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Judi Lynn

(160,617 posts) Mon Jan 28, 2013, 03:30 AM Jan 2013

UK citizenship test 'to cover Britain's greats'

Source: BBC News

27 January 2013 Last updated at 21:50 ET
UK citizenship test 'to cover Britain's greats'

A new version of the test taken by foreign nationals who wish to become UK citizens "focuses on values and principles at the heart of being British", the Home Office has said.

The revised Life in the UK test covers topics as sport, music and history.

"Mundane" subjects such as water meters, job interviews and the internet have been stripped out, ministers said.

The Migrants' Rights Network said the test was "like an entry examination for an elite public school".

The new handbook, on sale from Monday, will form the basis of the modified 45-minute exam being introduced in March, which all those wishing to attain British citizenship must pass.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21221773

20 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

UK citizenship test 'to cover Britain's greats' (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jan 2013 OP

woohoo Joe Shlabotnik Jan 2013 #1

I would never say this particular change is a good idea. Socal31 Jan 2013 #2

Wow Scairp Jan 2013 #3

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #4

European or African swallow? nt awoke_in_2003 Jan 2013 #6

I asked Siri that question christx30 Jan 2013 #16

So I'm screwed Scairp Jan 2013 #17

Seriously: "Want to become a British citizen? Better swot up on Monty Python" muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #18

The text book for the new citizenship test is available here: muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #5

I think it's reasonable to expect those who want to become British Citizens Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #7

Rather English of you. SwissTony Jan 2013 #8

Well... dmallind Jan 2013 #9

Well, they have been having a fuss about the Union Jack recently. SwissTony Jan 2013 #11

Union Jack is the *UK* flag. Britain is only the larger three-nation island. nt dmallind Jan 2013 #13

So people who immigrate to NI don't have to go through the test? SwissTony Jan 2013 #14

Thought I'd posted this but it doesn't show up. SwissTony Jan 2013 #15

So does "Britain" have a flag? JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #19

OK, you got me. We are talking about the UK, not England. Sorry (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #10

Question 14: How often should one brush one's teeth? Ian Iam Jan 2013 #12

Post removed Post removed May 2013 #20

Joe Shlabotnik

(5,604 posts)

1. woohoo

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 04:29 AM

Jan 2013

I passed the online quiz

[IMG][/IMG]

Socal31

(2,484 posts)

2. I would never say this particular change is a good idea.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 06:01 AM

Jan 2013

I don't have enough information as far as what UK "values and principles" they are quizzing on.

But if relig-nuts want to become a citizen here in the US, I am 100% for letting them know that we are progressing toward tolerance for ALL people, every single day. Yes, even tolerance for relig-nuts. Just not tolerance for public policy based on fear of homosexuals, strong and independent women, birth control, or whatever else their sky-man of choice taught them is wrong.

Scairp

(2,749 posts)

3. Wow

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 07:04 AM

Jan 2013

That was easy, but then English is my first language, my husband is British, my sister-in-law lives about 3 miles from Stonehenge and the rest is common knowledge for anyone who reads. I wonder how hard the real test is.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,364 posts)

4. What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Reply to Scairp (Reply #3)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 07:45 AM

Jan 2013

If you don't know, well, you don't pass.

awoke_in_2003

(34,582 posts)

6. European or African swallow? nt

Reply to JustABozoOnThisBus (Reply #4)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 10:13 AM

Jan 2013

christx30

(6,241 posts)

16. I asked Siri that question

Reply to JustABozoOnThisBus (Reply #4)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 05:57 PM

Jan 2013

She replied, "The last person that asked me that question ended up in a crevasse."

Scairp

(2,749 posts)

17. So I'm screwed

Reply to JustABozoOnThisBus (Reply #4)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 06:02 PM

Jan 2013

I don't get British humour especially Monty Python so I guess I won't ever get my British passport. Can I use my anchor baby? My husband kept his citizenship all these years and we have a kid so that'll work, right?

muriel_volestrangler

(101,361 posts)

18. Seriously: "Want to become a British citizen? Better swot up on Monty Python"

Reply to Scairp (Reply #17)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 06:39 PM

Jan 2013

Foreigners who want to settle permanently in the UK will be quizzed on their knowledge of everything from life in the stone age to the engineering achievements of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the writing of Robert Burns under a new test to be launched by the Home Office as part of government attempts to cut net migration.

The new examination was announced today by the minister for migration, Mark Harper, who said it replaced one drawn up under the Labour government and removed "mundane information about water meters, how to find train timetables, and using the internet".

"Instead of telling people how to claim benefits it encourages participation in British life," he said.

Knowledge of British composers, writers and even Monty Python and the Two Ronnies, who reportedly appear on the new syllabus, will be tested when the new exam comes into effect in March. A score of 75% from 24 questions will be a pass and the test will only be open to people who speak English to a required standard (level 3 of the English for Speakers of Other Languages system).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/27/british-citizenship-test

muriel_volestrangler

(101,361 posts)

5. The text book for the new citizenship test is available here:

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 09:31 AM

Jan 2013

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1066-All-That-W-C-Sellar/dp/0413772705

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

7. I think it's reasonable to expect those who want to become British Citizens

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 12:29 PM

Jan 2013

to know about Stonehenge, Nelson's Column and Shakespeare.

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)

8. Rather English of you.

Reply to Nye Bevan (Reply #7)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 12:57 PM

Jan 2013

Stone of Scone? Giant's Causeway? Culloden? Orange marches? Rabbie Burns?

Who decides what is British?

dmallind

(10,437 posts)

9. Well...

Reply to SwissTony (Reply #8)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 01:04 PM

Jan 2013

Stone of Scone? Giant's Causeway? Culloden? Orange marches? Rabbie Burns?

Who decides what is British?

Well by definition, nothing in Ireland either North or South is British (although the former is in the UK at least nominally, but check the official national name if you think that makes it British), but I suspect someone with the name Nye Bevan [link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurin_Bevan|] is at least slightly ok with including non-English knowledge in the test, wouldn't you think?

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)

11. Well, they have been having a fuss about the Union Jack recently.

Reply to dmallind (Reply #9)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 01:19 PM

Jan 2013

Seems some of them think they're British.

I take your point about "Nye Bevan". I could have suggested Dylan Thomas.

dmallind

(10,437 posts)

13. Union Jack is the *UK* flag. Britain is only the larger three-nation island. nt

Reply to SwissTony (Reply #11)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 01:23 PM

Jan 2013

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)

14. So people who immigrate to NI don't have to go through the test?

Reply to dmallind (Reply #13)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 01:27 PM

Jan 2013

Maybe I'm missing something.

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)

15. Thought I'd posted this but it doesn't show up.

Reply to dmallind (Reply #13)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 01:40 PM

Jan 2013

I'm aware that Britain is the three nation island. I was born there...yay, Scotland!!!!

But I was ignoring the headline which mentioned "British" when I suspect it should have read "UK".