Sunny days ISA quiz

Test your ISA knowledge

Illustration of Coventry
Illustration of Coventry

ISA Quiz

Test your ISA knowledge

For a quarter of a century, the ISA has been celebrated as a critical savings tool, helping us grow our money tax-free. But do you know your stuff when it comes to ISAs? Put your knowledge to the test with our quiz!

 

Spot the correct answer among some red herrings below. Some might be more obvious than others. Keep track of your correct answers and discover if you’re an ISA expert...

1: Let’s start with a straightforward one... What is an Individual Savings Account (ISA)? 

 

a)    Somewhere to save or invest money without it being taxed

 

b)    A loan for buying a home

 

c)     A payment method

 

d)    A form of insurance

Answer

A: Somewhere to save or invest money without it being taxed. ISA products are all about helping you save by putting a protective bubble around the interest and gains you make, so they're not taxed.

2. When was the cash ISA first launched? (There’s a clue on this page somewhere!)

 

a)    1979

 

b)    2000

 

c)    1999

 

d)    1985

Answer

C: Cash ISAs were launched in 1999 to encourage people to save and invest their money, providing a tax-efficient solution to help individuals grow their wealth for their future. 

3. What did Labour MP Quentin Davis brand the ISA when it was first introduced?

 

a)    “A rip-roaring success”

 

b)    “A colossal failure”

 

c)     “A fantastic way to grow your savings”

 

d)    “A really super way to avoid giving more of your money to the taxman.”

Answer

B: The ISA was actually branded a “colossal failure” by the Labour MP Quentin Davis just months after it was first introduced by then Chancellor Gordon Brown. Since then, ISAs have become one of the most popular ways to save and invest in the UK, with the government reporting there to be just under £72 billion in adult ISAs in 2022 to 2023.1

4. Can you open an ISA as a joint account?

 

a) Yes, as long as you're married to the other account holder

 

b) Yes, if the other account holder lives in the same house

 

c) Yes, you can have up to five named account holders

 

d) No, ISAs can only be opened by one individual

Answer

D: No, ISAs can only be opened by one individual. The clue is in the question here! ISAs are Individual Savings Accounts so, unlike some other types of savings accounts, they can only be opened by one person. The good news is everyone can have their own ISA and save up to £20,000 in a cash ISA each tax year.

5. Regardless of what your perfect sunny day might look like, what's the main benefit of using a cash ISA to save for life's memorable moments? 

 

a) Every penny you save magically turns into a pound

 

b) When you open an ISA, you automatically become part of a secret society of savers

 

c) You can take advantage of tax-free savings

 

d) They give you access to first class flights for life 

Answer

C: You can take advantage of tax-free savings. The annual ISA allowance will remain at the round figure of £20,000 for the 2025/2026 tax year. Up to that amount, your hard-earned, hard-working cash is tax-free.

6. Is the annual allowance for all cash ISAs £20,000?

 

a)    Yes

 

b)    No

Answer

B: No. The annual allowance is lower for Junior ISAs at £9,000 a year, and Lifetime ISAs (LISA) where the limit is £4,000 a year (for the 2025/2026 tax year). Remember, the £4,000 LISA limit counts towards your total annual ISA allowance of £20,000.

7. When does the tax year begin and end?

 

a)    1 January to 31 December

 

b)    5 June to 8 August

 

c)     6 April to 5 April

 

d)    1 May to 31 April

Answer

C: The tax year is from 6 April to 5 April every year. Your ISA allowance resets at the beginning of each new tax year. 

8. We all know about the rainy days – when the boiler breaks, a tyre bursts or an unexpected bill lands on your doormat - but why do people save for sunny days?

 

a) Because life’s too short for just one ice cream on a beach in Mexico


 

b) To finally tick-off that dream holiday destination  


 

c) To fund that glamourous trip to catch your favourite artist in Vegas


 

d) To experience the thrill of watching your team win the World Cup

Answer

All of the above! Your cash ISA and the sunny day savings you’re building are personal to you. They’re there to help you create lasting memories – whether that’s a big holiday, celebrating with loved ones, or an incredible adventure – they’re all about the things that make life truly special.

9. How do you feel about spending your money on something that you’ve been saving for?

 

a)    I’m so happy I sing in the shower

 

b)    So excited that I show off my new purchase to my neighbours

 

c)     I feel like a legend because I have completed my saving quest

 

d)    A little bit down in the dumps because my balance is smaller

Answer

All of these answers could be right. If you chose d) you’re one of millions of savers who experience what we’ve called the Sunny Days Paradox, which highlights the emotional side of saving and enjoying spending savings. There’s pride in growing a nest egg, but also a little guilt in spending it. That's why our range of cash ISAs have a range of different features, helping you save for tomorrow while embracing the joys of today.

