • Winston Churchill
    • Harold Wilson

    Labour won the 1945 election and Clement Attlee became Prime Minister. His government built the welfare state. Handbook section 3.19.

  9. 9. How do members of the House of Lords take their seats?

    • They are appointed or hold a seat by right, rather than being elected — correct answer
    • They are elected by voters in every county
    • They are chosen by the Supreme Court
    • They are elected by members of the House of Commons

    Members of the House of Lords, known as peers, are not elected by the public. Most are appointed, so the Lords does not represent constituencies. Handbook section 5.5.

  10. 10. What is meant by universal suffrage?

    • That all adult citizens have the right to vote, whatever their wealth or sex — correct answer
    • That everyone must vote or pay a fine
    • That voting is open to people of any age
    • That every vote is counted twice for accuracy

    Universal suffrage means the vote belongs to all adult citizens rather than to a privileged few. Britain reached it in stages between 1832 and 1928. Handbook section 5.1.

  11. 11. What do new citizens receive at their citizenship ceremony?

    • A certificate of British citizenship — correct answer
    • A British passport
    • A National Insurance number
    • A polling card

    You are presented with a certificate of British citizenship at the ceremony. A passport is applied for separately, using that certificate. Handbook section 1.4.

  12. 12. Why was the London Eye built in 2000?

    • To celebrate the start of the new millennium — correct answer
    • To mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
    • To celebrate the London Olympic Games
    • To replace an older wheel on the same site

    The London Eye opened in 2000 to celebrate the new millennium, and it is now used for New Year firework displays. Handbook section 4.15.

  13. 13. Select the TWO fundamental principles of British life shown here.

    • Democracy — correct answer
    • Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs — correct answer
    • Compulsory national service
    • A duty to speak only English at home

    Democracy and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs are two of the five fundamental principles. There is no national service in the UK and no rule about the language you speak at home. Handbook section 1.1.

  14. 14. Which novel was written by Jane Austen?

    • Pride and Prejudice — correct answer
    • Oliver Twist
    • Treasure Island
    • Brighton Rock

    Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, which are still widely read and filmed today. Handbook section 4.10.

  15. 15. Who is the patron saint of Wales?

    • St David — correct answer
    • St Patrick
    • St George
    • St Andrew

    St David is the patron saint of Wales, and Welsh people mark his day at the start of March each year. Handbook section 4.3.

  16. 16. Which three countries share the island of Great Britain?

    • England, Scotland and Wales — correct answer
    • England, Wales and Northern Ireland
    • Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
    • England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

    The island of Great Britain holds England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland sits on the neighbouring island of Ireland. Handbook section 2.1.

  17. 17. Who became head of the Church of England when Henry VIII broke with Rome?

    • The Pope
    • Parliament
    • The king himself — correct answer
    • The Archbishop of Canterbury

    Henry VIII made himself head of the new Church of England. The monarch has been at the head of that church ever since. Handbook section 3.9.

  18. 18. How often must a general election be held at the latest?

    • At least every five years — correct answer
    • Every two years
    • Every seven years
    • Every ten years

    A general election must be held at least once every five years, so no House of Commons can sit for longer than that without facing the voters. Handbook section 5.4.

  19. 19. Which of these was part of the British Empire by 1900?

    • India — correct answer
    • Japan
    • Brazil
    • Norway

    India was part of the British Empire, along with Australia, Canada and large parts of Africa. Handbook section 3.15.

  20. 20. Who discovered penicillin in 1928?

    • Sir Alexander Fleming — correct answer
    • Sir Robert Edwards
    • Sir Ian Wilmut
    • Sir Tim Berners-Lee

    Sir Alexander Fleming, who was born in Scotland, discovered penicillin in 1928 while working in a London hospital. Handbook section 4.16.

  21. 21. How is the Speaker of the House of Commons chosen?

    • MPs elect the Speaker in a secret ballot — correct answer
    • The monarch appoints the Speaker
    • The Prime Minister appoints the Speaker
    • The House of Lords chooses the Speaker

    The Speaker is an MP chosen by fellow MPs in a secret ballot. Voting in secret means colleagues can choose freely without party pressure. Handbook section 5.4.

  22. 22. What was Dolly the sheep the first of?

    • The first mammal cloned from an adult cell — correct answer
    • The first animal born through IVF
    • The first sheep bred in Scotland
    • The first animal to be given penicillin

    Dolly the sheep, created by scientists near Edinburgh, was the first mammal cloned successfully from an adult cell. Handbook section 4.16.

  23. 23. Which words open the UK national anthem?

    • God save our gracious King — correct answer
    • Land of my fathers
    • Britons never shall be slaves
    • Long may our land be bright

    The anthem begins 'God save our gracious King, long live our noble King'. The words change between King and Queen with the monarch. Handbook section 5.3.

  24. 24. What does parliamentary sovereignty mean?

    • Parliament is the supreme law-making body and can make or unmake any law — correct answer
    • The monarch may overrule any Act of Parliament
    • Local councils may ignore laws they disagree with
    • The courts may cancel any law they think is unwise

    Parliamentary sovereignty is the idea that Parliament has the final say on the law. Judges apply and interpret the law, but they cannot simply set aside an Act of Parliament. Handbook section 5.2.

What paper 6 asks about

These 24 questions come from 5 chapters of the official handbook. By the difficulty the questions were written at, that is 13 easy, 7 medium and 4 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.