British citizenship test: One in three immigrants fails

Nearly a third of foreigners wanting to make Britain their home failed their citizenship test in 2009, figures show.

Of the 906,464 people who took it, 263,641 failed - meaning the pass rate was 70.9%, Home Office figures show.

The 45-minute test on British society, history and culture is a crucial step on the road to being allowed to settle permanently or full citizenship.

Nationalities with a pass rate below 50% included Iraq, Bangladesh and Turkey - all major sources of migrants.

Some 40,200 Iraqis sat the exam, with a pass rate of 47.9%. Among the 30,014 Turks who took the test the rate was 45.9%, while out of 38,085 Bangladeshis, 21,345 failed - a pass rate of 44%.

Citizenship National Report 2009 - Pass rates in full [Excel, 48kb]

Those from other non-EU countries with high levels of migration to the UK performed better, including Nigeria, with a pass rate of 82.5%, and Zimbabwe with a pass rate of 90.2%.

Citizens of English-speaking countries tended to do best in the 24 question multiple-choice exam.

The 13,223 Australians who took the test had a pass rate of 98%, just ahead of the United States on 97.9% and Canada on 96.9%.

Several countries achieved pass rates of 100%, although the very small number of candidates tended to skew the results. The Cook Islands' sole entrant passed.

Similarly, there were some very low pass rates from countries with a handful of candidates sitting the test - five out of the six French Guyanans who sat the test failed, giving them a pass rate of 16.7%.

And the Christmas Islands had a 100% fail rate, thanks to the failure of its sole candidate.

British society

The Home Office's Life in the UK Test is required for settlement, or indefinite leave to remain, in the UK or full British citizenship.

The test must be completed on a computer at one of 11 test centres around the UK.

HIGHEST AND LOWEST 100% PASS RATE: American Samoa, Andorra, Comoros, Cook Islands, East Timor, French Metropolitan, Gibraltar, Kiribati, Leichtenstein, Luxembourg, Niue, Palau, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rhodesia, San Marino, Sao Tarme and Principe, Soviet Union, Suriname, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Western Sahara 0% PASS RATE: British Indian Ocean Territories, British Overseas Territories, Christmas Island, Netherlands Antilles, Timor Leste Increase in British citizenship The candidates' nationalities are as described in the Home Office documents taken from information supplied in the tests

Introduced in 2005, the test is meant to help new arrivals hoping to make Britain their home integrate better into British society.

It covers issues such as Britain's constitution, the originating countries of previous UK immigrants, family life in the UK and where dialects like Geordie, Scouse or Cockney come from.

More practical matters such as the minimum age to buy alcohol and tobacco and what services are provided by local authorities are also covered.

According to the Home Office website, "studying for and taking the test will give you the practical knowledge you need to live in this country and to take part in society".

Passing the citizenship test demonstrates the candidate has "a sufficient knowledge" of the English language for the purposes of applying for settlement rights or a British passport.

The test is an alternative to completing an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course "with civic content".

It comes as separate Home Office figures show the number of people granted British citizenship last year is at its highest level since 2005.

Figures show 203,790 people were given citizenship in 2009, up 59% from 129,375 the previous year.

There was also a 40% increase in the numbers given grants of settlement in the UK and a 45% rise in those allowed to settle for employment reasons.

The data comes from the International Passenger Survey of long-term international migration.

Explaining the large gap between the number of people who passed the citizenship test and those who were granted citizenship last year, a home office spokesman said there was often a "time lag" between passing the test and applying for citizenship.

In addition, he said passing the test did not guarantee citizenship and some applicants were refused it "on other grounds".

Summary of the Immigration Policies of the UK top 3 political parties

Conservative Party

• Bring down net immigration levels by introducing a limit on the number of migrants from outside the EU. It is interesting to note that the Conservatives have yet to confirm how many immigrants would be allowed into the UK.
• The current points based system would continue. Only economic migrants who will "bring the most value to the economy" will be allowed entry to theUK.
• Set up a National Border Police Force with the power to stop, search, detain and arrest. To a great extent this has already been done.
• Provide easier access to English language training and making it a requirement that a spouse or partner coming to the UK knows English.