10. How many types of ISAs are there?

 

a)    7

 

b)    10

 

c)     4

 

d)    100

Answer

C: There are 4 types of Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs): Cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs, innovative finance ISAs and Lifetime ISAs. 

11. If you already have a cash ISA, can you transfer it to another provider?

 

a)    Absolutely not, your money is under lock and key

 

b)    Yes, of course you can

Answer

B: Yes, of course you can. You can move cash ISAs from one financial institution to another or switch your savings between different cash ISAs with the same organisation. To transfer your cash ISA, first check the terms and conditions of your existing and new cash ISA to find out what the rules are to move your money out.

At Coventry Building Society, we accept full transfers of current year's ISA deposits and full or partial transfers of previous years' ISA deposits.

12. What's the minimum amount you can put into an ISA product with Coventry Building Society?

 

a)    £1

 

b)    £1,000

 

c)     £50

 

d)    £100

Answer

A: £1. Just one pound is all you need to get your savings off the ground at Coventry Building Society. Before you know it, those pounds will build up! Take a look at our full ISA range.
Now add up how many questions you answered 'Yes' to and view your results.

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Busting common myths around cash ISAs

 

we’ve broken down some common cash ISA myths to help separate fact from fiction.

There’s no failing this quiz. The goal here is simply to refresh your knowledge of ISAs and broaden your understanding of the products that could help you save.

 

Whether you’re a seasoned ISA saver or just taking your first steps on the ISA journey, have a go at these questions and check out if you answered them correctly.

Q1: What's an Individual Savings Account (ISA)?

 

A) Somewhere to save or invest money without it being taxed

 

B) A loan for buying a home

 

C) A payment method

 

D) A form of insurance

Answer

A: Somewhere to save or invest money without it being taxed. ISA products are all about helping you save by putting a protective bubble around the interest and gains you make, so they're not taxed. 

2. Can you open an ISA as a joint account?

 

A) Yes, as long as you're married to the other account holder

 

B) Yes, if the other account holder lives in the same house

 

C) Yes, you can have up to five named account holders

 

D) No, ISAs can only be opened by one individual

Answer

D: No, ISAs can only be opened by one individual. The clue is in the question here! ISAs are Individual Savings Accounts so, unlike some other types of savings accounts, they can only be opened by one person.

3. From 6 April 2024, what age do you have to be to open an adult ISA?

 

A) 16

 

B) 17

 

C) 18

 

D) 21

Answer

C: 18. From 6 April 2024, the minimum age to open an adult ISA is when you are officially an adult at 18. Just like buying fireworks or ordering a drink, increasing your annual ISA allowance from £9,000 to £20,000 is another exciting adult milestone.

4. What’s the purpose behind the Junior ISA?

 

A) To get children into the stock market

 

B) To save for retirement

 

C) To move a child’s savings to their parent’s account

 

D) To save for a child’s future

Answer

D: To save for a child’s future. A Junior ISA helps their savings, of up to £9,000 each year, to stay safely stashed away until your child is 18, earning tax-free interest. Check out Coventry Building Society’s Junior ISA.

5. What's the adult ISA allowance for 2024/2025?

 

A) £2,000

 

B) £20,000

 

C) £10,000

 

D) There’s no limit

Answer

B: £20,000. The annual ISA allowance will remain at the round figure of £20,000 for the 2024/2025 tax year. Up to that amount, your hard-earned, hard-working cash is protected from tax.

6. Can you open both a Cash ISA and a Stocks and Shares ISA at the same time?

 

A) Yes, but you'd have to split your allowance between them

 

B) Yes, and you can have the maximum allowance in each

 

C) No, not allowed

 

D) Yes, but only with the same provider

Answer

A: Yes, but you'd have to split your total allowance between them. If you want the safety of cash savings paired with the potential of higher returns but greater risk or opportunity of the stock market, you are very much within the rules to have both types of ISA products open at the same time.

7. Wha's the minimum amount you can put into an ISA product with Coventry Building Society?

 

A) £1

 

B) £1,000

 

C) £50

 

D) £100

Answer

A: £1. Just one pound is all you need to get your savings off the ground at Coventry Building Society. Before you know it, those pounds will build up! Take a look at our full ISA range.

8. Which of the following is never a feature of the Cash ISA?

 

A) Fixed-term options

 

B) Instant access

 

C) Tax-free interest

 

D) Exposure to the stock market

Answer

D: Exposure to the stock market. Cash ISAs are all about safe and steady saving, not taking you on a rollercoaster. With one of these products, the interest rate is clear and you know what returns you can expect. 
Whether you found these questions a walk in the park or stumbled on a couple, there's always more that you can learn to be a more confident saver. Explore more informative blogs about ISAs!