---
title: "Life in the UK Test for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) — Free Practice"
description: "The Life in the UK Test is required for most ILR applications. What it involves, who is exempt, the English requirement alongside it, and 17 free practice papers."
url: https://uktestmate.co.uk/ilr/
site: UK Test Mate — free Life in the UK Test practice
licence: Free to read and cite with attribution to https://uktestmate.co.uk/ilr/
---
# The Life in the UK Test for ILR

There is no separate "ILR test". People searching for one are looking for the **Life in the UK Test** — the same 24-question test, in the same format, whether you are applying for settlement or for citizenship. This section covers what it means for an ILR application specifically.

## The one-paragraph answer

To get Indefinite Leave to Remain on most routes you have to meet the **knowledge of language and life in the UK** requirement, usually shortened to KoLL. It has two halves: passing the Life in the UK Test, and proving your English. You take the test once at an approved centre, you need 18 correct answers out of 24, and the pass does not expire — so the same certificate can later support a citizenship application without you sitting anything again.

Immigration rules, fees and waiting periods are set by the Home Office and change without notice. Always confirm the current requirements for your own visa route on [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/settle-in-the-uk) before you book or apply. This page is general information, not immigration advice.

## Start here

- [Do I need the test for ILR?](https://uktestmate.co.uk/ilr/do-i-need-the-test/) — Which routes require it, and which do not.
- [ILR test vs citizenship test](https://uktestmate.co.uk/ilr/ilr-vs-citizenship-test/) — Same test, different application. What changes.
- [The English requirement](https://uktestmate.co.uk/ilr/english-language-requirement/) — The other half of KoLL, and how to satisfy it.
- [Who is exempt](https://uktestmate.co.uk/ilr/exemptions/) — Age and medical exemptions explained.
- [Your pass certificate](https://uktestmate.co.uk/ilr/certificate/) — What you get, and reusing it for citizenship.

## What the test itself involves

| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 24, multiple choice |
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 18 out of 24 (75%) |
| Where | An approved test centre, on screen. Not at home. |
| Booking | GOV.UK only, with photo ID matching your booking |
| Re-sits | Unlimited, after a waiting period, fee each time |
| Validity | The pass does not expire |

The content is the same regardless of why you are sitting it: British values, the four nations and their geography, history from the Romans to the present, culture and traditions, and how government and the law work. Our [five chapter summaries](https://uktestmate.co.uk/handbook/) cover all of it.

> **Practise in the exact ILR test format** — 24 questions · 45 minutes · pass at 18 · free, no account → [Start a free exam](https://uktestmate.co.uk/practice-exams/exam-1/)

## How long to allow

Two to four weeks of short regular sessions suits most people. The practical constraint is usually not revision but booking: you need an appointment at a centre, and if you fail you must wait before re-sitting. If your current leave has an end date, sit the test early rather than close to your application deadline — a failed attempt plus a waiting period plus finding a second appointment can consume a month.

---

UK Test Mate is an independent revision site, not affiliated with the Home Office or UK Visas and Immigration. Book the official test at GOV.UK. Source: https://uktestmate.co.uk/ilr/