Could you pass the new English test for UK migrants?

By Chris Smith
Newsbeat reporter

Sample question from a past exam at the same level

The Government's introducing a new test for anyone coming to live in the UK as the husband, wife, fiancée or civil partner of a British citizen. They'll have to prove they have a basic grasp of the language before they're granted a visa.

Newsbeat's been along to one language school to find out what the students there think of the plans.

In a classroom in North London, a group of around 15 students are sitting around learning how to talk about their relatives. We're hearing about Carol's family back home in Brazil - and in particular, her cheeky younger brother.

"You know this word, cheeky?" the teacher asks the class. "Cheeky" they all repeat. "It means not serious … and a little bit rude," she tells them. Thankfully the lesson moves on before anyone asks her to explain the Cheeky Girls.

New test

The people in this classroom speak English more than well enough to pass the Government's new test. To get through, you need to speak at what's called A1 level - the most basic.

You need to be able to introduce yourself, ask simple directions and understand what's said to you by someone speaking slowly and using easy words

Here's a few sample questions from a past exam at the same level, you're supposed to tick the correct picture in the first example.

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Mario's from Columbia, and thinks testing people who come to the UK as someone's partner or fiancée is a good idea. "You have to know about where you're going to live.

Not only the language, but the history and all that too." Mario's been learning a bit of UK geography this morning - though there's a sticky moment when he thinks the capital of Scotland is Belfast.

His friend from China soon corrects him. "No, it's Edinburgh!" says Xi. But she's got a few doubts about the plan to make people take a test before they settle in the UK. "If you are in love," she argues, "you shouldn't have to take a test to get married."