Get a good night’s sleep before the day of your test. Your memory functions better when you’re well-rested. One of the most effective things you can do when studying the Life in the UK Test book is to plan your time. For the vast majority of people, studying in small amounts on a regular basis works best. If you know someone else studying for the Life in the UK Test, you could ask them to be your study partner so you could help each other learn. Having a study buddy is a great idea, providing that you’re both sensible and focused. On the other hand, you may find having a study partner is distracting and counter-productive; do what works best for you. Make sure you select an answer for each question, even if you’re not sure it’s correct. There is a chance you will get the answer correct, even with a guess. If there are only 2 possible answers to the question, you have a 50% chance of answering correctly.

Once you start the test, read each question carefully and make sure you fully understand what the question is asking. A mnemonic (pronounced nem-onic) is a memory aid; a technique for helping your brain to remember something. Mnemonics are commonly used for remembering lists, spellings, numbers or learning a new language. The word comes from Ancient Greek and means ‘of memory’. Mnemonics do not need to make sense. A common mnemonic is to use the first letter of each word you need to remember and use them to make up a sentence or story. Humour helps to make a mnemonic more memorable. For example, the sentence below: If you do choose to study with someone else, you can have discussions on different topics and bounce ideas off one another. As you read each section of the book, you can write down your own questions to ask your study partner and vice versa. YouMake sure you’re well-hydrated before the test and take a bottle of water with you. Dehydration affects the performance of your brain. Remember to take the required documents that you need to present to the test supervisor at the test centre. Ensure your personal details are entered correctly into the system; it is your responsibility to make sure these details are correct. If you do, you will be asked to fill in a special arrangement booking form in which you need to specify your special request and provide any additional information regarding your requirements.

If you don’t know when your most productive time of the day is, try studying at different times during the day to find which time best suits you. There is no one “best” time to study; each person will have their own preference. Some people find they study better in the morning whilst others prefer studying during evening hours. Regardless of what time you prefer studying, ensure you get a sufficient amount of sleep. Your concentration will suffer if you’re tired. Link a date or number to information from the country where you were born. So to remember that British women over the age of 21 got the right to vote in 1928, link it to the date when women could vote in that country or an event you know about that happened during that year. It must be taken in the English language. However, if you are in Scotland or Wales you can request to sit the test in Scottish Gaelic or Welsh when booking.Don’t spend too much time on a single question. If you find yourself struggling with a question, leave it and revisit it after answering the questions you’re able to. If you don’t know the answer to the question, take a guess and don’t worry too much. Remember, you’re allowed 6 incorrect answers. Make the date memorable by linking it to personal information – the year you, or a family member or friend, were born or the number of a house where you lived. Plan your journey to the test centre so that you arrive with plenty of time to spare before the test begins. Aim to arrive at least half an hour early. The name you give on your test booking must be an exact match with the name on the ID you use to book the test. The test is entirely computer-based and will be conducted on a computer provided by the test centre.

Some people find that using different coloured pens or pencils to highlight important information – names, dates, numbers, etc. – helps them to remember facts more easily. Create a sentence in which the number of letters in each word are the same as the number you want to remember, e.g. for Columbus: A ( 1) good ( 4) discovery ( 9) is ( 2). If you find it easier, use words from your home language. The best mnemonics are ones that make you laugh or that you make up when you are learning. This helps make strong connections in your brain. This is the only official government service for booking the Life in the UK Test. You need to take the test as part of your application for British citizenship or settlement in the UK.Make sure you do the practice test before the start of the official test. This will give you a chance to get a feel of the test and how it works. You can make special requests when you book your test, for example if you have a disability and need extra equipment or help accessing the centre. Get help