The test rarely asks about obscure facts. It asks about familiar facts in a way that tempts you to pick the wrong half of a pair. Here are the pairs that trip people up most, with a short way to tell them apart.
Votes for women: 1918 or 1928?
1918: women over 30 got the vote. 1928: women could vote at 21, the same age as men.
Remember: 1928 is when it became equal, at 21.
Crown dependency or overseas territory?
Crown dependencies: the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, close to the UK with their own governments. Overseas territories: places further away, such as St Helena and the Falkland Islands.
Remember: neither group is part of the UK.
The UK or Great Britain?
Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. The UK: those three plus Northern Ireland.
Remember: Northern Ireland is in the UK but not in Great Britain.
Head or spiritual leader of the Church of England?
The monarch is the head of the Church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury is its spiritual leader.
Remember: the Crown at the top, the Archbishop for faith.
12 or 15 jurors?
A jury has 12 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 15 in Scotland.
Remember: Scotland has the bigger jury.
Magistrates' Court or Justice of the Peace Court?
Minor criminal cases go to a Magistrates' Court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to a Justice of the Peace Court in Scotland.
Remember: same job, different name in Scotland.
Wales and England: 1284 or Henry VIII?
In 1284, Edward I brought Wales under English rule. Wales was formally united with England later, under Henry VIII.
Remember: Edward conquered, Henry united.
The Union Flag: 1606 or 1801?
The first Union Flag was created in 1606 from the crosses of St George and St Andrew. The cross of St Patrick was added in 1801, when Ireland joined.
Remember: Ireland joined the flag when it joined the union.
Slavery: 1807 or 1833?
In 1807, trading in slaves was made illegal. In 1833, the Emancipation Act abolished slavery itself across the British Empire.
Remember: first the trade, then slavery.
Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus or the Bill of Rights?
Magna Carta (1215): even the king is subject to the law. Habeas Corpus (1679): every prisoner has a right to a court hearing. Bill of Rights (1689): confirmed the rights of Parliament and the limits of the monarch's power.
Remember: they come in that order, about 450 years apart at the ends.
St David's Day or St Patrick's Day?
St David's Day (Wales) is 1 March. St Patrick's Day (Northern Ireland) is 17 March.
Remember: Wales goes first in March.
The Grand National: Aintree or Ayr?
The Grand National is run at Aintree, near Liverpool. The Scottish Grand National is at Ayr.
Remember: Ayr is in Scotland.
Trafalgar or Waterloo?
Trafalgar (1805): a sea battle where Admiral Nelson was killed. Waterloo (1815): a land battle where the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon.
Remember: Nelson at sea, Wellington on land.
Cavaliers or Roundheads?
In the Civil War, the Cavaliers supported King Charles I and the Roundheads supported Parliament.
Remember: Cavaliers for the Crown.
55 BC or AD 43?
Julius Caesar's invasion in 55 BC failed. Emperor Claudius's invasion in AD 43 succeeded.
Remember: Caesar came first but did not stay.