this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2026
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Migration minister Mike Tapp failed a UK citizenship test question before insisting he is a "proud Brit." Speaking at a parliamentary committee on settlement, citizenship, and integration on Tuesday, 10 March, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal admitted he did not know the height of the London Eye - one of the questions in the official UK citizenship test. "I am confident that I would be able to pass the test, I'm a proud Brit," he added, but promised to "take a keen interest" in knowing the answer "when it comes up again" in the same meeting next year. Chair of the committee, Lord Don Foster, said he will "follow up" on Mr Tapp's word.

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[–] elbucho@lemmy.world 76 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Well that's a stupid fucking question for a citizenship test.

[–] Zombie@feddit.uk 40 points 2 months ago

I think that's what they're trying to highlight by asking him it

[–] GameOverFlow@lemmy.zip 12 points 2 months ago

They don't want new citizens. 

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 55 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Oh yeah the only qualification for being a Britt is memorizing arbitrary information. That makes sense.

[–] Red5@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 2 months ago

Can confirm: I am British and know more than my fair share of trivia

[–] blackn1ght@feddit.uk 28 points 2 months ago (4 children)

My friend was revising for his UK citizenship test back in 2012. I had a couple of goes on a mock test and I failed it both times. The questions were absurd and I'd bet most people wouldn't know about and were of no relevance to British culture.

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[–] ambitiousslab@feddit.uk 24 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

My partner, dad's partner, and so many colleagues at my job, wasted so many weeks cramming for this stupid, irrelevant test. If you add up all the people who have to take this, how many person hours have we wasted as a society, all to be forgotten anyway, because it's useless information.

We really need to get rid of this test, or at a minimum strip it down and make it about how to vote and access public services. But even then, if someone wants to learn that, they will of their own accord and in their own time anyway.

[–] LordDaveTheKind@piefed.social 13 points 2 months ago

I've passed the test in 2021. To be fair, there are some interesting and relevant topics, such as anything concerning the government structure: elections, judiciary system, Parliament, ... Other questions such as the number of volunteers in the National Trust or the London Eye height are completely pointless.

[–] LeeeroooyJeeenkiiins@hexbear.net 17 points 2 months ago

"What's the height of the London eye" is a citizenship question on the level of "what have I got in my pocket"

[–] kip@piefed.zip 10 points 2 months ago

Is this thing on?

- Mike Tapp

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I failed four. Doubt even people living Northern ireland know how many members their parliament has.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 2 points 2 months ago

Most of the time it's zero.

[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)
[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I've spent a total of two weeks in the UK (not counting layovers) and I got 88%

I don't say this to brag, just to illustrate that the test MIGHT not be quite fit for purpose 😄

I'm still going to have to take over your citizenship, though, them's the rules 🤷🏻

[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (6 children)

I'll handover my citizenship if you can pass British Isles test:

  1. Brown condiment that goes on toast
  2. Popular Irish Beverage
  3. Welsh actor that lives in the US
  4. Scottish comedian with thoughts about the Queen's Vagina
  5. Ambiguously Gay Duo
  6. Mixes well with milk but only in the UK
[–] daychilde@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

spoiler

  1. Marmite!
  2. This has to be Guiness
  3. I had to look Rhys up but I don't know his work. I went with Michael Sheen, who I do adore. Dang it.
  4. This has to be Frankie Boyle.
  5. …Michael Sheen and David Tennant? Please be what you were going for, I'm straight, but I love those two together!
  6. Tea! .... Ribena? (I know it's not Ribena). I think Nestle makes a banana powder for milk? We have chocolate and strawberry in the US

I probably failed. :( but it was fun. I'm a huge panelshow fan, so anything I got might be blamed on that :)

Forgive me if my reply is annoying, as a USian, I like hanging out in spaces like this, but I try to be respectful. But I had to reply to this one :)

[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

4 / 6, get off the island(s) or I'll sick her on you!

