The revised version will focus less on the practicalities of daily living in Britain and require more knowledge of British history and achievements.
The Sunday Times reported that immigrants will be told “historically the UK is a Christian country”.
Home Secretary Theresa May has requested more emphasis on patriotism rather than benefits, laws and rights.
A source at the Home Office told The Express “It’s a move away from the old one – stuff on rights, practical info that has…little to do with British culture – to one that is clear about responsibilities and requires people to have a grounding in our history.”
The tedious test currently contains British culture topics such as the history of the women’s suffrage movement, laws, taxes and norms around childbearing.
However, the difficulty of the test is in the details. The multiple-choice answers require specific dates, completely missing the concepts and thought behind becoming a British citizen.
Now the test will include the really important facts like the plays of Shakespeare and the dates of Trafalgar.
A Home Office spokesperson told the BBC, “Putting our culture and history at the heart of the citizenship test will help ensure those permanently settling can understand British life allowing them to properly integrate into our society.”
Perhaps the immigration office should be moved to the Globe Theatre…
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