🇬🇧 Life in the UK Mock Test

Life in the UK Test — Government & the Law Questions

Parliament, government, elections, devolution, the courts and your role in public life. Below are practice questions with the answer and a plain-English explanation. Prefer to practise interactively with a timer? Take a free mock test.

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All topicsValues & PrinciplesWhat is the UK?UK HistoryModern UK Society

Parliament & government (47 questions)

At what age can you vote in a UK general election?

Answer: C. 18

You can vote in a UK general election once you are 18 years old.

How often must a UK general election be held, at the latest?

Answer: C. Every 5 years

A general election must be held at least every five years.

Who is the head of state of the United Kingdom?

Answer: B. The monarch

The UK is a constitutional monarchy and the monarch is the head of state. The Prime Minister is the head of government.

Where is the official London home of the Prime Minister?

Answer: B. 10 Downing Street

The Prime Minister lives and works at 10 Downing Street in London.

Which part of Parliament is not elected by the public?

Answer: B. The House of Lords

Members of the House of Lords (peers) are not elected by the public, unlike MPs in the House of Commons.

Who keeps order and chairs debates in the House of Commons?

Answer: B. The Speaker

The Speaker chairs debates in the House of Commons and is politically neutral.

Civil servants who support the government are expected to be:

Answer: B. politically neutral and professional

Civil servants are politically neutral and professional, and serve whichever government is in power.

What ceremonial role does the monarch perform at the start of each parliamentary year?

Answer: B. Opens Parliament with a speech

The monarch formally opens a new session of Parliament and delivers a speech setting out the government's plans, but does not write the laws.

Members of the House of Commons are known as:

Answer: B. MPs

Members of the House of Commons are called Members of Parliament, or MPs. Each represents a constituency.

The group of senior ministers who help decide government policy is called the:

Answer: B. Cabinet

The Cabinet is made up of senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister to run the main government departments.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for:

Answer: B. the economy and public finances

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the minister responsible for the economy and the country's finances.

The Home Secretary is the government minister responsible for:

Answer: B. law and order, policing and immigration

The Home Secretary is responsible for matters such as crime, policing and immigration within the UK.

The Foreign Secretary is responsible for:

Answer: B. relations with other countries

The Foreign Secretary manages the UK's relationships with other countries.

The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party that:

Answer: B. wins the most seats in a general election

The Prime Minister is normally the leader of the party that wins the most seats (MPs) in a general election.

The official report of what is said in Parliament is called:

Answer: B. Hansard

Hansard is the official, edited record of debates and proceedings in Parliament.

The UK Parliament is made up of the House of Commons and the:

Answer: A. House of Lords

Parliament consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch.

The UK Parliament meets at:

Answer: B. the Palace of Westminster

The UK Parliament meets at the Palace of Westminster in London.

Members of the House of Lords are known as:

Answer: B. peers

Members of the House of Lords are known as peers.

Most members of the House of Lords today are:

Answer: B. life peers who are appointed

Most members of the House of Lords are life peers, appointed for their lifetime.

Before a new law can come into force, it must receive:

Answer: B. Royal Assent from the monarch

After passing through Parliament, a proposed law needs Royal Assent from the monarch (now a formality).

A proposed new law going through Parliament is called a:

Answer: A. bill

A proposed law is called a bill; once passed and given Royal Assent it becomes an Act.

The largest political party that is not in government is known as:

Answer: A. the Opposition

The largest party not in government forms the Opposition.

The leader of the Opposition appoints senior colleagues to form the:

Answer: B. Shadow Cabinet

The leader of the Opposition appoints a Shadow Cabinet to scrutinise the government.

Each week, the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs at:

Answer: B. Prime Minister's Questions

Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) is a weekly session in which the PM answers MPs' questions.

MPs who help organise their party's work and votes in Parliament are called:

Answer: A. whips

Party 'whips' organise their party's members and votes in Parliament.

Senior advisers to the monarch, including senior politicians and members of the royal household, form the:

Answer: B. Privy Council

The Privy Council is a body of senior advisers to the monarch, mostly senior or former politicians.

The UK Parliament at Westminster makes laws for:

Answer: B. the whole of the UK (except matters devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Westminster makes laws for the whole of the UK; matters such as health and education in Scotland, Wales and NI are dealt with by the devolved bodies.

Civil servants are accountable to:

Answer: B. government ministers

Civil servants work for the government of the day and are accountable to government ministers.

