Free practice
116 free practice questions on modern British society — culture, sport, religion and daily life — each with the answer and why it’s right. Part of the full Life in the UK Test course.
In which year was the first official census of the UK population carried out?
Why: The first census was taken in 1801 and one has been held every ten years since then, with one wartime exception.
A census has been taken in the UK every ten years since 1801, apart from one occasion during the Second World War.
Why: The only missed count was in 1941, when the Second World War made a census impractical.
Information collected in the UK census is kept confidential and is not released to the general public for how long?
Why: Census returns are withheld from the general public for 100 years, after which they become a resource for historians and family researchers.
In 2010, the population of the UK was estimated to be roughly how many people?
Why: The 2010 estimate put the UK population at a little over 62 million, having grown steadily through the 20th century.
Approximately what share of the UK population lives in England?
Why: England is home to around 84% of UK residents, far more than Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Besides English, which TWO of these languages are spoken in parts of the UK today?
Why: Gaelic is spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Welsh is widely spoken and taught in Wales.
Shops and businesses anywhere in the UK are legally obliged to accept Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes.
Why: Those notes are valid throughout the UK, but no shop or business is under any obligation to take them.
Why are people in the UK living longer than ever before?
Why: Rising living standards and better health care have lengthened life expectancy, which in turn increases the cost of pensions and care.
Which TWO statements about the UK population are correct?
Why: The UK has an ageing population with a record number of people aged 85 or over, and the great majority of residents live in England.
Who is the head of the Church of England?
Why: The monarch is head of the Church of England, which is the established Church in England; its spiritual leader is the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The monarch has the right to appoint the Archbishop of Canterbury, but the choice is made on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Why: Senior Church of England appointments are formally made by the monarch, acting on the Prime Minister's advice.
What title is given to the person who chairs the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland?
Why: The Moderator chairs the General Assembly, is appointed for one year only, and often speaks on behalf of the Church.
In Scotland, the church that is part of the same worldwide communion as the Church of England is known as which church?
Why: The Church of England is called the Anglican Church in many countries, and the Episcopal Church in Scotland and the United States.
On which date is St George's Day celebrated?
Why: St George, the patron saint of England, is celebrated on 23 April.
In which TWO nations of the UK is the patron saint's day an official public holiday?
Why: Only Scotland and Northern Ireland treat their patron saint's day as an official holiday, although in Scotland many businesses stay open.
Which TWO statements about religion in the UK are correct?
Why: Freedom of religion is protected by law, and the Church of Scotland, a Presbyterian church, is Scotland's national Church.
In the 2011 census, what was the second most common answer given to the question about religion, after Christian?
Why: Christian was the largest response at about 59%, followed by 'no religion' at roughly a quarter of those who answered.
Bonfire Night, held on 5 November, remembers a failed plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605.
Why: Guy Fawkes was caught guarding explosives beneath Parliament in 1605, and the plot's failure is marked with bonfires and fireworks.
Which flower is worn in the UK in the days leading up to Remembrance Day?
Why: Poppies recall the poppies that grew on the First World War battlefields of Flanders; a two-minute silence is held at 11am on 11 November.
The day before Lent begins is popularly known in the UK by which name?
Why: Shrove Tuesday is widely called Pancake Day, because people traditionally eat pancakes before the fasting period of Lent.
Which TWO days at Easter are public holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Why: Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays; Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday are marked but are ordinary working days.
When does Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day) fall in the UK?
Why: Mothering Sunday is the Sunday three weeks before Easter, so its date moves each year; Father's Day is the third Sunday in June.
What does the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi, held in April, celebrate?
Why: Vaisakhi, on 14 April, marks the founding of the Khalsa, the Sikh community, and is celebrated with parades and dancing.
The Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr marks which occasion?
Why: Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast for a month; Eid ul Adha is the separate festival recalling Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son.
For how many days is the Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrated?
Why: Hanukkah lasts eight days, with a candle lit on each day to remember the Jewish struggle for religious freedom.
Which TWO statements about Diwali are correct?
Why: Diwali, the Festival of Lights, usually runs for five days in October or November and celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
The Paralympic Games grew out of a 1948 sports competition for wheelchair athletes organised by Dr Ludwig Guttmann at which hospital?
Why: Guttmann, a refugee from Germany, organised his competition at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, and it developed into the Paralympic Games.
Sir Roger Bannister earned his place in sporting history in 1954 by becoming the first man to do what?
