Expats in the UK -- or those who wish they were? Test time! Try out the UK Citizenship Test

After reading Mike and Toni's posts over at Pond Parleys about becoming a dual citizen I decided to investigate the cost and hassle of collecting my own UK passport. Yes, I know, as I have now been here almost half my life, why haven't I done this sooner? At first I didn't think about it, then I couldn't afford it, then I forgot about it again and now I really can't afford it! I was really surprised that I would have to pay at least £800, but in several places the literature reminded me the becoming a British Citizen is a privledge, so I guess it makes sense that it would be expensive enough to exclude the likes of me. 

After I realised I wouldn't be applying this year I then moved on to The Test. You can take a sample test. I did a virtual swagger to the link, believing I would breeze through it. I received an A in British History at A Level, after all. Ho! Was I mistaken: I have been humbled. I have a new respect for you lot who have studied for that test and passed.

Here's a sample: How many days a year do UK schools have to be open? I would ask, How is this useful knowledge for an immigrant? but then I begin to edge dangerously close to another post all together.

Try it yourself, I'd love to hear how you do--but only if like me you haven't bought the book and studied for it yet! www.ukcitizenshiptest.co.uk

 

Michelloui is an American who has lived in the UK for 19 years. Although she loves Britain, she reamins steadfastly American and now has a Mid-Atlantic accent to match her Mid-Atlantic culture. Her blog is Mid-Atlantic English or How I learned to stop worrying and love the host culture (tips for enjoying your life abroad)

 

Photo Credit: Kai Hendry

Comments

[cartside]

Oh the test is really hard that's for sure. And if you live in Scotland and don't know England so well, it's even borderline bizarre. Lots of stuff that you'd never come across in Scottish life! It's really difficult for refugees who don't have fluent English. Once they have refugee and residency status, they can only travel outside the UK after getting citizenship, and if you come from a country that has a different script or where you don't get the chance to go to school as a woman, it's almost impossible to pass this test.

[A Modern Mother]

I failed! Got 30% Must brush up those government acronyms...

[Barbara]

There seems to be an awful lot of stuff in there that isn't really necessary knowledge for living in the UK. Why should anyone need to know the percentage of people in the UK in 2001 who said they were muslims or that the official record of parliarment is Hansards. I'm english, live in england, always have done, consider myself to be reasonably intelligent (I'm not a genius but I'm not stupid either and I pay attention to what's going on around me) and I failed.

[beta mum]

I got 13 out of 24, which is 54%, which means I failed - and I've lived in the UK for 25 years.
What a bizarre bunch of questions.
Why ask how many days schools have to be open, rather than how many weeks?
And why does 54% mean failure?

[gaelikaa]

That test is controversial. I hear over here of Indians living in the UK forever who can't get past it. It doesn't seem fair but there might be a reason for it...

[Careers Nigeria]

Hi There !!

The test is very nice. Thanks for the post. Kee posting such.