In the UK, the head of state is the:

Answer: A. monarch (King or Queen)

The monarch is the head of state and is politically neutral; the Prime Minister is the head of government.

Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the monarch and the:

Answer: A. House of Lords

Parliament consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the monarch.

Debates in the House of Commons are chaired by the:

Answer: A. Speaker

The Speaker keeps order during debates and makes sure rules are followed in the House of Commons; the Speaker is politically neutral.

Government ministers in charge of major departments together form the:

Answer: A. Cabinet

The Prime Minister appoints senior ministers to the Cabinet, which makes important decisions about government policy.

The largest party not in government forms the official:

Answer: A. Opposition

The second-largest party forms the Opposition, and its leader becomes the Leader of the Opposition.

Civil servants who carry out government work are expected to be:

Answer: A. politically neutral

Civil servants are politically neutral and serve whichever government is in power.

The UK has which type of constitution?

Answer: A. an unwritten (uncodified) one

The UK does not have a single written constitution; its rules come from laws, conventions and documents built up over time.

The two Houses of Parliament are the House of Commons and the:

Answer: A. House of Lords

Parliament is made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, together with the monarch.

Members of the House of Lords are mostly:

Answer: A. appointed, not elected

Most members of the House of Lords are appointed life peers; they are not elected by the public.

Approximately how many elected MPs sit in the House of Commons?

Answer: A. around 650

There are around 650 MPs in the House of Commons, each representing a constituency.

The head of government in the UK is the:

Answer: A. Prime Minister

The Prime Minister is the head of government and usually leads the party with the most MPs.

The Prime Minister's official residence is at:

Answer: A. 10 Downing Street

The Prime Minister lives and works at 10 Downing Street in London.

The senior minister responsible for the economy and taxes is the:

Answer: A. Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the economy and public finances.

Senior ministers chosen by the PM to run departments form the:

Answer: A. Cabinet

The Cabinet is made up of about 20 senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister.

The largest party not in government forms the:

Answer: A. official Opposition

The largest party not in government becomes the official Opposition and scrutinises the government.

The team of senior opposition spokespeople is known as the:

Answer: A. Shadow Cabinet

The Leader of the Opposition appoints a Shadow Cabinet to challenge the government's ministers.

The official published record of what is said in Parliament is called:

Answer: A. Hansard

Hansard is the official, published record of debates in Parliament.

MPs without a government or opposition front-bench role are called:

Answer: A. backbenchers

MPs without ministerial or shadow roles are known as backbenchers.

Civil servants are expected to be:

Answer: A. politically neutral and professional

Civil servants support the government of the day but remain politically neutral.

Elections & devolution (26 questions)

The area represented by a Member of Parliament is called a:

Answer: B. constituency

The UK is divided into constituencies, each electing one MP to the House of Commons.

Which voting system is used to elect MPs in UK general elections?

Answer: B. First past the post

UK general elections use 'first past the post': the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins the seat.

In which city does the Scottish Parliament sit?

Answer: B. Edinburgh

The Scottish Parliament sits at Holyrood in Edinburgh.

The Senedd is the name of the devolved parliament of:

Answer: B. Wales

The Senedd (Welsh Parliament) is the devolved legislature for Wales, based in Cardiff.

The Northern Ireland Assembly meets at:

Answer: B. Stormont

The Northern Ireland Assembly meets at Stormont, in Belfast.

A by-election is held when:

Answer: B. a seat in the Commons becomes vacant between general elections

A by-election is held in a single constituency when the seat becomes vacant, for example because the MP has died or resigned.

Which of these is an area of policy that has been devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Answer: B. education and health

Devolved matters include areas such as education and health, while areas like defence remain with the UK government.

The Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, is based in:

Answer: B. Cardiff

The Senedd (Welsh Parliament) is based in Cardiff.

To be able to vote in an election, your name must be on the:

Answer: A. electoral register

To vote you must be on the electoral register (the electoral roll).

When you vote in a UK election, your vote is:

Answer: B. secret

Voting in the UK is by secret ballot - no one has the right to know how you voted.

The minimum age to stand for election as a Member of Parliament is:

Answer: A. 18

You can stand for election as an MP from the age of 18.

Members of the Scottish Parliament are known as:

Answer: B. MSPs

Members of the Scottish Parliament are known as MSPs.

Members of the Welsh Parliament (Senedd) are known as:

Answer: B. MSs (Members of the Senedd)

Members of the Senedd are now called MSs (Members of the Senedd).

