Becoming a resident of Great Britain used to be easier than it was since 2013. Anyone who wants to become a British citizen has to study hard. The integration test that everyone has to take (including a Dutch person who wants to become a British resident) is tough and requires a lot of knowledge of the kingdom. The aim is of course to significantly stem the flow of newcomers.
Revised integration exam
From March 2013, Great Britain will have a new integration exam. The questions are then more difficult than in previous years. Among other things, people are asked about important people in the history of the continent. Previously, many practical matters were mainly asked in the integration test. The focus is more on the cultural and historical characteristics of Great Britain. The revised integration exam should limit the flow of immigrants. People who want to become citizens of Great Britain must first study the new handbook carefully before taking the test. That test is much more difficult than it used to be.
Everyday information
In the old manual that had to prepare people for the integration exam, the emphasis was mainly on contemporary matters. How the water meter works, how to travel by underground or train, how to use the internet and information about social services. According to the British government, people learn these things quickly enough, but they need to have different knowledge of the country. The values and norms of the British are what the new integration course is all about. According to the government, it should encourage participation in British life, unlike its previous focus on how migrants can access social services.
When will you pass the British integration exam?
People who want to become citizens of Great Britain must score 75 percent or higher on the new integration exam on the 24 multiple-choice questions they have to complete. Various migrant groups have already indicated that they find the test too difficult. There are also groups that indicate that the test is far too elitist. The new test mainly asks migrants about events and people who have contributed to Britain’s development. Topics covered include:
- Monty Python
- Composer Benjamin Britten
- The Beatles
- Medieval stained glass artist David Hockney
- The British love for gardening
- The work of influential architects
Difficult passages from the history of Great Britain
In addition to the more frivolous topics above, difficult matters from history are also mentioned. There are chapters on:
- The Tudors
- The Stuarts
- The Reformation
- The importance of poetry and drama during the time of Elizabeth I
- The development of the British Parliament
- Britain’s role in Ireland
- The Glorious Revolution of 1688
Topics that are not discussed in the integration test
The test seems politically correct, because the unpleasant things from British history are not discussed in the integration course. For example, no mention is made of the many millions of deaths that occurred in the colony of India. The controversial war in Iraq is also not mentioned other than stating that the British armed forces were fighting in the global fight against terrorism.
Questions from the British integration test
Some questions that can be asked on the new British integration test
Which prehistoric monument is located in the English county of Wiltshire?
- Stonehenge
- Hadrian’s Wall
- Offa’s Dyke
- Fountain Abbey
What is the name of the admiral who died in a sea battle in 1805 and whose statue stands on Trafalgar Square in London?
- Cook
- Drake
- Nelson
- Raleigh
Who is the patron saint of Scotland?
- St Andrew
- St. David
- St George
- St. Patrick