Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents

by Home Office

Ensure you are fully prepared for your Life in the UK test with the new 2013 3rd edition of the Life in the UK handbook. This downloadable PDF gives you instant access to the only official handbook for Life in the UK tests taken on or after 25 March 2013. It contains all the official learning material for the test and is written in clear, simple language - making it easy to understand.

This essential handbook covers a range of topics you need to know to pass your test and apply for UK citizenship or permanent residency, including:

The process of becoming a citizen or permanent resident
The values and principles of the UK
Traditions and culture from around the UK
The events and people that have shaped the UK's history
The government and the law
Getting involved in your community

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Reference, Politics, Society, Cultural

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[starduest]

If I have to spend time and money studying this to pass a stupid test it sure as hell is going towards my reading challenge.

[Rebekkah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book serves its purpose - preparing readers to take the Life in the UK test - and in that regard, there is no other book more suited, as this is the official book produced by the Home Office, the good folks who also wrote the test.

I was very frustrated with it, though, as its top-level approach to history was, at times, inaccurate (Guy Fawkes did not lead the plot to assassinate the king by blowing up Parliament; he was a conspirator who joined after the plot had already been hatched), and at other times, completely and utterly lacking. How does a book that sets out to educate people about the grand history of Britain and the UK manage to omit any possible reference to Charles Darwin? There is room for a list of people who won medals in the 2012 Olympics, and even a tidy section on gardening as a leisure activity, but not one word about the incredible feat of the man who pieced together the foundation for the most fundamental theory of humankind? He's on the ten-pound note, for goodness' sake, but he can't be included in the most notable British accomplishments of the last few centuries?

So, I can't find it in me to recommend this book for anything other than its bare purpose: memorise it as well as you can, pass your exam, then go read something truly informative about British history and UK life.

[Morenike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dedicated 4 full days of my life to this book, in exchange for a blue passport. As an irrational 18 year old, I have decided that this was not worth it. I feel as though I have lost 4 years of my life, every time I read the word 'parliament', I genuinely think my heart rate decreased.

Content-wise, it was incredibly useful, although I really doubt one needs extensive knowledge about the pastimes, like GARDENING, of the Brits in order to be considered a candidate for citizenship but hey! Different culture, different values.

I feel relieved to be done with this book, tempted to burn it idk

[Guerino · Rating 1 out of 5]

Il voto non è al volumetto in sé quanto alla pantomima che è questo test (necessario per poter richiedere la cittadinanza britannica).

Una serie di nozioni sparate a mille senza approfondimento, date su date da ricordare a memoria insieme ai nomi di campioni di cricket, tennis, corse di cavalli e tanto altro. Dubito che qualunque inglese da dieci generazioni riuscirebbe a passare questo test al volo, perché le nozioni richieste, spesso, sono così fuori dal tempo (come direbbe il caro Marco Castoldi). E parlo da persona che ama studiare, in generale, è proprio una cosa che mi gasa, ma questo è studio sterile di cose che dimenticherò dopodomani.

Poi il libretto in sé il suo lavoro l’ha fatto, l’ho letto, ho fatto pratica online e il test l’ho passato, ma boh, non capisco davvero quanto sapere che in Scozia ci sono cinque centri sciistici mi avvicini all’essere britannico.

[Evan Edinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting facts, some useless, but a necessary evil for citizenship~

[Pagan Carruthers · Rating 2 out of 5]

a necessary evil kinda vibes x

[Nadine Baier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have actually learnt loads of interesting facts about the history of the UK. now let's see if I can remember it 😅

[Jonathan-David Jackson]

The book itself does fairly well what it should - prepares you for the test. Memorize everything in it and you're guaranteed to pass.

Thom Brooks has pretty well covered what's wrong with the test in general (see here if you're interested: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf...), so I won't keep you too long. I just want to say what a ridiculous waste of time and money this all is, and what an awful bureaucratic experience for new residents of the UK.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy stuff

[Bruno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most compelling of subjects. I guess if I have to read it, at least it will count towards my yearly reading goal.
Does the job I guess.

[Shiny Ruins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took off a whole frigging star because why are we talking about sports in a citizenship exam‽ I used to teach the US citizenship exam when I still lived there, there weren't any questions about the Yankees or about how long the Cubs went without a WS win.

And another for pop culture drivel. I'm studying for a citizenship exam, not the Saturday night pub quiz. I got a question about Coronation Street wrong on one of the practice tests 🙄

Ask me who my local MP is, not another question about the 1966 World Cup.