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are known as:

Answer: C. MLAs

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are known as MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly).

To vote in a UK general election you must usually be aged at least:

Answer: A. 18

You must normally be 18 or over and on the electoral register to vote in a UK general election.

A UK general election must be held at least every:

Answer: A. five years

By law a general election must take place at least every five years.

The voting system used to elect MPs to the House of Commons is called:

Answer: A. first past the post

MPs are elected using the 'first past the post' system, in which the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.

The Scottish Parliament meets at:

Answer: A. Holyrood in Edinburgh

The Scottish Parliament is based at Holyrood in Edinburgh.

The Welsh devolved parliament is known as the:

Answer: A. Senedd

The Senedd (the Welsh Parliament) meets in Cardiff and makes decisions for Wales.

Each MP represents a local area known as a:

Answer: A. constituency

Each MP is elected to represent a constituency - a local area.

To vote in a UK general election your name must be on the:

Answer: A. electoral register

To vote you must have your name on the electoral register.

Voting in UK elections is carried out by:

Answer: A. secret ballot

Elections in the UK use a secret ballot, so no one has to reveal how they voted.

An election held between general elections to fill one vacant seat is a:

Answer: A. by-election

A by-election is held when a seat becomes vacant, for example if an MP dies or resigns.

Stormont, in Belfast, is the home of which body?

Answer: A. the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Northern Ireland Assembly is based at Stormont in Belfast.

Powers given to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and NI Assembly are described as:

Answer: A. devolved powers

Devolution is the transfer of certain powers from the UK Parliament to the nations' own bodies.

Matters such as defence and foreign affairs are usually:

Answer: A. reserved to the UK Parliament

Some powers, such as defence and foreign policy, are 'reserved' and remain with the UK Parliament.

The law & courts (26 questions)

Members of the public may be asked to serve on a jury once they reach what age?

Answer: B. 18

Once you are 18 you may be asked to do jury service. A jury decides, in a criminal trial, whether someone is guilty or not guilty.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, how many people normally sit on a jury?

Answer: B. 12

A jury in England, Wales and Northern Ireland normally has 12 members. In Scotland a criminal jury has 15.

To call the emergency services in a serious or life-threatening situation, you dial:

Answer: C. 999

In an emergency you dial 999 (or 112) to reach the police, fire or ambulance services.

The non-emergency number used to contact the police is:

Answer: B. 101

You can call 101 to contact the police when it is not an emergency.

In England and Wales, the age of criminal responsibility is:

Answer: B. 10

In England and Wales children can be charged with a criminal offence from the age of 10.

In a criminal trial in the UK, a person is treated as:

Answer: B. innocent until proven guilty

A central principle of UK law is that someone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Judges in the UK are responsible for:

Answer: B. interpreting and applying the law, independently of government

Judges interpret and apply the law and are independent of the government.

The police in the UK are expected to be:

Answer: B. honest and to obey the law themselves

The police must themselves be honest and obey the law, and they serve the public.

In England and Wales, the public elect Police and Crime Commissioners to:

Answer: B. make the police accountable to local people

Police and Crime Commissioners are elected to oversee policing and make it accountable to local people.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, minor criminal cases are usually dealt with by unpaid:

Answer: A. magistrates (Justices of the Peace)

Minor criminal cases are usually heard by magistrates, also called Justices of the Peace, who are unpaid volunteers.

If you need legal advice, you would usually go to a:

Answer: A. solicitor

A solicitor is a qualified lawyer who can give legal advice and help with legal matters.

Scotland has:

Answer: B. its own separate legal system

Scotland has its own legal system, which is different from that of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You can apply to drive a car in the UK from the age of:

Answer: B. 17

You can apply for a licence and learn to drive a car from the age of 17.

You must be at least ___ years old to buy alcohol or tobacco in the UK.

Answer: C. 18

The legal minimum age to buy alcohol or tobacco in the UK is 18.

The highest court in the UK is the:

Answer: B. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in the UK.

The age of sexual consent in the UK is:

Answer: B. 16

The legal age of sexual consent in the UK is 16.

Serious criminal cases in England and Wales are heard in the:

Answer: B. Crown Court (with a jury)

Serious criminal cases are dealt with at the Crown Court, where a judge sits with a jury.

Disputes about money, property and contracts are usually settled in:

Answer: B. civil courts

Civil disputes (money, property, contracts, family matters) are settled in the civil courts.

