## Learning Outcomes

- Explain the KoLL requirement and why both English and Life in the UK evidence are needed
- Identify what “B1 CEFR speaking and listening” means and how to prove it
- Recall the Life in the UK test format, pass mark, retake rule, and booking essentials
- Recognise common application pitfalls (wrong test, wrong ID, timing errors) and how to avoid them

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand the English language and Life in the UK (KoLL) requirements for settlement or citizenship, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that KoLL normally requires both: passing the Life in the UK test and meeting an English speaking and listening requirement (usually at CEFR B1)
- Identify accepted ways to prove English (approved SELT, degree taught in English, or exemption in certain cases)
- Recall the Life in the UK test format: 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, pass mark 75% (18/24)
- Know the official booking rule: you must book online and take the test at an approved test centre, using matching original ID
- Understand key retake and application timing rules, including the 7-day wait between retakes and the “no earlier than 28 days before eligibility” warning for applications

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. What does “KoLL” stand for, and what are the two parts of the requirement?
2. What English level is normally required for settlement or citizenship, and which skills are assessed?
3. How many questions are in the Life in the UK test, how long do you have, and what score do you need to pass?
4. What happens if you book or sit the Life in the UK test using the wrong identification?
5. How long must you wait before retaking the test if you fail?

## Introduction

If you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement) or to become a naturalised British citizen, you must normally show that you can use English and that you understand life in the UK. These are practical requirements with strict rules about evidence, booking, and timing.

This topic often appears in the test because it checks whether you understand the process itself: what you must do, what counts as evidence, and the common reasons applications fail.

> **Key Term: KoLL (Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK)**
> The combined requirement for many settlement and adult citizenship applications: acceptable English language evidence and a pass in the Life in the UK test.

### What you must prove: English and Life in the UK (KoLL)

To meet KoLL, most applicants must satisfy two separate checks:

1. **Knowledge of language** (normally English)
2. **Knowledge of life in the UK** (normally by passing the Life in the UK test)

You do not “swap” one for the other. In most cases, you must meet **both** requirements unless an exemption applies.

> **Key Term: CEFR B1**
> A level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. For UK settlement/citizenship, it usually means at least B1 in speaking and listening (often described as equivalent to ESOL Entry Level 3).

The language requirement is not about writing long essays. It is focused on everyday communication: understanding questions and responding clearly. The Life in the UK test is also taken in English in most cases, so English ability affects your test performance as well as your application evidence.

> **Test Tip:** In revision, separate “test knowledge” from “application evidence.” You can pass the Life in the UK test but still fail KoLL if your English evidence is not acceptable (for example, you used the wrong type of English test).

### Proving English: accepted evidence and common routes

The Home Office requires evidence that you can speak and understand English to the required standard. The most common accepted routes are:

- **An approved English test at the required level** (a secure test that UKVI accepts)
- **A degree taught or researched in English** (UK degree, or an overseas degree with the required confirmation)
- **An exemption** (for example, based on age or a long-term condition)

> **Key Term: SELT (Secure English Language Test)**
> An English language test taken with a Home Office-approved provider and test centre, accepted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as proof of English.

#### Route 1: Approved SELT at B1 (speaking and listening)

For many applicants, the simplest route is to take an approved SELT that meets the required skill and level. For citizenship/settlement, the standard requirement is **B1 or higher in speaking and listening**.

Examples of B1-level speaking and listening SELTs that are commonly used include:

- **Trinity College London – GESE Grade 5 (B1)**
- **IELTS Life Skills B1** (UKVI/SELT version)
- Other approved providers may offer B1 speaking and listening SELTs (availability depends on location and Home Office approvals at the time)

The key point is not the brand name. What matters is that:

- the test is on the **approved list** for your application type, and
- you took it at an **approved test centre**, and
- it assesses the **correct skills** (speaking and listening), and
- it is at the **required level** (B1 or above).

> **Test Tip:** Many applicants make a costly mistake by taking a non-UKVI English test (for example, a standard academic English test) and later discovering it is not accepted. The “UKVI/SELT” requirement is about approval, not difficulty.

#### Route 2: Degree taught or researched in English

Some applicants can meet the English requirement using a degree.

- A **UK degree** taught in English is often accepted with standard evidence (such as the degree certificate).
- For an **overseas degree**, you usually need confirmation that it is equivalent to a UK degree and that it was taught or researched in English (this is typically done through an official confirmation service used by the Home Office).

This route can be convenient, but only if your degree meets the Home Office evidence rules. If you are unsure, it is safer to confirm requirements before relying on the degree route.

#### Route 3: Exemptions from the English requirement

Some applicants do not need to prove English. Common exemption categories include:

- **Age-based exemption**: typically **65 or over** at the date you apply
- **Long-term physical or mental condition** that prevents you meeting the requirement (supported by appropriate medical evidence)

Exemptions are not automatic just because English is difficult, you are nervous about tests, or you have had limited education. The exemption is meant for cases where a long-term condition makes meeting the requirement not possible.

> **Key Term: Exemption (KoLL)**
> A formal exception where an applicant does not have to meet the English requirement, the Life in the UK requirement, or both, because they fall into a recognised category (such as age or a long-term condition).

