Reply to: Only 9 from 15

[stackpole]

So Father Christmas was invented in America, by Germans and Swedes, and lives at the North Pole. How does that constitute Britishness?

I thought he was real and lived in the Milton Keynes shopping centre.

[wendigo100]

I find your Avatar quite offputting, Wendigo.

I work with a woman who looks remarkably similar...

I like her.

[AtW]

Applicants who are less accomplished at English can attend a combined language and citizenship class instead. They will be expected to complete the course but will not have to pass the exam to gain citizenship.

This is strange indeed

[wendigo100]

I got 14 and I could therefore be royalty, except I got the divorce question wrong, and any self-respecting prince or princess would have known that.

[Sysman]

Test of English is not required in some cases (like mine since I have got UK degree).

Fair enough in your case, but according to the article in today's Telegraph, it won't really be enforced.

Telegraph article:

"Exam criticised for leaving out history but including regional accents
By Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor
(Filed: 01/11/2005)

The Life in the UK test is aimed at those with a good grasp of English, who will be required to gain at least 75 per cent to get citizenship.

Applicants who are less accomplished at English can attend a combined language and citizenship class instead. They will be expected to complete the course but will not have to pass the exam to gain citizenship.

"I don't want to set the bar too high to deter people from applying," said Tony McNulty, the Home Office minister. "I believe we've achieved the appropriate balance."

Can someone please tell me WTF is going on???

[Sysman]

Scope for some else sitting the test for you?

"the idea is to have reasonable barrier against those foreigners who don't want even to learn language"

But isn't there meant to be an English test as well, if so what does the pop culture quiz achieve?

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind...tionality.html

Now that site really inspires confidence in the vetting of test candidates:

http://www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk/ht...taking_10.html

"Are there any identification requirements?

Yes, you need to bring photographic ID with you to your test centre to present to the test supervisor. Acceptable forms include: passport (from your country of origin) or a photographic driving licence. If you don't have any photographic ID, you should bring a passport-sized photograph of yourself to your test centre. This photograph should be signed on the back by a professional such as a doctor, minister of religion or teacher who is known to you. Visit the UK Passport Agency website for the full list of professionals who can sign your photo. Your test supervisor will also sign your photograph and return it to you after your test, attached to your pass notification letter. You need to send both along with your citizenship application to the Home Office. You will also be asked for your postcode at the test centre, so you may wish to bring along something that contains this information."

Er, just a moment. Shouldn't anyone wishing to apply have other paperwork such as a resident's visa or something?

AtW: How does this work? I assume you have some paperwork which says you are entitled to apply for UK citizenship - I would have thought that was a better piece of id to have to take a test.

[Mailman]

I've been saying this for YEARS, it would solve so many inherant problems the UK has.

Oh and my score was 8, which isn't brilliant considering I consider myself a true Englishman.

J

No its not...introducing it is so OBVIOUSLY against someones human rights!

Mailman

[AtW]

Test of English is not required in some cases (like mine since I have got UK degree).

[Joe Black]

"the idea is to have reasonable barrier against those foreigners who don't want even to learn language"

But isn't there meant to be an English test as well, if so what does the pop culture quiz achieve?

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind...tionality.html

[AtW]

How is knowing that Santa lives at the North Pole or Harry Potter went to Hogwarts going to help people or show they're integrating into a society when even half the British might not get the answers right?

As I said above -- the idea is to have reasonable barrier against those foreigners who don't want even to learn language -- say those ladies who come to marry on arrangement from Pakistan: they don't learn local language, they don't leave the house past few streets etc.

I am about to make an application in a week actually, and this new test does not bother me one bit.

[Joe Black]

the test is harder then I thought as it actually requires KNOWING things, thanks feck they at least made a book and I hope answers are self-evident after reading this book: this is exactly what they are trying to achieve with test and I'd say its a pretty fair intention.

Come on AtW, the test is nothing more than a bl**dy pub quiz. How is knowing that Santa lives at the North Pole or Harry Potter went to Hogwarts going to help people or show they're integrating into a society when even half the British might not get the answers right?

At least the Dutch test seems to deal with that on a more sensible/pragmatic level rather than considering who's Kath from EastEnders illegitimate daughter of any importance...

"I hope answers are self-evident after reading this book"

Don't do it AtW, for our sakes...

[WageSlave]

13 right for me. Didn't know they scrapped the requirement for dog licences

[AtW]

Bit of a joke really, 45 minutes, 24 noddy multiple choice questions with most of the answers taken from some booklet you can study at home.

The idea for this test is to ensure that those taking part in arranged marriages from Asia would actually have to learn the language and some facts about this country -- the test is harder then I thought as it actually requires KNOWING things, thanks feck they at least made a book and I hope answers are self-evident after reading this book: this is exactly what they are trying to achieve with test and I'd say its a pretty fair intention.

[threaded]

Pah, that's nothing, you ought to see what they do in Denmark. They have this sort of test in an entirely artificial language invented by civil servants called "rigt dansk", it is not a language anyone actually speaks and there are precious few books written using it.

I've tried it, for a lark, on people from all over Denmark and their usual reply is "WTF are you saying?".

I got into a lovely discussion with one of my lady friends who said the reactions I got were obviously due to my accent. So I challenged her to use it in the supermarket we were in. The shop manager she started up a conversation with replied (and I translate): "Can you repeat that, but in Danish please."

Which made me LOL.

[Joe Black]

Wow, that's a tough question Joe. I mean how could they possibly know where he found the key?

Could have been anywhere.

What's the correct answer?

In the street of course...

My example was simply meant to show the difference between multi-choice style "Where does Father Christmas live?" questions (answer supplied in book) and the Dutch who seem to be at least testing more on whether you can really function in the country itself.

Their example answer is simply: "I've found a key in the street by the supermarket. The key is now at the police station"

Of course it's an open question so you can write as much as you want, a test in itself...