Short answer (checked 19 October 2026): no. The Life in the UK Test has not changed. It is still 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, 18 correct (75%) to pass, £50 per attempt, based on the 3rd edition of Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. The government has said it intends to refresh the test, but no new handbook, question format, fee or start date has been published on GOV.UK. If you are ready, book now; a pass never expires.
What has actually been announced
- May 2025, immigration white paper (“Restoring control over the immigration system”): the government said it would “refresh” the Life in the UK Test as part of wider settlement reforms, alongside a move to “earned settlement” and higher English requirements for some routes.
- Since then: policy statements have repeated the intention to review the test, but as of October 2026 GOV.UK still lists the same booking service, the same 3rd-edition handbook and the same format. No consultation outcome, revised syllabus, new question bank or implementation date has been published.
- What has not been announced: a 4th edition of the handbook, a change to the number of questions, the pass mark, the fee, or any expiry on existing passes.
What this means if you are applying now
- Your pass stays valid. A Life in the UK pass does not expire and covers both settlement (indefinite leave to remain) and citizenship. A future refresh would apply to people taking the test after it starts, not to passes already held.
- Study from the 3rd edition. Older 2nd-edition material (pre-2013) is out of date; some practice sites still use it.
- Do not wait for a “new test” to be announced before booking. There is no published date, and a refresh is more likely to add material than remove it.
- Separate changes may affect you more: the white paper also proposed longer qualifying periods for settlement and a higher English level for some routes. Those are settlement rules, not test rules; check GOV.UK for your route.
The current test at a glance
| Questions | 24 multiple choice (some with two correct answers, some true/false) |
|---|---|
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 18 of 24 (75%) |
| Fee | £50 per attempt; unlimited retakes, 7 days apart |
| Source material | Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition |
| Who | Most applicants aged 18 to 64 for settlement or citizenship; exempt under 18, 65 and over, or with a qualifying long-term condition |
| Validity of a pass | Does not expire |
| Booking | GOV.UK, at least 3 days ahead, at one of 30+ centres |
How we track this
We check GOV.UK’s Life in the UK Test page and the Home Office’s immigration policy announcements and update this page when anything changes. The date at the top is the last check. Our Life in the UK practice tests are written from the 3rd-edition handbook and will be rebuilt if a new edition is published.
Related guides
- Life in the UK Test: format, pass mark, cost and how to pass
- Citizenship test vs language test: what’s the difference?
- Who is exempt from the citizenship test?
Official sources
GOV.UK, Life in the UK Test (gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test); Home Office, Restoring control over the immigration system white paper (May 2025).
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