1)  Do all citizenship applicants have to do a Citizenship (Life in the UK) Test?

2) Do learners wishing to follow the ESOL route have to take a complete Skills for Life Qualification?

3) How do learners show they have studied ESOL in a citizenship context?

4) Do teachers have to cover everything in the Citizenship materials pack?

5) How long must learners study ESOL in a citizenship context?

6) Do all would-be citizens need to take a language qualification?

7) What format is the Life in the UK Test?

8) What does the Life in the UK Test cover?

9) Where can the Life in the UK Test be taken?

10) How much does the Life in the UK Test cost?

11) How long can would-be citizens 'bank' a Skills for Life qualification?

12) How will people applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) be affected?

A: Not all citizenship applicants need to do the Life in the UK Test. All would-be citizens whose English is considered to be at or above Entry level 3 (i.e. who would be assessed as needing to work towards Level 1 or above that level) need to do the Life in the UK Test. Passing the test will mean the candidate is deemed to have also met the language requirements for naturalisation and no other proof of language proficiency is required. All would-be citizens whose English is considered to be below Entry level 3 must take a Skills for Life ESOL qualification, at the appropriate Entry level for them, in speaking and listening. They should have studied for this qualification in an ESOL class using a citizenship context.

A: The requirement is to take a Skills for Life qualification in speaking and listening; this can be a Unit towards the full qualification or a full qualification, it depends on the Awarding Body.

A: They need a letter from their organisation showing that their ESOL qualification has been gained through some study of ESOL in a citizenship context. This entails using some of the materials in the Citizenship Materials for ESOL Learners pack. There is a pro forma letter on the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website. These changed on 7 April 2010. Please see the UKBA website for details.

A: Definitely not. Teachers should choose subjects and materials based on the interests and needs of their learners, as fits with good practice in ESOL.

A: There is no fixed maximum or minimum time limit. However, the original report "The Old and the New" suggested a minimum of 20 hours. Their overall ESOL course needs to be long enough for them to achieve their Skills for Life qualification.
 

A: No. If candidates are successful at the Life in the UK Test, then they are considered to have the required level of English language. They don’t need to take a separate language qualification.

A: There are 24 multiple choice questions to be taken on-line. There are 45 minutes to complete the test and there is a facility whereby the test questions can be heard by the applicant.

You can get more information on the test from www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk

A: It is based on the “Life in the UK” Handbook.

A: It is available through around 100 learndirect centres, now called ‘Life in the UK Test Centres’.

A: £34.

A: At present there are no time restrictions.

A: People applying for ILR will have to take the test or follow an ESOL citizenship course in exactly the same way as those applying for citizenship.