In the UK, judges and the courts are:

Answer: A. independent of the government

The judiciary is independent, meaning judges decide cases free from government control.

Minor criminal cases in England and Wales are usually dealt with by:

Answer: A. magistrates

Magistrates (Justices of the Peace) hear less serious criminal cases; magistrates are usually unpaid volunteers.

Serious criminal cases in England and Wales are heard in the Crown Court before a:

Answer: A. jury

Serious cases are tried in the Crown Court, where a jury of members of the public decides whether the accused is guilty.

In England and Wales, minor criminal cases are usually dealt with by:

Answer: A. magistrates

Magistrates (Justices of the Peace) hear less serious cases and are usually unpaid volunteers.

In Scotland, many less serious criminal and civil cases are heard in the:

Answer: A. Sheriff Court

Scotland has its own legal system; the Sheriff Court hears many cases there.

The age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is:

Answer: A. 10

A child can be charged with a crime from age 10 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; in Scotland it is 12.

If you witness a serious crime in progress, you should call:

Answer: A. 999

Dial 999 (or 112) in an emergency; 101 is for non-emergency police matters.

Which statement about the police in the UK is correct?

Answer: A. they are independent of government and politically impartial

The police must be politically impartial, act within the law and are independent of government.

Your role & daily life (21 questions)

The Commonwealth is an association of countries headed by:

Answer: B. the monarch

The Commonwealth is a group of countries, most of them former British territories, headed by the monarch.

Services such as rubbish collection and local schools are mainly provided by:

Answer: B. local councils (local authorities)

Local councils, also called local authorities, provide many local services such as rubbish collection, libraries and schools.

Local council services are paid for partly through a local tax known as:

Answer: B. Council Tax

Council Tax is a local tax that helps pay for services provided by local councils.

Most working people pay Income Tax, which is usually taken:

Answer: B. directly from their wages or salary

Income Tax is usually deducted directly from wages by employers under the PAYE system.

National Insurance contributions help to pay for:

Answer: B. the NHS, state benefits and pensions

National Insurance contributions help fund the NHS, state pensions and other benefits.

Everyone working in the UK must have a:

Answer: B. National Insurance number

Anyone who works in the UK needs a National Insurance number.

Cars over three years old must pass a yearly safety and roadworthiness test called the:

Answer: A. MOT

Cars more than three years old must pass an annual MOT test to be driven legally.

The UK is one of the permanent members of the Security Council of the:

Answer: B. United Nations

The UK is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The UK is a member of NATO, an organisation concerned with:

Answer: B. mutual defence and security

NATO is a group of countries that agree to defend one another (mutual defence).

The UK has a free press, which means that:

Answer: B. the media are free from government control

A free press means newspapers and other media are free from government control, though they must obey the law.

Children in the UK must attend school between the ages of:

Answer: B. 5 and 16

Education is compulsory in the UK from age 5 to age 16.

Which of these is a right protected in the UK?

Answer: A. The right to peaceful protest

The right to peaceful protest is protected in the UK as part of freedom of expression and assembly.

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from:

Answer: B. unlawful discrimination at work and in services

The Equality Act 2010 brings together earlier anti-discrimination laws and protects people from unlawful discrimination at work and in services.

If you need free advice on legal, money or housing problems, you can go to a:

Answer: B. Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice is a charity that offers free, confidential advice on legal, money and other problems.

Council Tax is calculated mainly on the basis of:

Answer: B. the value of your home

Council Tax is a local tax charged on homes; the amount depends on the value of the property.

Local services such as rubbish collection are paid for partly through:

Answer: A. Council Tax

Council Tax is a local tax that helps pay for services such as rubbish collection, roads and libraries.

You must normally be at least what age to drive a car in the UK?

Answer: A. 17

You can usually start driving a car at 17, once you hold a provisional licence and pass your tests.

Which government body collects taxes such as Income Tax?

Answer: A. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collects taxes including Income Tax and National Insurance.

Money deducted from wages to help pay for benefits and the state pension is:

Answer: A. National Insurance

National Insurance contributions are paid by workers to help fund benefits and the state pension.

The Commonwealth is an association of countries numbering around:

Answer: A. 56

The Commonwealth is a group of over 50 countries, most of which were once part of the British Empire.

The UK is a permanent member of the United Nations:

Answer: A. Security Council

The UK is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

All topicsValues & PrinciplesWhat is the UK?UK HistoryModern UK Society