Liberal Democrats

• Create a National Border Force with police powers and reintroduce exit checks at all ports.
• There would an "earned route" to citizenship for illegal migrants who have been in the UK for 10 years, and who do not have a criminal record and who speak English. This would in effect be an "immigration amnesty".
• Give more control on immigration policy to the regions by having regionalimmigration policies.
• Changes to asylum policy including the establishment of an Independent Asylum Agency and also allowing asylum seekers to work.
• Higher Government fees for Tier 2 visa applications for businesses wishing to employ overseas workers from outside the EU.

Labour Party

• Changes to the points-based immigration system which may result in tougher immigration requirements in future.
• Expand the Migration Impacts Fund to provide funding to parts of the country which take in the most migrants. This may mean higher Government fees forimmigration applications in future.
• Continue with the roll-out of compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals.
• Ensure migrants pass a tough English test before they are allowed entry to the UK.

Changes to the 'knowledge of language and life' requirement for citizenship

On 7 April 2010, the UK Border Agency made important changes to the ESOL provisions within the 'knowledge of language and life' requirement for people seeking settlement in the UK.

Most settlement applicants aged between 18 and 64 must show that they have sufficient knowledge of the English language and of life in the UK. They can meet this requirement by either passing the 'Life in the UK' test or obtaining an approved English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification. The ESOL provision is for people whose standard of English is below ESOL Entry Level 3.

Until 6 April 2010, you could satisfy the ESOL requirement by obtaining a relevant ESOL qualification from an approved awarding body following attendance on a course which was taught using specified citizenship materials. Now you must also:

• have studied for your ESOL qualification at an 'accredited college'; and
• be able to demonstrate that you have progressed at least one level in order to obtain your qualification.

An 'accredited college' is:

• a publicly funded college which is subject to inspection by Ofsted or its devolved equivalents; or
• a private college which is accredited by Accreditation UK, the British Accreditation Council (BAC), the Accreditation Body for Language Services (ABLS) or the Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC).

We will accept that a college meets the definition of an 'accredited college' if it was accredited on the date when you obtained your qualification, or if it is accredited on the date when your settlement application is decided.

If you submit your settlement application on or after 7 April 2010, you must meet the new requirements.

If you submitted your settlement application before 7 April 2010, it will be considered in accordance with the provisions in force on 6 April 2010. The college where you studied will not need to be accredited, but you will still need to have obtained an ESOL qualification from an approved awarding body following attendance on a course which contained citizenship materials.

There is no change to the provisions for those taking the 'Life in the UK' test.

For more information, please see the Knowledge of language and life pages in the Settlement section of our website.

For more information on the changes to the ESOL provisions, see the guidance and letter to stakeholders.

Home (Journey to British Citizenship)

Home (Journey to British Citizenship)

�UK Citizenship Guide website

�UK Citizenship Guide website

Life in the UK test Guide

According to British Nationality Act 1981, Candidates who apply for British Citizenship should submit a vital evidence of Knowledge  of Life in UK  & one of the most desirable mean is to PASS KoLi UK i-e Knowledge of Life in UK test. Through this website my aim is to deliver a great extent of confidence to the Candidates that they can get success provided that:-

• how much keenly they have read the official Life in UK HAND BOOK
• how much keenly they have prepare their test questions.
• how many times they solved the carefully designed practice test questions.

Test should be booked well in advance and usually 10 pound cancellation fees is applicable in case a candidate is unable to attend the test centre on date. Current Test Fee is 34.00 GBP.According to Home Office guide lines the current updated version of Hand Book of KoLi UK i-e Knowledge of Life in UK is 2nd Edition 7th Impression 2009  having ISB Number 978-0-11-341313-30001 which is divided into 1 to 7 Chapters while under present laws, Official Test Contain Questions only from following chapters:-

• Chapter 2 - A changing Society
• Chapter 3 - UK today: A Profile
• Chapter 4 - How The United Kingdom Governed
• Chapter 5 - Every day Needs 
• Chapter 6 - Employment

Official Test contain 24 questions and Pass percentage is 75%. Test is computer based and one who is quiet familiar with general use of computer and having English level 3 or above should attempt to do it. Once you will pass the test you will receive written notification letter confirming that you have passed the test and you result will be electronically transfer to home office and at the same time it will be considered as final proof for your test of English language competency in addition to KoLi-UK which is a partial requirement to apply for ILR (Indefinite leave to Remain) and for Naturalization (British Citizenship) under British Nationality Act 1981.