Home/Practice exams/Exam 8
Elections and the First World WarLife in the UK Test practice exam 8
Paper 8 sets election mechanics next to the First World War and one of the best-known dates in the British calendar.
What this paper is like
Practice exam 8 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 8 is always exam 8 — useful if you want to re-sit it after revising and compare scores honestly. Elections, 1914–18, national traditions.
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 8, shown with the answer and the reason behind it. The other 21 are in the timed paper.
Sample question 1
How often must a UK general election be held, at the latest?
- At least every five years — correct
- At least every four years
- At least every three years
- Whenever the Prime Minister chooses, with no limit
Why: A general election must be held at least every five years.
Sample question 2
During which years was the First World War fought?
- 1914 to 1918 — correct
- 1939 to 1945
- 1899 to 1902
- 1910 to 1914
Why: The First World War ran from 1914 to 1918 and ended with the armistice on 11 November 1918.
Sample question 3
What is celebrated on 5 November?
- Bonfire Night — correct
- Remembrance Day
- St Andrew’s Day
- Boxing Day
Why: Bonfire Night marks the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and others tried to blow up Parliament.
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.