There's nothing quite like a software programme opening up at a registration screen set against an enormous Union Jack, but perhaps Focus's new Life In The UK: Citizenship Test is the only application out there that could even have the gumption to try it. Fortunately it's a skippable form, although it's interesting to note that said form assumes you already live in the UK.

Once you're over that, you're then invited to check for updates, and then you need to add your learner account. As part of this you also get to pick your login picture and, fittingly, you can choose from the likes of Big Ben, a native flag or a good old fashioned British cup of tea. You then decide whether you want your questions specific to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Then Big Ben chimes (really) and it's down to business.

The software kicks off with a progress chart which clearly has nothing on it to start with, but it'll keep track of how you do over time. You also have access to information about how to apply for citizenship and an in-built 'journey to citizenship' book that you can go through as text or an audio book. It's a Home Office publication, and is, as a result, dry as a bone.

The audio book is, to be fair, enthusiastically read though, and fair game to the narrator for putting gusto into it. Likewise there's a question book you can read, and the software will also create a practice session as an MP3 file for you to take away with you when you're not at your machine. A nice touch, we thought.

Most people, however, will gravitate towards the in-built tests, and you can print papers out or - as most people will have presumably bought the software to do - tackle a test at your computer. For residents of the UK already, the test itself will no doubt be fascinating (it certainly was for us), although it was quite fiddly to select the answers in the software. Still, once you've got through the test you then have the chance to review each question, and your performance is broken down by categories.

While Life In the UK is a functional and quite clinical piece of software, and features books and materials that you wouldn't really want to try to go through at a computer screen, it does go about its business in a competent way.

The presentation is quite dry and it does feel a little fiddly, but given that there's no real computerised alternative, and the fact that it's a decent enough package, it's not a bad way for someone in its target market to spend a tenner.

Verdict
A perfectly competent, if utterly unspectacular, piece of software for a very targeted task. Considering the inclusion of Home Office material, it should be worth the modest price tag.

Company: Focus Multimedia

Contact: 01889 570156

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