Does it matter how the 450 days are spread out?

[Jordan King]

Hello.
I am studying in the UK on an ancestral visa and intend to apply for citizenship once I've lived in the country for long enough.
https://www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen
This website says that I can't have been outside of the country for more than 450 days throughout the five years and that I can't have been outside of the country for more than 90 days in the last 12 months.

I have two questions:
1. Does it matter how those 450 days are spread out? I.e. if it's 100 days one year, 90 days another year, 150 days another year and so on?
Or does it have to be spread out as 90 days a year?

2. Do the years that are taken into consideration count from the date that I entered the country or are they five calendar years (I.e. five January to December years)?

Any information would be appreciated.

[CR001]

1. Does it matter how those 450 days are spread out? I.e. if it's 100 days one year, 90 days another year, 150 days another year and so on?
Or does it have to be spread out as 90 days a year?

No it does not matter how it is spread out.

2. Do the years that are taken into consideration count from the date that I entered the country or are they five calendar years (I.e. five January to December years)?

For citizenship, it is the 5 years immediately preceding date of application that is counted as the qualifying residence, i.e. NOT calendar years. But as you need 5 years residence before you can apply for ILR, it works out to 6 years residence before you can apply for citizenship (unless you are married to a British spouse).