Life in the UK practice test 9: Thirty Minutes
Paper 9 gives you the same 45 minutes, but the target is 30. Working faster than you need to on a practice paper is what leaves you calm on the day of the real one.
How to sit this one. Aim to submit with 15 minutes still on the clock. Speed here is practice, not the goal — a wrong answer saved no time at all.
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%)
Answers and explanations
Every question in paper 9, 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. What is the Northern Ireland Executive?
- The devolved government of Northern Ireland, formed by ministers drawn from the Assembly — correct answer
- A committee of the UK cabinet
- The senior judges of the Northern Ireland courts
- The board that runs the Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Executive is Northern Ireland's government. Its ministers come from the Assembly and take charge of the matters that have been devolved. Handbook section 5.9.
2. Why must people settling in the UK show they can speak English and understand life here?
- So they can take a full part in everyday life and in their community — correct answer
- So they can be given a job by the government
- So they can pay less tax
- So they can vote in another country
The language and knowledge requirements exist so that new residents can take a full part in everyday life, work and community life in the UK. Handbook section 1.3.
3. Who became king of England when Elizabeth I died in 1603?
- Philip II of Spain
- Henry VIII
- James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England — correct answer
- Charles I
James VI of Scotland became James I of England, Wales and Ireland in 1603. One monarch now ruled all four countries. Handbook section 3.10.
4. Which city elects a mayor who is the effective leader of its administration?
- London — correct answer
- Bath
- Aberdeen
- Bangor
London elects a mayor who runs the city's administration, and several other English cities and regions have adopted directly elected mayors too. Handbook section 5.10.
5. In return for accepting the shared responsibilities, which TWO of these does the UK provide?
- Freedom of belief and religion — correct answer
- A right to join in the election of a government — correct answer
- A guaranteed job
- A free home
Freedom of belief and a say in electing the government are both offered. Housing and work are supported in other ways, but neither is guaranteed to everyone. Handbook section 1.2.
6. Which part of London is known as 'Theatreland'?
- The West End — correct answer
- The South Bank
- The City
- Stratford
The West End of London has so many theatres that the area is often called Theatreland. Handbook section 4.7.
7. Which artist was an important part of the 'pop art' movement of the 1960s and is still influential?
- David Hockney — correct answer
- Thomas Gainsborough
- John Constable
- Sir John Lavery
David Hockney was an important part of the pop art movement of the 1960s and has continued to influence British art. Handbook section 4.8.
8. Which church is the established church in England?
- The Church of England — correct answer
- The Roman Catholic Church
- The Church of Scotland
- The Methodist Church
The Church of England is the established church in England, which means it is the official church of the state there. Handbook section 4.2.
9. What does a school governor do?
- Helps set the way a school is run and holds its leadership to account — correct answer
- Teaches lessons in place of a teacher
- Inspects schools on behalf of the government
- Decides the national curriculum
School governors help decide how a school is run, from its aims to its budget. In Scotland the equivalent is membership of a school board. Handbook section 5.18.
10. What was one of the most important principles of the Enlightenment?
- That everyone should have the right to their own political and religious beliefs — correct answer
- That the state should choose everyone's religion
- That only nobles should own property
- That kings rule by the will of God alone
Enlightenment thinkers argued that everyone should be free to hold their own political and religious beliefs, and that the state should not dictate them. Handbook section 3.12.
11. What did Thomas Chippendale design?
- Furniture, especially chairs — correct answer
- Pottery
- Wedding dresses
- Public gardens
Thomas Chippendale designed furniture, and his chairs and cabinets are still copied by furniture makers today. Handbook section 4.9.
12. What is the job of the police in the UK?
- To protect life and property, keep the peace and prevent and detect crime — correct answer
- To pass new laws about crime
- To decide the sentence for a convicted person
- To collect council tax
The police protect life and property, keep the peace and investigate crime. Making law is for Parliament and sentencing is for the courts. Handbook section 5.14.