### The Life in the UK test: format, booking rules, and what happens if you fail

The Life in the UK test checks your knowledge of British life and culture. The current version of the test was introduced on **25 March 2013**, and the questions are drawn from the official handbook _Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents_.

#### Test format you must remember

These facts are frequently tested and are also essential for planning:

- **24** multiple-choice questions
- **45 minutes** to complete the test
- Pass mark **75%**
- **18 correct answers out of 24** are needed to pass (because 24 × 0.75 = 18)

The questions are selected at random, so each candidate gets a different set of 24 questions even in the same session.

#### Language of the test

The test is usually taken in **English**. In some cases, special arrangements may allow the test to be taken in **Welsh** or **Scottish Gaelic**.

This does not remove the KoLL requirement: your application still requires that you meet the language requirement (unless exempt) and pass Life in the UK (unless exempt).

#### Booking the test and choosing the correct centre

You can only book the Life in the UK test online through the official government booking service. You must take the test at a **registered and approved** Life in the UK test centre.

This is a strict rule: a “certificate” from an unapproved provider is not accepted.

#### Identification and address evidence on the day

You must bring the required identification documents and proof of address, following the booking instructions. If your documents are missing, incorrect, or do not match your booking details, you can be refused entry and you will not be able to sit the test.

This is one of the most avoidable causes of failure, because it has nothing to do with your knowledge.

> **Test Tip:** Treat the test-day ID check like an airport check-in: correct document, original copy, and matching details. If the spelling of your name or document number is wrong when you book, fix it before test day.

#### If you pass: reference number and why it matters

When you pass, you receive a pass result with a **unique reference number**. This is essential because you must include it in your settlement or citizenship application, and the Home Office uses it to confirm you passed.

Keep it safe, and store it in more than one place (for example, a secure note and a printed copy).

#### If you fail: retakes and the 7-day waiting rule

If you do not pass, you can take the test again, but you must:

- **book again**
- **pay again**
- **wait at least 7 days** before retaking

You should normally not submit your settlement or naturalisation application until you have passed, because you need the pass reference number as evidence.

### Timing your settlement or citizenship application: the 28-day rule and visa expiry

Passing the test and meeting the English requirement are only part of the process. Your application can still be refused if you apply at the wrong time or if you fail to meet residence rules.

A key timing rule is:

- **Do not submit your application more than 28 days before you become eligible.**  
  If you apply too early, the Home Office may refuse the application on residence grounds and fees are usually not refunded.

At the same time, you must also make sure you apply before:

- **your current permission to stay (leave) expires**

This creates a planning problem for many candidates: you need enough time to pass the Life in the UK test and collect the correct English evidence, but you must not apply too early and you must not apply too late.

A practical approach is to plan backwards:

1. Confirm your earliest eligibility date
2. Book the Life in the UK test early enough to allow a retake if needed
3. Ensure your English evidence is acceptable and ready
4. Submit your application within the correct window

### Common reasons people fail KoLL-related requirements (and how to avoid them)

Many refusals and delays happen for practical reasons rather than “bad luck.” The biggest avoidable problems include:

#### 1) Wrong English test or wrong test provider

Candidates sometimes take a general English qualification or a non-approved version of a well-known test. If it is not an accepted SELT (or accepted degree route), it may not count.

**Avoid it by:** ensuring your test is a Home Office-approved SELT at the correct level, covering speaking and listening, taken at an approved centre.

#### 2) Forgetting that KoLL is two requirements

Some people assume that passing Life in the UK is enough, or that their English is “obviously good” so no evidence is needed.

**Avoid it by:** preparing two separate evidence items: (a) Life in the UK pass reference number and (b) acceptable English evidence (or an exemption).

#### 3) Test-day ID mismatch

If the document you bring does not match the booking details, you may not be allowed to sit the test.

**Avoid it by:** booking with the same document you will bring on the day, checking spellings and numbers carefully, and bringing originals.

#### 4) Applying too early (more than 28 days before eligibility)

Applying early can lead to refusal and loss of fees.

**Avoid it by:** calculating your eligibility date carefully and submitting within the permitted window.

#### 5) Letting current permission to stay expire

Even if you are close to eligibility, you must protect your lawful status.

**Avoid it by:** planning your test and application timeline so you apply before your permission to stay expires, and seeking the correct route if you need additional leave.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- KoLL means meeting both English language evidence and the Life in the UK test requirement (unless exempt)
- The typical English requirement is CEFR B1 in speaking and listening (often described as equivalent to ESOL Entry Level 3)
- A SELT must be from a Home Office-approved provider and approved test centre to be accepted by UKVI
- Some applicants can meet English through a degree taught or researched in English, using the required evidence
- Some applicants are exempt from English and/or Life in the UK due to age or a long-term physical or mental condition
- The Life in the UK test has 24 multiple-choice questions, lasts 45 minutes, and requires 18/24 (75%) to pass
- You must book the test online and sit it at an approved Life in the UK test centre with correct original ID
- If you fail, you must wait at least 7 days before retaking, and you must pay and book again
- If you pass, you receive a unique reference number needed for your settlement or citizenship application
- Do not apply more than 28 days before you become eligible, and apply before your current permission to stay expires

## Key Terms and Concepts

- KoLL (Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK)
- CEFR B1
- SELT (Secure English Language Test)
- Exemption (KoLL)


Becoming a citizen - English language and Life in the UK requirements