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[–] klu9@piefed.social 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

spoiler

  1. HP Sauce (Marmite is a brown condiment that goes in the bin . Why, yes, Marmite is a bit "Marmite".)
  2. Vodka & Red Bull. At least that was what was being served at every house party last time I was in Dublin.
  3. Catherine Zeta-Jones
  4. His Majesty the Francis of Boyle
  5. Thems two wor were on Byker Grove, like, mahn
  6. Chocolate Hobnobs
[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 2 points 2 months ago

You have been promoted to Lord Executor

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)
  1. Marmite
  2. Guinness or whisky
  3. Matthew Rhys?
  4. Frankie Boyle, probably
  5. Ant and Dec? 🤷🏻
  6. Gin? 😛 Because people like milk in their tea elsewhere too
[–] tetris11@feddit.uk 3 points 2 months ago

5 / 6, you live but barely

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[–] jdr@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I got 100% and I don't even live there

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Why do you know the height of the London Eye. Are you a Russian agent?

[–] jdr@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's about eye-level.

Anyway the test is multiple choice, so maybe if you know it's about 100m that's good enough?

The test is ridiculous, it asked a load of history that I wouldn't expect normal people to know, Brits or otherwise.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 2 months ago

A true Brit would estimate the height in double decker buses, of course. They missed a trick there.

[–] blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (14 children)

Here's one that helps people revise, lets see how we do

https://lifeintheuktestweb.co.uk/british-citizenship-test-practice-questions-12/

I got 71% and I'm nativo

[–] fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

20/24 (83%), native Briton.

Some of those questions are stupid though, on terms of day to day knowledge on Britain.

If it was actually going to be useful, it would include things about:

  • Letting someone go in front of you in the shop queue if they've only got a few things and you've got a basket full.
  • Which football teams are "scum" according to supporters of other football teams
  • Which one of PJ & Duncan is PJ and which one is Duncan? (Also known as Ant and Dec)
  • How to apologise for things, even even they're not your fault
  • Why Piers Morgan is a twat
  • What things you can have a "cheeky" one of i.e. pints, Greggses, sausage rolls, Nandoses, and girls (if you're MP Lembit Opik).
[–] blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

How long do you wait before beeping the horn if you're behind a car at the traffic lights and they turn green is another potential one

[–] GiveOver@feddit.uk 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I beeped a guy when on holiday in USA once, after a truck didn't set off for a few seconds. The guy stuck a middle finger out of his window and floored it with a great wheel spin.

Not sure if I broke the rule by beeping too early, or the American rule is that you always flip off the guy behind you.

[–] blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You did the New York Second

[–] GiveOver@feddit.uk 3 points 2 months ago

I'm English It was like 3 seconds!

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[–] PhobosAnomaly@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago

I got 21 of 24. The NI Assembly question threw me for an absolute loop.

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I got 46%, and I'm a native Finn

[–] ambitiousslab@feddit.uk 5 points 2 months ago

67% for me, looks like I'm getting kicked out

[–] TIN@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

23 of 24, my knowledge of NI politics sadly lacking

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago

my knowledge of NI politics sadly lacking

Nao nao nao! March march march!

Something like that probably. 😉

[–] PunkMonk@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Yeah I got 71% too, which is a fail so I guess I am no longer British. Born and raised here btw! What a stupid, racist test, plenty of the questions aren't even objectively factual but subjective or flatout lies spread by the government too.

edit: did a second test and still failed with 67%

[–] Espitemophiliac@piefed.ca 3 points 2 months ago

83% as a Canadian. Such a weird mix of questions. Maybe 4-5 that actually dealt with civics and governance.

[–] TonyTonyChopper@mander.xyz 2 points 2 months ago

12 of 24 as an American

[–] Thordros@hexbear.net 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

83%. I've never set foot in the country in my life.

Also, the height of the that wheel is irrelevant, since it hasn't been the tallest in the world in decades! point-and-laugh-1point-and-laugh-2

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[–] Schmookey@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago

I had a friend go through this a while back, I swear the arbitrary information they were being asked to remember lol I got 83% in the one posted here, Wouldn't know about NI ministers and one questions I didn't realise needed two answers....Yes I wasn't giving it my 100% attention lol

[–] DrBob@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago

92%. Canadian.

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