[Jennifer Riggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pass the test after dipping in and out of this book. It accomplish what it needed to. I got it free and a local group and will give it onward. I just deeply disliked separated coverage of slavery and World War II was not the most accurate

[Beth Bonini · Rating 2 out of 5]

No matter how long you've lived in the UK - and I had lived here for twenty years before taking this test - I wouldn't recommend that you try 'winging' the test without studying up on this official guide. It can read like an odd compendium of useful information and minutiae; some of it will seem ludicrously obvious, while other 'facts' will probably not be known by the vast majority of natural-born citizens. The Northern Irish (3%), Welsh (5%) and Scottish (8%) may not make up much of the population of the UK, but you will need to learn the history and differences in government bodies in those countries as well. I found that the hardest bit. It also feels like you have to commit lots of dates to memory; I did have a few on my test, so don't believe the information that says you don't really need to know dates. (You don't need to know the birth/death dates of any of the famous historical figures.). I definitely recommend lots of practice tests, which you can find online, as a way to double check that you've absorbed the information.

The guidebook is divided into three sections: history, modern life, and UK government and civic responsibility. The questions I got were divided pretty equally between these sections from what I can remember. I wouldn't recommend it as a particularly interesting read, but it will help you pass the test - and possibly to add to your future 'pub quiz' knowledge as well.

[Marielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief survey of British history and government as well as cultural information.

I did find the explanation of British parliament and House of Lords a little weak, particularly for a citizenship guide. There was a brief explanations of the parties but not much on local elections, tax law, how votes are decided- all things that are central to living a civic minded life. I wish they had spent more time on that and less time listing popular Rugby players.

A note: I'm coming to the uk on a 3 year tier 2 visa so I didn't read this for the test. I suppose I would probably have hated it a lot more in that case!

[Olga · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is what it is. A somewhat random collection of facts about the UK which I now know better than most of my British colleagues.

[Trey Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly fascinating reading but required for the Indefinite Leave to Remain test (sort of like a US green card).

[Denis Lebedev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great material for a pub quizz.
My favourite is "Who gets 50% discount on TV license? - blind people" .

[Maytal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mandatory reading, but it still counts!

[Mohammad Islam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise and full of information. I learned a lot about the UK. I guess that was the purpose all along, so the book is working as intended.

[Savia]

Key moment in my British citizenship journey 💪🏼 helped me pass my Life in UK test!

[Liza Verity · Rating 3 out of 5]

actually kinda interesting

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history was interesting but it was difficult to get through the government and lifestyle information. Useful for the test, which is what it's for.

[Tara Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the bare bones of the long and illustrious history of Britain. Huge omissions (Darwin mentioned below, also let's just gloss over that slavery thing because it's cool now) and somewhat odd (let's focus on who opened the first Indian restaurant, the long list of sports personalities and who cares who improved the carding machine?).
I'm going to go out on a limb and say I wish it was a series of tests, each focusing on one of the topics learned in more detail. A bullet point list of dates (many out of order!) gives little idea of the importance of each event or the politics surrounding them. I get the feeling the wording of the questions is meant to catch out those who aren't first language English, in spite of the apparent embracing of diversity expressed in the book.
2 stars, but my British army friend gives it 0 and says 'it's bollocks.'

[May Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read and very informative

This book is used to take the Life in the UK test for people who are willing to become British Citizens. On that aspect it is a book of reference to be studied as the questions for the test tend to be very specific knowledge that the book may just mention in passing.

However, as a general knowledge book it was an entertaining read. The history and polical parts of the book explain life in the UK in an easy to read, broad way. The book does not go into too much depth on any subject, but gives you a good general idea of the history and life in the UK.

The book's only fault is it's overly optimistic tune that can sometimes contrast with harsh reality. But in my opinion books should always attempt to portray an ideal as this may lead readers to make this ideal a reality.

[Dwayne Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife had to complete this, I had a lucky escape via a convenient birth.

This book is sold as the official guide to information on the Life in the UK test. But that is not true. It is a guide to the most important British pastime, the Pub Quiz.

This book will prepare you with a long list of useful, interesting and plain boring facts that will prepare you for your next Pub Quiz. You will begin to feel completely assimilated once complete.

Oh and it gets 1 star really ;)

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

I passed the test, so I guess that I can recommend it on that basis. It reads like an elementary (primary for you UK folk) school civics book, with odd asides about the wives of Henry VIII and cricket. I have already forgotten how many people sit on a jury in Scotland. But if I ever desperately need to know, I now have this book.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A truly thrilling read. Murders - plagues - invasions - revolutions - a description of the ingredients in haggis - this book has everything. (And I passed the LitUK test so I guess it's fit for purpose, too.)

[Robin]

Finished. Test tomorrow. Not much to say about this book other than required reading for the UK Citizenship Test aka Life in the UK Test.

[Adrian Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dominated by History and National politics. Not enough about British values in education or work, for example.

[Emma Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks goodness it was short.