A surprising visit to Newcastle LIUK test centre.

Shelley Purchon
Oct 20, 2015
3 min read

Are you planning to do your Life in the UK test in Newcastle? I visited the test centre today, and learned some surprising things.

The first surprise was that I found it! In the past I have tried to find out where my students could do the test, but without success. You will only find out the location of the test if you register for it on the government website. I found it by chance, when I was talking to a librarian who told me it was nearby.
On the internet it says that you can choose from your 5 closest test centres, but today I learnt that there isn’t any choice. Everyone living in Newcastle goes to the same test centre.
The next surprise was that the staff asked me to keep the location secret. I can’t tell you where it is! The staff explained why the government website doesn't show the locations of test centres- it’s because it would give the illusion of choice. There is no choice, it’s based on your postcode. Personally, I find this to be quite a weak reason for such secrecy. Perhaps the test centres have something to hide, I wondered? Which brings me to surprise number four:
The friendly staff. Although my visit was unscheduled, they let me in and answered all my questions. They were so nice! So if you’re nervous about going there, don’t be. The testing centre is a welcoming place with nice, reasonable people.
Some people get violent at the testing centre, and I was very surprised to learn the reason for it. It wasn’t because they failed the test. It was because they weren’t allowed to do the test! It often happens that people come with the wrong documents. Unfortunately, if this happens the staff can’t ‘bend the rules’ for you. If they bend the rules, the will lose their jobs.
If the staff think your English level is too low, they don’t let you do the test. Apparently, this has happened in the past with certain women, who were used to ‘taking a back seat’ when speaking to officials. Ladies- don’t let your husband do the talking for you! If you are a nervous English speaker, plan ahead what you’re going to say to the staff .Your husband can’t help you. He can’t even enter the waiting room.
Some people have failed the test 13 or 14 times. What a waste of money! Poor things, I really hope they pass in the end.
In the past, some women have tried to cheat by hiding a Bluetooth device in their burqa. So if you come to the testing centre in a burqa or a niqab, be prepared to remove it. (This is also necessary for identification purposes.) But don’t worry- the staff understand that no men can be present when a Muslim removes her veil.

So what can you do to make sure everything goes well on test day?

1) It’s best to arrive early. One very stressed young woman rushed into the waiting room while I was there. She was late because she couldn’t find it. It isn’t on West Road anymore, it’s moved. The building’s name is clearly shown at the front, but all the buildings look similar and it isn’t well known. If you ask local people for directions, they probably won’t know. There’s a metro 5 minutes away, and a number of car parks, but it isn’t clear which parking spaces you can use. The good news? There’s a café next door. Get there an hour early, have a coffee and relax.

2) Check your ID before you book the test. Here are some common reasons why people are sent home without doing the test:

Copies are not accepted. Bring originals, as shown here: http://tinyurl.com/nkgrz6r
Show the same photo ID that you used to register online.
Bring proof of address as listed here (page 5): http://tinyurl.com/pyskw2t
Your name must be EXACTLY the same on your ID and proof of address.
If your passport shows a different name because you got married, bring your original birth certificate

3) Make sure you have enough knowledge before you book the test. If you live in Newcastle, why not book in with me for a lesson? The first one’s free. I’ll test your knowledge and give you an honest estimate of how many lessons you will need before you can hope to pass. Alternatively, use a website with free test questions, such as this one: http://lifeintheuk.net/index.php/test//

Finally, if you pass, keep it safe! Today I met someone who had already passed the test, but had lost her certificate. The government can’t replace it, and can’t accept a photocopy for her citizenship application. Poor thing! I really hope she passed today, and I hope you do too.

Good luck!