During August 2007, we asked over 1,000 readers if there was anything that they didn’t expect or that surprised them after they had taken their test. Our analysis of their responses reveals the top five unexpected surprises everyone should know about before they take their test.

1. Long waiting time
“We had to wait for ages before we could actually take the test. It took me less time to do the test than it did completing all the forms and administration.”

After arriving at the test centre, you will need to complete registration. Each person is registered one at a time so it’s very likely that you’ll spend quite a while waiting around while this happens.

There are several steps that need to be completed, these include:

• General Introduction - Typically all test candidates will be gathered in a room and briefed about the procedure.
• Getting your identification checked - The test supervisor will check that your identification is valid and matches your test booking details. This is an important fraud prevention step and is checked carefully.
• Confirming your personal details - After checking your identity, the test supervisor will need to set up your computer and type in your details for your test session.

You’ll also get the opportunity to do a few practice tests. These will take a few minutes to complete and can usually be done as soon as your computer has been set up for you. It’s only after you’ve completed your practice test that, you’ll be able to take the real test.

If you assume that these steps take five minutes to complete for each person taking the test and that there are 12 people in your test session, then that’s an hour of sitting around waiting – and potentially an hour that could have been spent studying. However if you’ve brought your textbooks with you then you can take this as an opportunity to cram in some last minute study.

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2. Wording of questions
“Some of the questions were using wordings that are not found in the textbook. This tested my understanding rather than my power of memorising.”

Many people hope that they can pass the test by memorising practice questions. Unfortunately, this is a recipe for failure.

The official test questions are a closely guarded secret. They aren’t even published in the Home Office’s own textbook. What’s more, the Home Office have revealed that the wording of test questions may be reviewed as required. We understand that one of the reasons for this is to prevent people with inadequate English from passing the test by just memorising questions.

The test questions in our books and on this website are designed to test your understanding of the official materials. Although they are not guaranteed to exactly match the wording of the questions that will appear in your final test, 87% of readers said that our questions were similar to those that they were asked in their real test.

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3. Expected more dates and statistics
“In my test, there were hardly any questions regarding dates or statistics”

Dates and statistics are an obvious and easy part of the study materials to memorise, and in the old version of the test, such facts were commonly tested. However, in the new version of the test, there is much more material that you can be tested on. As a result there are less opportunities for you to be tested on statistics. Instead, many people reported that there were more True or False questions than they expected.

Again, this supports the earlier point not to memorise. Although dates and statistics can’t be ruled out of the test, the primary purpose of the test is to prove your understanding – not your ability to memorise.

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4. Regional Questions
“I didn’t expect some questions regarding our place here in Wales”

An extra feature in the new version of the test was the introduction of regional questions. These are questions that relate specifically to the country where you are taking your test.

The study materials cover a wide range of regional topics including: demographics, regional customs, devolved government, education, employment and health.

If you have a copy of Life in the UK Test: Practice Questions then there is a special section for regional questions. But at the same time, don’t ignore information about other countries. It’s important that you understand differences across all countries within the United Kingdom.

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5. You won’t be given your results
“Why was I not told how many questions I got correct and how many I got wrong?”

When you complete your test the test supervisor will only be able to tell you if you’ve passed or failed. However, if you have failed then the test supervisor will be able to tell you which chapters you need to focus on studying. They will not reveal the questions you got wrong.

It’s understandable that anyone who fails their test will probably not be happy about this. Ironically, this rule probably exists to prevent arguments and disputes from angry candidates at the test centre. It also makes it easier for the Home Office to protect the secrecy of test questions.

If you’re desperate to find out your score then we’ve unofficially heard that if you make your ILR application in person then the officer handling your application may be able to tell you how many questions you got wrong.