http://britishness-test.com/life-in-the-uk-test-right-answer-can-be-wrong/ 

It suggests you should just follow the manual. The official site says 'you can find all the answers in the manual' (http://www.lifeintheuktest.gov.uk/htmlsite/self_10.html)

Daft as it is, I can understand why... updating the manual - and Q&A database - to reflect events in real (or even slightly delayed) time would involve masses of time and labour, and, ironically, in this way introduce scope for further inaccuracies. Plus, there'd be a few editions every couple of years.

Thanks for your reply, and for the link. Daft, indeed, if people are 'learning' all about the UK and are led to believe that you can still buy a packet of cigarettes at age 16...

Would have thought a new edition every couple of years wouldn't be too much to expect. A great many titles (particularly in academic literature) go through quite regular revision to ensure that they're up-to-date.

Could it be that the UK Government values this test, not principally as a way of preparing people for life in the UK, but really as a way to say to voters : "Look! We're being tough on immigration."?

Oh well, as long as we get the 'pass', I don't really mind how they run their test. Thanks, again, for the info.

In terms of the material being out of date, this is definitely more true with every passing month. A full list of all of the incorrect material from the Home Office study materials, along with the corrected information, can be found at http://lifeintheuk.net/index.php/resource_post/keeping_the_life_in_the_uk_test_up_to_date/.

Morre importantly, lots of the contact details for key organisations - Such as the Passport Adviceline - listed in the book are out of date as well. An updated list of contact details for all of these organisations can be found at http://lifeintheuk.net/index.php/news/up_to_date_contact_details_from_your_study_guide/.

In terms of taking you test, the UKBA / Home Office advise that you should learn the material as reproduced in the study materials - they also say that you shouldn't be tested on out of date facts, but I would strongly advise erring on the side of caution here and learning all the official materials as printed, up-to-date or not.

It's certainly the case that a new edition of the study materials is due from the Home Office. That said, the focus of the Coalition government is currently on managing immigration channels and limiting the number of entry visas granted. I'm sure we're all familiar with the idea of cutting 'net migration to the tens of thousands, not hundreds of thousands' by now?!

The problem is that people achieve ILR and naturalization years after they enter the UK, so it seems that the government is prioritising limiting the number of entrants to the UK now and worrying about how they settle/naturalize later on.

It's also worth noting at this stage that there is a census due next year, so a new edition may be forthcoming once they population and demographic data has been updated. Now that Earned Citizenship has been abandoned this is the next natural landmark that would directly affect the test.

Can anyone advise how to answer questions on parts of the book which are obviously out-of-date?

For example, the administration in Northern Ireland is no longer suspended, and the Lord Chancellor no longer exists. I have just been reading through one section, very briefly, and I'm sure there are other examples.

While some of these changes might require a certain level of specialist knowledge, what about really common or obvious changes? For example, if the widely anticipated changes to universities fees are implemented, then this change is likely to receive a lot of attention in the media and will be widely known - or 'common knowledge' for a significant number of people. But, when sitting the test, should one give the actual, correct answer, or should one simply give the answer from the book?