Migrant passport test is just a 'bad pub quiz': Test attacked for containing practical information such as how to report a crime

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/07/2014 - 15:33

By
James Slack And Jack Doyle

17:11 EST, 13 June 2013


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03:10 EST, 14 June 2013

Some born and bred Brits probably have no idea what year Emperor Claudius invaded the country.

Many would only be guessing if they were asked the height of the London Eye.

Yet these are some of the types of questions migrants must answer if they want to try to get a British passport. Yesterday a study by Durham University attacked the multiple choice test – sat by around 150,000 immigrants every year – as akin to a ‘bad pub quiz’.

Dr Thom Brooks, a reader in law at Durham, said the Life in the UK test does not mention GCSEs or A-levels or information about ‘practical necessities’, such as how to report a crime or register with a GP.

He also claims the test suffers from ‘gender imbalance’. It requires that new citizens know the dates of birth and death for 30 men in British history, but only four women.

The criticisms, however, were rejected by the Home Office, which introduced the updated test earlier this year. Officials said they had deliberately placed the focus on British history, rather than the likes of how to claim benefits, which were favoured under Labour.

Dr Brooks, who sat the test in 2009 after coming from the US, also complained much of the information included in the official handbook does not appear to be part of the quiz. The book contains about 3,000 facts including five phone numbers, 34 websites, 278 historical dates and several excerpts of poetry.

Dr Brooks, a Labour party member, said: ‘Britain will not be more cohesive because more have heard about the Battle of Trafalgar, but rather if future citizens understand better how to participate in daily British life and make a contribution.’

The 45-minute test, introduced in 2005, must be passed by migrants to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain or citizenship. It contains 24 multiple choice questions and candidates need to answer at least 18 questions correctly to pass. The pass rate is around 70 per cent.

Article references
www.dailymail.co.uk