Can YOU pass a UK citizenship test? Brits joke they ‘better pack their bags’ after struggling to answer the general knowledge questions
READ MORE: More than half of the population are unable to pass the UK citizenship test – but how well would YOU do?
By GINA KALSI
Published: 11:52 BST, 27 June 2025 | Updated: 11:57 BST, 27 June 2025
Britons have revealed their struggle to answer general knowledge questions about the nation for a UK citizenship test, with some only getting one question correct.
Self-proclaimed ‘TikTok quizmaster’ Mahan Lankarani often creates various brainteasers and quiz videos.
He recently challenged his 1.6million followers to see if they could successfully complete a UK citizenship test, with the pass mark being 75 per cent.
It was inspired by the general knowledge test that immigrants must take to prove they know about the British way of life in order to move to the UK.
Some of the mock questions include ‘who is the Head of State in the UK?’ and ‘what are the three colours of the Union Jack?’
But despite some of these questions being related to politics and everyday life in Britain, citizens struggled to pass, with some of them only getting one out of ten right.
Another question, which asked about the capital of Wales baffled one TikTok user, who wrote in the comments: ‘I thought Wales was the capital of Wales.’
Another penned: ‘Right I’m an English citizen and I only got the union jack colours right.’ A third said: ‘Nah bro I’m literally 100 per cent English and I didn’t pass. How are people expected to know this!!!’
Self-proclaimed ‘TikTok quizmaster’ Mahan Lankarani often creates various brainteasers and quiz videos
A fourth commented: ‘7 and 10 wrong, I better pack my bags,’ while another chimed in and said: ‘I’m fully British and I didn’t know half of these.’
Another said: ‘Bro I’ve lived in London for so many years and I didn’t know most of these. I sent this to my friend (who has lived in the UK her whole life) and she didn’t even know.’
Last year, it was reported that just 42 per cent of those who took a sample version of the Life In The UK quiz achieved the 75 per cent pass rate that would-be citizens need to hit.
Britons’ pass rate falls well short of that achieved by migrants. In one recent year, 82 per cent of the 171,000 people who sat the test passed it.
The research by financial services company Remitly put 300 residents in each of seven nations to the test to see it they would pass their own citizenship test.
Brits had the sixth worst success rate with only Canada, with a pitiful seven per cent pass rate, faring worse.
Australia came top on 96 per cent followed by Germany on 95 per cent, the US on 93 per cent and France and Spain joint fourth on 61 per cent.
The test is below and answers will be at the end of the article
THE QUESTIONS
Who is the Head of State in the UK?
What are the three colours of the Union Jack?
What is the capital of Wales?
How many jury members are typically in a Crown Court trial?
What is the legal minimum age to buy alcohol in the UK?
After how many years must a new car in the UK pass its first MOT test?
On what day is St George’s day usually celebrated?
What is the name of the devolved Scottish Parliament?
What are the two houses of the UK Parliament?
What was the significance of The Bill of Rights in 1689?
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He recently challenged his 1.6million followers to see if they could successfully complete a UK citizenship test, with the pass mark being 75 per cent
Brits were left baffled by the questions, with many of them unable to reach the pass mark of 75 per cent
The average pass rate needed to pass the test in the UK, Australia, France and Canada is 75 per cent but it is just 60 per cent in the US, Spain and Germany.
Would-be British citizens have to answer 24 questions in 45 minutes, and pay £50 to take the test.
Applicants can also re-sit it as often as they wish, with one man taking it a whopping 118 times, spending £5,900 in total.
The Independent reported in 2022 that the man took 118 tests in a two year time period, despite there being guidance stating it should not be sat more than once every seven days.
This means if this guidance is adhered to, nobody should be able sit the test more than 52 times year.
The man took the tests across 2015 and 2016 and it is unclear whether he passed on the 118th attempt.
Conservative MP Kevin Foster told the outlet: ‘This is a unique case and the vast majority of customers pass by their third attempt.’
‘Whilst the test provider does not disclose which answers they got wrong if they fail they are advised which parts of the handbook they need to study in more depth to help them pass future tests.’
THE ANSWERS TO THE TEST
Who is the Head of State in the UK? A: The King
What are the three colours of the Union Jack? A: Red, White and Blue
What is the capital of Wales? A: Cardiff
How many jury members are typically in a Crown Court trial? A: 12
What is the legal minimum age to buy alcohol in the UK? A: 18
After how many years must a new car in the UK pass its first MOT test? A: 3 years
On what day is St George’s day usually celebrated? A: 23rd April
What is the name of the devolved Scottish Parliament? A: Holyrood
What are the two houses of the UK Parliament? A: The House of Commons and the House of Lords
What was the significance of The Bill of Rights in 1689? A: It limited the power of the King and gave rights to parliament, while also guaranteeing individual liberties
In our slimmed-down version, 8 out of 10 correct is a pass.
How many did you get right? Comment down below.
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Can YOU pass a UK citizenship test? Brits joke they ‘better pack their bags’ after struggling to answer the general knowledge questions
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