Life in the UK Test Pass Mark: 18 out of 24 (75%)
The pass mark for the Life in the UK test is 75%. The test has 24 questions, so in practice you must answer at least 18 correctly. You can get 6 questions wrong and still pass.
That single number decides the test, so it is worth understanding exactly how it works — and what it means for how you should prepare.
The official rule
GOV.UK states it plainly: 'You must score 75% or more to pass the test.' With 24 questions, 75% is exactly 18 correct answers. There is no partial credit and no penalty for wrong answers — every question is simply right or wrong, and each carries the same weight.
Because there is no penalty for guessing, you should never leave a question blank. If you do not know, eliminate the options you know are wrong and choose the most likely of the rest.
You get your result the same day
The test is taken on a computer at an official test centre, and you are told whether you passed before you leave. If you pass, you receive a unique reference number, which is used when you apply for settlement or citizenship. Keep it safe — it is the proof of your pass.
If you do not pass, you can rebook and try again — the £50 fee applies to each attempt.
What 18 out of 24 means for your preparation
A 75% pass mark sounds forgiving, but it leaves less room than people think. Six wrong answers is easy to reach when the test can ask about any fact in the official handbook, 'Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents' — one weak topic, like dates in medieval history or the court system, can use up your whole margin on its own.
The practical target for practice is not 18 — it is 20 or more, consistently, on full-length 24-question practice tests. Test-day nerves, an unlucky set of questions, or one badly-worded option can cost a couple of marks. A margin turns a nervous day into a pass anyway.
A pass never expires
Once you pass, you never take the test again. GOV.UK lists 'you've already passed it' among the reasons you do not need to take the test — so a pass earned for settlement also counts later for citizenship. There is no time limit on it.
This is also why it is worth preparing properly once, rather than attempting the test half-ready: a single solid pass closes this requirement for the rest of your immigration journey.