Why: In 1954 Bannister broke the four-minute barrier for the mile, a feat many had believed impossible.
The Ashes is a famous series of cricket Test matches played between England and which country?
Why: England and Australia have contested the Ashes since 1882; individual Test matches can last up to five days.
Which TWO of these horse-racing events are held in the UK?
Why: The Grand National is run at Aintree near Liverpool and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr; the other two are held in the USA and Australia.
The Open Championship is the oldest of golf's four 'majors'. What else makes it distinctive among them?
Why: The Open is the only major championship staged outside the United States, and golf itself can be traced back to 15th-century Scotland.
Besides England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, which TWO countries compete in the Six Nations rugby union championship?
Why: The Six Nations is contested annually by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy.
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament played on which surface?
Why: Wimbledon, held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, is the only Grand Slam event still played on grass.
Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to win which sporting event?
Why: Wiggins won cycling's Tour de France in 2012, the first British rider to do so, and is also a multiple Olympic medallist.
At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Team GB finished third in the medal table.
Why: Team GB came third in the medal table at London 2012, and the British team also finished third at the Paralympic Games that followed.
Which architect designed St Paul's Cathedral in London?
Why: Wren designed the new St Paul's Cathedral after the original was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.
The Cenotaph in Whitehall was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Why: Lutyens designed the Cenotaph, the war memorial in Whitehall where the national Remembrance ceremony is held each November.
The Booker Prize, awarded every year since 1968, recognises achievement in which field?
Why: The Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded annually for a novel; past winners include Ian McEwan and Hilary Mantel.
Which TWO of these novels were written by Jane Austen?
Why: Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility; Treasure Island is by Robert Louis Stevenson and Far from the Madding Crowd is by Thomas Hardy.
Which writer created the detective Sherlock Holmes?
Why: Conan Doyle wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, among the best known detective fiction in the English language.
Poets' Corner, where many of Britain's most celebrated poets are buried or commemorated, is found in which building?
Why: Poets' Corner is in Westminster Abbey in London, where poets including Geoffrey Chaucer are buried.
Which composer was born in Germany, later became a British citizen, and wrote Water Music and the Messiah?
Why: Handel settled in Britain and became a British citizen; his works include Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and the Messiah.
Which play has had the longest run of any show in the West End, staged continuously since 1952?
Why: The Mousetrap, a murder mystery by Dame Agatha Christie, has run in London's West End since 1952.
Which TWO comic operas were written by Gilbert and Sullivan?
Why: Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operas include HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado; Dido and Aeneas is by Henry Purcell and Billy Budd by Benjamin Britten.
Nick Park has won several Oscars for animated films featuring which characters?
Why: Nick Park, working with Aardman Animations, created Wallace and Gromit and has won several Academy Awards.
Which British director became famous for suspense films including Psycho?
Why: Sir Alfred Hitchcock directed Psycho and many other thrillers, and is one of the most influential British film-makers.
The annual BAFTA awards are given for achievement in which field?
Why: BAFTA stands for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, which presents annual awards for both film and television.
Which TWO of these are well-known British films?
Why: Chariots of Fire (1981) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) are among the best known British films; the other two are American productions.
The Chelsea Flower Show, held in London each year, is best known for showcasing what?
Why: The Chelsea Flower Show is a famous annual event at which new garden designs are exhibited.
You must be 18 or over to go into a betting shop or a gambling club in the UK.
Why: The minimum age for entering betting shops and gambling clubs is 18, the same minimum age that applies to buying a National Lottery ticket.
How is the BBC funded?
Why: The BBC is funded by the television licence that households pay, and it is independent of government.
Which TWO of these foods are traditionally associated with Wales?
Why: Welsh cakes and Welsh lamb are traditional Welsh foods; haggis comes from Scotland and the Ulster fry from Northern Ireland.
Which TWO statements about the National Trust are correct?
Why: The National Trust is a charity started in 1895 by three volunteers; a separate National Trust for Scotland was set up in 1931.
Which was the first national park to be established in the UK, in 1951?
Why: The Peak District became the UK's first national park in 1951; others followed in the years afterwards.
How many national parks are there in England, Wales and Scotland?
Why: There are 15 national parks across England, Wales and Scotland, all of them open for the public to visit.
What is the highest mountain in Wales?
Why: Snowdon, in the Snowdonia national park, is the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 metres.
According to legend, the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland was built by which giant?
