Chapter 23 of 32 · Updated for 2026

Religion & Festivals: practice questions

Ten Life in the UK test questions on Religion & Festivals, each checked against the official handbook and set in the four formats the real test uses. Pick your answer, then tap Show the answer to see why.

1. One answer

   1. When is the Notting Hill Carnival held in London each year?

   • AOver the early May bank holiday weekend
   • BOver the August bank holiday weekend
   • COver the Easter weekend
   • DOn New Year's Day
   Show the answer

   B: Over the August bank holiday weekend

   Notting Hill Carnival, started by London's Caribbean community in the 1960s, takes place on the Sunday and Monday of the August bank holiday and is one of Europe's largest street festivals.

2. One answer

   2. According to the handbook, roughly what proportion of people in the UK identified themselves as Muslim in the 2009 Citizenship Survey?

   • ALess than 1%
   • BAbout 4%
   • CAbout 12%
   • DAbout 20%
   Show the answer

   B: About 4%

   In the 2009 Citizenship Survey, 70% identified as Christian and much smaller shares as Muslim (4%), Hindu (2%) and Sikh (1%). 21% said they had no religion.

3. True or false

   3. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE?

   The cross of St Andrew is a diagonal white cross on a red ground.

   • ATrue
   • BFalse
   Show the answer

   B: False

   The cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a BLUE ground.

4. One answer

   4. In which parts of the UK is there no established Church?

   • AEngland and Scotland
   • BWales and Northern Ireland
   • CScotland and Wales
   • DEngland and Northern Ireland
   Show the answer

   B: Wales and Northern Ireland

   The Church of England is established in England and the Church of Scotland is the national Church in Scotland, but Wales and Northern Ireland have no established Church.

5. Choose TWO answers

   5. Which TWO of these saints' crosses appear on the Union Flag?

   • ASt Andrew
   • BSt Patrick
   • CSt David
   • DSt Columba
   Show the answer

   A: St Andrew
   B: St Patrick

   The Union Flag combines the crosses of St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland) and St Patrick (Ireland). St David of Wales and St Columba are not represented.

6. One answer

   6. What is the National Eisteddfod of Wales?

   • AAn annual rugby tournament played between club teams from across Wales
   • BA large summer festival of contemporary music held on a farm in Somerset
   • CAn annual cultural festival of music, dance, art and performance largely in Welsh
   • DAn annual awards ceremony honouring the best Welsh-language television programmes
   Show the answer

   C: An annual cultural festival of music, dance, art and performance largely in Welsh

   The National Eisteddfod is an annual Welsh cultural festival that includes important competitions for Welsh poetry.

7. Which statement is correct

   7. Which of these statements is correct?

   • AThe cross of St Patrick is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground.
   • BThe cross of St Patrick is a diagonal red cross on a white ground.
   Show the answer

   B: The cross of St Patrick is a diagonal red cross on a white ground.

   St Patrick's cross is a diagonal red cross on white. The diagonal white cross on blue is St Andrew's cross for Scotland.

8. One answer

   8. On which date is Christmas Eve, when many Christians go to church?

   • A23 December
   • B25 December
   • C24 December
   • D26 December
   Show the answer

   C: 24 December

   Christmas Eve is 24 December, the day before Christmas Day. Many Christians go to church that evening or on Christmas Day itself.

9. True or false

   9. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE?

   Diwali is often known as the Festival of Lights.

   • ATrue
   • BFalse
   Show the answer

   A: True

   Diwali is popularly called the Festival of Lights and celebrates the victory of good over evil.

10. One answer

    10. What does Diwali celebrate?

    • AThe victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge
    • BThe founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa
    • CThe Jews' struggle for religious freedom
    • DThe end of a month of fasting
    Show the answer

    A: The victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge

    Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge. The other options describe Vaisakhi, Hannukah and Eid al-Fitr.

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