It is the test that every immigrant must pass to gain British citizenship,
ensuring that succesful applicants have a grasp of the country’s life,
customs and culture.
But to judge by the results of a quiz conducted in a North London pub this
week, the test is too hard for most born-and-bred Britons.
The informal sitting of the test, organised by the Manifesto Club, showed that
the questions were so tricky that not one of 100 British citizens was good
enough to pass.
The 24-question exam was introduced in 2005 after David Blunkett, the former
Home Secretary, insisted that new immigrants should grasp the English
language and the nature of British life, customs and culture.
Government officials estimate that 100,000 people take the multiple-choice
test each year, with two thirds attaining the passage score of 18. However,
the British volunteers, made up mainly of young professionals, found the
test a far more challenging prospect. After attempting the exam, they were
left with one further question in mind: how British are we?
“I think I’m going to be thrown out of the country,” said Alasdair Hopwood,
31, an artist from South London, after getting only 14 questions right.
Although the questions selected were of above-average obscurity – and the test
was administered a few pints into the evening – it still caused some to
doubt its legitimacy, as much as others doubted their identity.
Questions selected by James Panton, a member of the Manifesto Club, and
answered by multiple-choice selection, included the population of Wales, the
number of independent schools and the year women gained the right to divorce
their husbands. They got even tougher – including such posers as: “Why was
there a fall in the number of people migrating to the UK from the West
Indies, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the late 1960s?”
“I’m just trying to remember how many pence are in a pound,” said Matilda
Tristan, a student from Stoke Newington. “I’m not even sure whether I’m to
read the Daily Mail left to right or right to left.”
Other questions included what percentage of Christians in Britain are Roman
Catholic and the purpose of the Council of Europe. For many, this last
question was rhetorical.
The highest score was 17, by Rohan Thanotheran, a Sri Lankan-born accountant
who has lived in England since 1962.
“I understand,” he said. “The Government is saying, ‘Don’t come to this
country 40 years ago and not know anything about it’. But passing this quiz
doesn’t mean that. It just means you’ve read the study book.”
However, without studying, the lone noncitizen in the room out-performed 90
per cent of the rest. Sarah Wang, a Taiwanese-born Canadian on a working
holiday in London, scored 15. She said that she had found the questions only
“partly relevant”. Throughout the exam, shouts of “Deported!” interrupted
the reading, above the hardy clinks of Peroni bottles against glasses of
Merlot.
But while the pubgoers could laugh off their failure, event organisers said
something more serious was at stake.
“This test comes out of a Government determined to define British-ness,” said
Josie Appleton, the Manifesto Club’s convenor. “It is an artificial,
bureaucratic exercise that has very little to do with what being British is
all about. There is a significant gap between the exam and real life in
Britain.”
An official from English Heritage was among the test-takers. Though she
declined to comment, all professional and casual constructors of the British
identity were left to question its foundation. Is it based on an
understanding of: a) British culture b) British history c) British
government or d) None of the above?
Test yourself: how would you score?
1. Why were recruitment centres set up in the West Indies in the 1950s? A
To recruit workers for textile factories B To recruit workers to
build canals C To recruit workers to build railways D To
recruit workers to drive buses
2. What percentage of children live within a step-family? A 10 per cent B
25 per cent C 40 per cent D 55 per cent
3. When will the British Government adopt the euro as the UK’s currency? A
2010 B 2015 C Never D When the British people vote for
it in a referendum
4. What are the roles of the whips in Parliament? Select two from below A
Responsible for discipline in their party B To ensure attendance of
MPs at voting time in the House of Commons C To ensure the House of
Commons is always safe and secure D To keep order in the House of
Commons during political debates
5. What percentage of Christians in the UK are Roman Catholic? A 10 per
cent B 20 per cent C 30 per cent D 40 per cent
6 When is Mother’s Day? A The Saturday four weeks before Easter B
The Sunday four weeks before Easter C The Sunday one week before
Easter D The Sunday three weeks before Easter
7 How often does the Cabinet normally meet? A Bi-weekly B
Daily C Monthly D Weekly
8. When was the first census carried out in the United Kingdom? A 1785 B
1801 C 1851 D 1912
9. What type of constitution does the UK have? A A legal
constitution B A written constitution C An amended D An
unwritten constitution
10 What proportion of young people who became first-time voters in the 2001
general election actually used their vote? A One in two B One in
three C One in five D One in six
11. During the 1980s, the largest immigrant groups to the UK came from
which countries? A China, Japan and South Korea B India,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh C Russia, Poland, Belarus and
Ukraine D United States, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand
12. What is the difference in the average hourly pay rate for men and
women? A 5 per cent lower for women B 10 per cent lower for women C
20 per cent lower for women D. No difference
13 How many members are there in the Northern Ireland Assembly? A 108
members B 125 members C 64 members D 82 members
14. How might you stop young people playing tricks on you at Hallowe’en? A
Call the police B Give them some money CGive them sweets or
chocolate D Hide from them
15. What proportion of the UK population have used illegal drugs at one
time or another? A One quarter B One third C One half D
Two thirds
16. Who is the monarch not allowed to marry? A Anyone who is not of
royal blood B Anyone who is not a Protestant C Anyone who is
under the age of 25 D Anyone who was born outside the UK
17 Why was there a fall in the number of people migrating to the UK from
the West Indies, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the late 1960s? A A
weak British currency made immigration less appealing B It was
becoming more difficult for immigrants to find employment in the UK C
New laws were introduced restricting immigration to Britain D These
countries were experiencing labour shortages
18 What is the purpose of the Council of Europe? A To create a single
market for members of the council B To create new European
regulations and directives C To debate proposals, decisions and
expenditure of the European Commission D To develop conventions that
focus on human rights, democracy, education, the environment, health and
culture
19 How many young people (up to the age of 19) are there in the UK? A
10 million B 15 million C 20 million D 5 million
20 How many independent schools are there in the UK? A 100 B
1,000 C 2,500 D 15,000
21 What year did women in the UK gain the right to divorce their husband? A
1810 B 1857 C 1901 D 1945
22 All dogs in public places must wear a collar showing the name and
address of the owner. Is this statement true or false? A True B
False
23 What is the minimum wage for workers aged 18-21? A £3.30 an hour B
£4.45 an hour C £5.35 an hour D £6.16 an hour
24 What is the population of Wales? A 1.2 million B 2.9 million C
3.4 million D 5.3 million
Source: Life in the UK Test Practice Questions (Red Squirrel Publishing,
2006-07)