Why: Legend credits the giant Finn MacCool with building the Causeway; geologists explain its columns as the result of volcanic activity around 50 million years ago.
In which part of the UK is the Eden Project located?
Why: The Eden Project is in Cornwall in the south west of England, where its biomes house plants from all over the world.
The London Eye, on the South Bank of the River Thames, was originally built to celebrate what?
Why: The London Eye, a wheel 135 metres tall, was built as part of the UK's millennium celebrations and is now a leading visitor attraction.
The Tower of London was first built by which king?
Why: William the Conqueror began building the Tower of London after he became king in 1066.
Select TWO British Paralympic athletes.
Why: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson (wheelchair racing) and Ellie Simmonds (swimming) are among Britain's best-known Paralympians. Jessica Ennis-Hill and Andy Murray are Olympic, not Paralympic, athletes.
Which British author wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
Why: Roald Dahl wrote many popular children's books, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda.
What is a common British custom on 14 February, Valentine’s Day?
Why: On Valentine’s Day people send cards and gifts to someone they love or admire, and the card is sometimes sent anonymously.
In a 2003 nationwide poll, which novel was voted the UK's best-loved book?
Why: J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings topped the BBC's 2003 'Big Read' poll of Britain's favourite novels.
The artist J.M.W. Turner is best known for painting what?
Why: Turner was a leading Romantic landscape painter, famous for his dramatic skies and seascapes.
Select TWO British actors who have won an Academy Award (Oscar).
Why: Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) and Kate Winslet (The Reader) are British Oscar winners. Leonardo DiCaprio and Meryl Streep are American.
Select TWO well-known social networking websites.
Why: Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook let people share messages and stay in contact online.
In which country was the writer Rudyard Kipling born?
Why: Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book and the poem 'If—', was born in India in 1865.
On which date is Christmas Day celebrated in the UK?
Why: Christmas Day, 25 December, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ; 26 December is Boxing Day.
In UK schools, what does the abbreviation 'PTA' stand for?
Why: A Parent–Teacher Association (PTA) lets parents and teachers work together to support a school, often through fundraising and events.
The 18th-century painter Thomas Gainsborough is best known for what?
Why: Gainsborough was a leading portrait painter who often placed his sitters in a landscape.
Which British film series has been the biggest box-office earner?
Why: The James Bond series, based on Ian Fleming's spy novels, is the highest-grossing British film franchise.
Which British composer was strongly influenced by traditional English folk music?
Why: Ralph Vaughan Williams drew heavily on English folk tunes in works such as his Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.
For which novel is the satirist Evelyn Waugh best known?
Why: Evelyn Waugh's best-known novel is Brideshead Revisited.
Select TWO traditional games played in British pubs.
Why: Darts and pool are traditional pub games. Games of chance such as roulette belong to casinos, not pubs.
In which decade did British film studios first flourish?
Why: The 1930s were the first great period for British film studios.
In which year were films first shown to the public in Britain?
Why: The first public film screenings in Britain took place in 1896.
In which sport did Sir Chris Hoy win multiple Olympic gold medals?
Why: Sir Chris Hoy is a Scottish track cyclist and one of Britain's most successful Olympians.
Who directed the British films Brief Encounter and Lawrence of Arabia?
Why: David Lean directed classics including Brief Encounter, Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago.
Beowulf, 'The Tyger' and 'She Walks in Beauty' are all examples of what?
Why: All three are celebrated poems: Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic, 'The Tyger' is by William Blake and 'She Walks in Beauty' is by Lord Byron.
Pantomimes are light-hearted plays with music and comedy, usually based on fairy stories.
Why: Pantomime is a British theatre tradition, especially at Christmas: light-hearted plays based on fairy stories, full of music and comedy.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: Capability Brown designed the grounds of country houses such as Blenheim Palace, and Gertrude Jekyll designed gardens, often working with the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.
Which TWO of the following belong to the world of football?
Why: The Premier League is the top English football league and UEFA runs European club competitions. The Ashes is cricket and The Open is golf.
Mince pies are traditionally eaten at which festival?
Why: Mince pies are a traditional Christmas food in the UK, alongside roast turkey and Christmas pudding.
Which TWO of these people made their names in British fashion?
Why: Mary Quant (linked with the mini-skirt and the 1960s) and Vivienne Westwood are leading British fashion designers. Brown designed gardens; Lutyens designed buildings.
