What to look for in free Life in the UK Test practice

Does it match the real test?

The real test is 24 multiple choice questions, and you have 45 minutes to answer them. A good practice resource lets you sit a full mock test of the same length, so you know how the real one feels before you book. Short quizzes are useful for learning a topic, but you also want practice at the full 24. See how many questions there are and how long you get.

Does it use the real pass mark?

You need 18 of the 24 questions right to pass, which is 75%. Practice that scores you against that mark tells you plainly whether you would have passed. Many people wait until they pass their practice tests comfortably and often before they book. Read more about the pass mark.

Are the questions drawn from the official study guide?

The real test is based on the official study guide, Life in the United Kingdom, A Guide for New Residents, third edition. Good practice questions are written from that same book and cover every chapter of it, not only the parts that are easiest to turn into questions.

Is it up to date?

Some facts in the official study guide have changed since it was printed, but the test still expects the answer the book gives. Good practice teaches you the answer the test expects and tells you where the world has moved on, rather than mixing the two. Look for a date showing when the content was last checked, and be wary of material written for an earlier edition of the book.

Does it explain each answer?

Knowing that you were wrong is less useful than knowing why. Good practice shows a short explanation after every question, right or wrong, and helps you return to the topics you keep missing, so your practice time goes where it is needed.

Free or paid?

Free practice is enough for many people. A paid course or app can be worth it if it gives you something you need, such as a way to study without an internet connection or extra help with English, but paying does not by itself mean the questions are better. The test fee is the one cost you cannot avoid, and it is the same £50 however you prepare. See what the test costs.

A short checklist

• Full mock tests of 24 questions, with a 45 minute limit.
• Scores judged against the real pass mark of 18 out of 24.
• Questions written from the third edition of the official study guide, covering all of it.
• An explanation with every answer.
• A clear date showing when the content was last checked.

Mantlin is free practice for the Life in the UK Test built to this checklist.