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Parliament and early historyLife in the UK Test practice exam 2
Paper 2 leans towards how Parliament is put together and the documents that shaped it. If constitutional questions are where you lose marks, sit this one second.
What this paper is like
Practice exam 2 follows the shape of the official test exactly: 24 multiple-choice questions, 45 minutes on the clock, and 18 correct answers needed to pass — 75%. You can flag questions and come back to them, and if you close the tab mid-paper we save your place so you can pick it up where you left off.
The paper is fixed, so exam 2 is always exam 2 — useful if you want to re-sit it after revising and compare scores honestly. Heavier on government and the medieval settlement.
Topic mix in this paper
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| History and key dates | 5 |
| Government, elections and Parliament | 4 |
| Culture, sport and traditions | 4 |
| Geography of the UK | 3 |
| The UK today | 2 |
| Values and principles | 2 |
| The law and your role | 2 |
| People who shaped Britain | 2 |
Three questions from this paper
These are real questions from exam 2, shown with the answer and the reason behind it. The other 21 are in the timed paper.
Sample question 1
How many Members of Parliament sit in the House of Commons?
- 650 — correct
- 600
- 129
- 90
Why: There are 650 MPs, each representing a constituency, elected at a general election.
Sample question 2
Which document, sealed in 1215, limited the power of the English king?
- Magna Carta — correct
- The Bill of Rights
- The Domesday Book
- The Act of Union
Why: Magna Carta ("the Great Charter") was forced on King John by his barons in 1215 and established that the king was not above the law.
Sample question 3
Who is the patron saint of Scotland?
- St Andrew — correct
- St George
- St David
- St Patrick
Why: St Andrew’s Day is 30 November and his saltire cross forms the blue-and-white element of the Union Flag.
How to use this paper
- Sit it cold, once. No notes, no pausing. A first score tells you what you actually know.
- Read every explanation in the results, including the ones you got right by guessing.
- Revise the weak topic in the handbook chapters, then re-sit this same paper.
- Move on to a paper you have not seen once you are scoring 21 or more here.