13. Who becomes Prime Minister?
- The leader of the party that can command a majority in the House of Commons — correct answer
- The oldest member of the House of Lords
- The candidate with the most votes across the whole country
- The person chosen by the Supreme Court
The Prime Minister is the leader of the party in power. The post depends on holding the confidence of the elected House of Commons. Handbook section 5.6.
14. In which year were British and French troops evacuated from Dunkirk?
- 1944
- 1939
- 1940 — correct answer
- 1942
The evacuation from Dunkirk took place in 1940, after German forces swept through France. Handbook section 3.18.
15. What is a Protestant?
- A Christian who broke away from the authority of the Pope in Rome — correct answer
- A member of the Church of Scotland only
- A person who follows no religion
- A Roman Catholic priest
Protestants are Christians who broke away from the authority of the Pope in Rome during the Reformation. They wanted a simpler church. Handbook section 3.9.
16. By what name is the first Norman king of England usually known?
- William Wallace
- William the Lion
- William the Conqueror — correct answer
- William of Orange
The first Norman king of England is known as William the Conqueror. He ruled England after winning the throne by force in 1066. Handbook section 3.5.
17. On which date is St George's Day celebrated?
- 23 April — correct answer
- 1 March
- 17 March
- 30 November
St George's Day falls on 23 April, the patron saint's day of England. Handbook section 4.3.
18. Which country of the UK is haggis traditionally associated with?
- Scotland — correct answer
- Wales
- England
- Northern Ireland
Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish and is always served at a Burns Night supper. Handbook section 4.13.
19. Which Scottish poet is known as 'the Bard' and wrote in the Scots language?
- Robert Burns — correct answer
- Sir Walter Scott
- William Wordsworth
- Dylan Thomas
Robert Burns is known as 'the Bard' and wrote poems and songs in Scots, including the words to 'Auld Lang Syne'. Handbook section 4.10.
20. Who needs a television licence in the UK?
- Every household that watches or records television programmes — correct answer
- Only households that watch BBC channels
- Only people who own more than one television
- Nobody, because television is free
Every household that watches or records television programmes needs a TV licence, and one licence covers the whole home. Handbook section 4.11.
21. What is devolution?
- The transfer of certain powers from central government to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — correct answer
- The transfer of all law-making power to local councils
- The handing of government powers to the monarch
- The removal of the House of Lords
Devolution means giving nations within the UK the power to decide some matters for themselves, while the UK Parliament keeps others. Handbook section 5.9.
22. Which countries does the term 'Great Britain' refer to?
- England, Scotland and Wales — correct answer
- England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- England and Wales only
- All four countries of the UK
Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales. Adding Northern Ireland gives you the United Kingdom. Handbook section 2.1.
23. How does the law treat an attack on someone because of their religion or ethnic origin?
- It is a criminal offence and is treated especially seriously — correct answer
- It is a matter for the civil courts only
- It is dealt with by the person's employer
- It is not covered by the criminal law
Attacking or harassing someone because of their race or religion is a crime, and the courts treat that motivation as making the offence worse. Handbook section 5.16.
24. Which rose was the symbol of the House of York?
- A red rose
- A blue rose
- A gold rose
- A white rose — correct answer
The House of York used a white rose as its symbol, while Lancaster used a red one. Handbook section 3.7.
What paper 9 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 and 11 medium.
Chapters in this paper
- The values and principles of the UK — 2 questions
- What is the UK? — 1 question
- A long and illustrious history — 6 questions
- A modern, thriving society — 8 questions
- The UK government, the law and your role — 7 questions
The topics it leans on most
- The devolved administrations — 2 questions
- Your responsibilities and freedoms — 1 question
- Becoming a permanent resident — 1 question
- The countries of the UK — 1 question
- The Norman Conquest — 1 question
- The Wars of the Roses — 1 question
- The Reformation — 1 question
- The Stuarts and the Civil War — 1 question
Revise before the next paper
A mock test tells you where you stand. These pages are where you close the gaps.