Sir William Golding, Seamus Heaney and Harold Pinter all received which honour?
Why: All three — the novelist William Golding, the poet Seamus Heaney and the playwright Harold Pinter — won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Which celebration takes place on the third Sunday of June every year?
Why: Father's Day falls on the third Sunday of June, when children give cards and gifts to their fathers.
The saying 'rain stopped play' comes from which sport?
Why: Cricket matches pause when it rains, and 'rain stopped play' has passed from cricket into everyday English.
Some people rent a piece of land called an 'allotment', where they grow their own fruit and vegetables.
Why: Gardening is a popular British hobby, and many people rent an allotment — a small plot of land used for growing fruit and vegetables.
Which currency is used in the UK?
Why: The UK currency is the pound sterling (£), divided into 100 pence.
Which TWO family members each have a special day dedicated to them in the UK?
Why: Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day) and Father's Day celebrate mothers and fathers with cards and gifts.
The BBC pays for its programmes by selling advertising time.
Why: The BBC is funded by the television licence fee, not by advertising — that is what keeps it independent of advertisers.
William Shakespeare is celebrated for writing which TWO forms of literature?
Why: Shakespeare was a playwright and poet, famous for his plays and his sonnets — not for novels.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: Football has medieval roots in Britain, but professional clubs only formed in the late 19th century.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: The BBC is funded by the licence fee, making it the only wholly state-funded media organisation in the UK — and it is independent of government.
The painter John Constable founded England's modern police force.
Why: John Constable (1776–1837) was a landscape painter famous for scenes of Suffolk. Sir Robert Peel established the modern police force.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012 — the first Grand Slam singles title by a British man since Fred Perry in 1936. (Sir Francis Chichester was the round-the-world sailor.)
The Brit Awards honour outstanding sportspeople.
Why: The Brit Awards are the annual British pop music awards — sporting excellence is honoured elsewhere.
Dundee and Aberdeen are cities in Northern Ireland.
Why: Dundee and Aberdeen are both cities in Scotland.
Cardiff, Swansea and Newport are English cities.
Why: Cardiff, Swansea and Newport are all cities in Wales.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: Rugby originated in England in the early 1800s — tradition traces it to Rugby School — and is popular across the UK.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: Plymouth, Norwich and Leeds are English cities; Newport, Swansea and Cardiff are Welsh.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight is one of the world’s oldest and best-known sailing regattas.
Thomas Hardy wrote the novel Far from the Madding Crowd.
Why: Thomas Hardy was a celebrated English novelist; Far from the Madding Crowd is among his best-known books.
Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis both took gold for Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.
Why: At London 2012, Mo Farah won the 5,000m and 10,000m and Jessica Ennis won the heptathlon.
Which TWO of these people are celebrated British sports stars?
Why: Sir Chris Hoy (cycling) and Dame Kelly Holmes (middle-distance running) are famous British Olympic champions. Lucian Freud was a painter and Jane Austen a novelist.
Which TWO plants are national symbols within the UK?
Why: The rose is the national flower of England and the shamrock of Northern Ireland — with the thistle for Scotland and the daffodil for Wales.
What does the National Trust do?
Why: The National Trust preserves important buildings, coastline and countryside — kept going largely by volunteers.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: British Nobel literature laureates include William Golding, Seamus Heaney and Harold Pinter.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Why: Halloween's roots are ancient and pagan — a festival marking the beginning of winter, long before the modern trick-or-treating custom.
On 1 April, people in the UK traditionally play tricks on one another.
Why: April Fool's Day, 1 April, is the day for practical jokes — traditionally only until midday.
Charles Dickens made his name writing musicals.
Why: Dickens was a novelist — the author of Oliver Twist, Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol.
The Wimbledon Championships are a motor-racing event.
Why: Wimbledon is the world-famous tennis tournament — the oldest of the Grand Slams.
Which TWO festivals on the UK calendar are Christian?
Why: Christmas and Easter are Christian festivals. Halloween and New Year are widely celebrated but are not Christian feasts.
In the UK, boys leave school with better qualifications than girls.
Why: On average girls leave school with better qualifications than boys.
Which city staged the Paralympic Games in 2012?
Why: London hosted both the Olympics and the Paralympics in 2012 — the Paralympic movement itself has British roots, at Stoke Mandeville hospital.
Answers explained on every one, a timed mock in the real format, and narrated lessons — free, in 8 languages.
Start the free course →