London minicab and Uber drivers asked bizarre questions on Mars and Northern Lights in new English test

London minicab drivers are fuming after being asked bizarre questions about life on Mars and the Northern Lights in tests to prove their English skills.

New Transport for London rules, set to start in September, will see all taxi and private hire drivers have to demonstrate their ability to write and speak English in order to gain a licence to work in the capital.

Drivers must pay £180 for a written essay and speaking test when they renew their licence if they are unable to produce evidence of GCSE-level qualifications.

But sample English papers for private hire drivers in the capital include demands for candidate to write an essay on river pollution and keeping fit.

Uber is fighting the proposals and is set to have its case heard in the High Court from Tuesday.

Hasan Yasar, 52, who hails from Turkey but has been driving minicabs in the capital for 17 years, told the Sunday Times: 'I can write, I can read, but the writing test asked me about Mars.

“I'm not a scientist. How would I know about Mars when I am doing a private hire job?”

And Uber driver Alan Skelly, 55, claimed he had been left frustrated after being asked to read a series of passages and answer questions about the aurora borealis.

He told the paper: “A lot of people are really going to struggle with this.

“Just the words aurora borealis are going to catch out a lot of people.”

Helen Chapman, TfL’s General Manager for Taxi and Private Hire said: “It is essential for public safety that all licensed drivers can communicate in English at an appropriate level.

“The ability of drivers to receive, understand and respond to written communications contributes to public safety and customer care.

“We are clear that this is crucial to a driver’s role in transporting the public.”

The exam board said candidates would be judged on their ability to communicate rather than knowledge of the subjects in the test.