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Why are London minicab drivers being made to sit an English test and what are the questions?

It's aimed at nine to 11-year-olds... could you pass the exam?

LONDON minicab drivers are being forced to pay nearly £200 to take an English language test under new laws, even if they were born and raised in Britain.

The exam, which costs £180 to take, is now compulsory for all private hire drivers - unless they can prove (with a certificate) that they have an English GCSE.

All London minicab drivers have to take the test... and Uber fear it could be rolled out throughout the country
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All London minicab drivers have to take the test... and Uber fear it could be rolled out throughout the countryCredit: Alamy

Here's everything you need to know about the new test...

Why are London minicab drivers being made to sit an English test?

Transport for London say the move is necessary in order to raise standards across the industry.

It's rare that Uber drivers and private minicab firms put on a united front... but they are all annoyed about the new exam
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It's rare that Uber drivers and private minicab firms put on a united front... but they are all annoyed about the new examCredit: PA:Press Association

Cabbies have been protesting the move, which they say penalises those of them who left school without qualifications.

Drivers, represented by the GMB union, claim the exam is 'ludicrously priced'.

Uber drivers are also affected and are jointly protesting the ruling, which they fear could be rolled out throughout the country.

Both groups agree that drivers should be able to speak a basic level of English, but Uber believe it is unnecessary for drivers to have 'essay writing skills'.

For years, black cabbies have taken the tricky Knowledge test - and the private hire B1 English test is the same standard given to nine to 11-year-olds in schools.

However, Uber claim the test is 'harder than the test for British citizenship'.

The pass mark is 75, and those behind the smartphone taxi hailing app warned that thousands of drivers would not be able to pass.

The move was introduced by Transport for London
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The move was introduced by Transport for LondonCredit: Getty

What are the questions?

These are some sample questions:

  1. A piece of bed linen consisting of a large square of fabric is called what? Answer: Sheet.
  2. Who is a writer of poems? Answer: Poet.
  3. What is a soft bag filled with air or a mass of padding? Answer: Cushion.
  4. A performer who receives prominent billing is what? Answer: Star.
  5. What is the name for the large bodies which rotate around the sun? Answer:  Planets.
  6. What is the name given to a building that houses a collection of books? Answer: Library.
  7. What is a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent? Answer: Campsite.
  8. Which action is making a series of rhythmic movements in time to music? Answer: Dancing.
  9. What is a literary work based on the imagination, rather than fact? Answer: Fiction.
  10. What is an electronic device which receives signals and plays them as audio? Answer: Radio.

Other sample exam questions include reading five paragraphs of text and choosing the best title from a choice of six, rating related statements as TRUE or FALSE, and completing sentences by re-writing an exact phrase from the text.


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