<P> Legally, sufficient knowledge of Welsh or Scottish Gaelic can also be used to fulfil the language requirement . Home Office guidance states that if anyone wishes to take the test in these languages (for instance Gaelic ‐ speaking Canadians or Welsh ‐ speaking Argentinians) arrangements will be made for them to do so . In practice, very few, if any, take the test in a language other than English . </P> <P> Although initially attending "ESOL with Citizenship" course was an alternative to passing Life in the UK Test, applicants are now required to meet the knowledge of English and pass the test to fulfill the requirements . Meeting the knowledge of English can either be satisfied by having an English qualification at B1, B2, C1, C2 level or a degree taught / researched in English . </P> <P> Plans to introduce such a test were announced in September 2002 by the then United Kingdom Home Secretary David Blunkett . Blunkett appointed a "Life in the United Kingdom Advisory Group," chaired by Sir Bernard Crick, to formulate the test content . In 2003, the Group produced a report, "The New and the Old," with recommendations for the design and administration of the test . There was dissent among the committee members on certain issues, and many of the recommendations were not adopted by the Government . Plans to require foreign - born religious ministers to take the test earlier than other immigrants were later abandoned by the then Immigration Minister, Tony McNulty . </P> <P> The test lasts for 45 minutes, during which time the candidate is required to answer 24 multiple - choice questions . To pass the test, the candidate must receive a grade of 75% or higher (at least 18 correct answers out of 24 questions). Testing is not directly administered by UK Visas and Immigration (which replaced the UK Border Agency in 2013), but is carried out by learndirect, a private company . As of 18 October 2014 the cost of the test is £ 50 . </P>

When was the life in the uk test introduced