Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 All you need to pass the test May 21, 2007
Little oslik
31 out of 35 found this review helpful
If you read chapters 2 to 6 and remember the details you will pass the citizenship test with no problems. No other books needed. All questions are taken from this book. Good luck!
How to Pass the UK settlement and citizen test May 21, 2007
sweetnativewoman (Kent, England)
32 out of 38 found this review helpful
Typical thoughts that went through my head as I thought about having to take a test that could ultimately have me deported if I couldn't pass...Oh my God how am I going to pass this when I am so nervous? What if I can't pass it? I can't spend all that money to retake it over and over again. (In my head I was thinking I would have to take it A LOT.) Of course, I am slightly neurotic and I worried I would never get to see my husband again because I would be deported as I wouldn't be able to pass the test or get extended stay so I could pass the test. Then I came to my senses and start looking for all the help I could find.
I have to say this book is a life saver for me and the only book you will need. Almost all the anxiety and worrying thoughts disappeared. I took the questions from the subsections in each chapter and created my own study guide with answers. I studied this the night before the test and refreshed what I knew in a study session before the test with my husband. Also this book contains very useful information and websites that is helpful to you throughout your life in the UK.
Last week, I took my test. I was nervous before about passing, but I felt prepared. If it wasn't for this book, I wouldn't have passed my test. However, the test was not as difficult as I thought it would be and I completed it within minutes. There were questions I wouldn't have known if I didn't have the book unless I spent considerable time going over every aspect of government and life in general.
I recommend doing a study guide for people who are really nervous or have difficulty remembering information or learning. Also I recommended reading all the chapters throughly except for Chapter 1 because there may be some information that will prove useful. ;) It is definitely worthwhile.
Life in the UK April 21, 2007
Ms. N. L. H. Bath
6 out of 17 found this review helpful
This is a fantastic course book for learners of ESOL preparing to take their Citizenship Test. The layout and content are a real improvement on the first edition. I will certainly be encouraging my learners to use this book in order to ensure they pass with flying colours!
Naomi Bath
ESOL Tutor
 Not as bad as the press might make you think October 6, 2007
P. A. F. Turner (London)
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
This book certainly contains mistakes, both grammatical and factual, but it does actually collate some useful information about the UK. At times it does tie itself in knots as it tries to fit in what is clearly a politically motivated syllabus, as well as making some aspects of life in the UK unnecessarily complicated. For example, there is a section that attempts to explain the role of the Lord Chancellor in the context of the situation as it was at the beginning of 2007. A much clearer explanation would have been possible simply by explaining the intention of the changes and the new role of the Minister of Justice. The figures also get confusing: there are far too many to absorb, and many could have been omitted or summarised (for example, is it necessary to know that 0.2 million people or 0.4% of the population categorise themselves as "other asian" according to the 2001 census?). Recent changes in legislation are not included, so there are errors concerning maternity entitlement and the laws pertaining to smoking. The role of government is overemphasised, presumably as the book was written by the government, and the whole of the chapter 4 is dedicated to it. There are some good practical chapters, although certain parts dip in rather than explain fully: for example, expect to know that there are such things as class 2 and class 4 NICs, but not precisely what they are (for those that do not know, they are to do with taxation for the self-employed). So all in all a mixed bag. It is embarrassing that the government force people to learn some of this information; it is old fashioned history with dates, fact, figures and years but next to no historical background.
For those taking the Life in the UK test, note that the book contains no sample questions whatsoever. The book advises you to think carefully about buying complementary study guides, but you may find it more reassuring to buy a guide with some sample questions. It is probably best to buy this book in any case, as it is the official guide, and compared to the other costs associated with gaining residency or citizenship, it is very good value.
A necessary evil April 27, 2008
Mr. R. J. MacRae (Manchester, England)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Here it is, the cure for insomnia!
Given that one of the aims of the Life in the UK test is to test English literacy, you would think the official guide would be written in accessible English! Instead, we are handed this sloppy compilation of pointless statistics, useless abbreviations, dry facts with little context and advice that will make you slap your forehead and scowl: 'Well, OBVIOUSLY!'
A blue box pops up every so often asking the reader 'check that you understand...', but oftentimes what is listed has NOT been explained or even mentioned in what you've just finished reading. I defy anyone to explain to me the differences between the Council of Europe, the Council of the EU, the EU, the EC and the European Parliament at the best of times, but especially after reading the few paragraphs in this book!
Most sections have been plopped in at random, with lots of repitition. Then just when you get to the good bits...such as, what are my rights when dealing with the police...what are my rights as a consumer...and what IS Red Nose Day all about?? Well, by that point you no longer actually need to read any further because the test is only based on chapters 2-6!
But you'll be thankful to have read this, because trust your luck the test will quiz you on some arcane statistic - something that no other Briton would know, but which is somehow meant to be an indication that you are ready to assimilate into UK society.
It would have been far better if the book talked about cultural concepts and examples of British ideals, instead of repeating dull census figures and listing in detail when Welsh schoolchildren sit their exams. It's a shame the test does not cover any aspect of British history, literature or culture which would help someone to take pride in wanting to live here.
So read it, because you have to. Then get out there and LIVE IT!
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