Got questions
about living,working andstudyingin the UK?
Theansweris IELTS

Frequently Asked Questions

UK Visas & Immigration(UKVI) has announced
important changes
to Secure English
Language Tests (SELT)
for visa purposes.

Please note
If you are studying at degree level or higher at a Higher
Education Institution (HEI), these changes will not affectyou. UKVI has confirmed that HEIs currently choose
their own method of testing students’ English language
ability and this will not change.
All British universities and colleges accept IELTS results.
This means you can apply with an IELTS result from anyof the 1,000 IELTS test locations worldwide unless yourinstitution has additional requirements*.
See www.takeielts.org for a list of test locations.
Official list of British universities and colleges with Higher
Education Institution (HEI)/Tier 4 Register of Sponsors:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-students*To find out more, visit http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ielts-uk-immigration-visa

If you are applying
for a UK visa, you need
to be aware of changes
made by UKVI.
Want to learn more? Find the answers at
www.takeielts.britishcouncil.org/choose-ielts/why-british-council

IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration

Frequently Asked Questions

Which IELTS test do I need if I am applying for a UK visa?
If you are applying for a UK visa in the UK, there is an IELTS test foryou. For visa applications to the UK, you may need to have an English
language qualification. In particular, for many categories of visa, youmust submit an English language qualification which is included on
the UK Home Office’s list of Secure English Language Tests (oftenreferred to as SELT tests). IELTS and IELTS Life Skills are on this list.
To find out whether you need to take an approved SELT test, whatlevel you need to achieve, and which test you can use, you should
visit www.takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ielts-uk-immigration-visa.
There is also a wealth of information on UKVI’s website www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approvedenglish-language-tests.
Can I use any IELTS test result for a UK visa application?
If you wish to use an IELTS test result as part of your application toUKVI – apart from some types of student visa – you may need to take an
IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills test. Please refer to the table on page
4 to find out which IELTS test you should take for each type of UK visa.

IELTS for
UK Visas andImmigration

www.takeielts.org

Both the UKVI and Life Skills tests must be taken at an IELTS test
location specifically authorised by UKVI, and must be taken under
specified conditions. You will receive an IELTS or IELTS Life Skills
Test Report Form to show that your test met these requirements.
Where can I take an IELTS or IELTS Life Skills test for a UK
visa application?
The tests are available throughout the world, in locations specified
by UKVI. These IELTS test centres will be announced shortly on
www.takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ielts-uk-immigration-visa.
When can I take an IELTS or IELTS Life Skills test for a UK
visa application?
We will be announcing dates for registration and testing shortly
on www.takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ielts-uk-immigration-visa.

IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration

Frequently Asked Questions

Visa description

CEFR level
required

SkillsIELTS test andscore required

Tier 1
General visa

C1

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 7.0 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Tier 1
Exceptional Talent visa

B1

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 4.0 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Tier 1
Entrepreneur visa

B1

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 4.0 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Tier 1
Graduate Entrepreneur visa

B1

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 4.0 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Tier 2
General visa

B1

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 4.0 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Tier 2
Sportsperson visa

A1

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 4.01 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Tier 2
Minister of Religion visa

B2

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 5.5 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Tier 4General student visa –below degree level
only when required

B1

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 4.03 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Tier 4General student visa –degree level and above
only when required

B2

Reading, Writing,Speaking and Listening

IELTS – 5.53 overall, andfor each of the four skills

Family of a settled
person visa

A1

Speaking and Listening

IELTS Life Skills at
A1 – Pass

Indefinite leave to remain(to settle) or citizenship2

B1

Speaking and Listening

IELTS Life Skills at
B1 – Pass1IELTS is accepted by UKVI at band scores 4.0 and above, equivalent to CEFR level B1.
UKVI will accept a test on the SELT list or an Ofqual regulated test for this immigration
category. The test must cover Speaking and Listening at B1 level.
3
Scores mentioned above for Tier 4 categories are the requirement of UKVI. Universities
and colleges may require a higher band score for the course that you are applying for.
Please check with them on the band score requirement for your course.
2

Please note that these changes do not affect the use of IELTS by people from the EuropeanUnion, European Economic Area, Switzerland and ‘majority English speaking countries’
as defined by the UK Home Office www.gov.uk/english-language.

How often is an IELTS or IELTS Life Skills test available?
For IELTS and IELTS Life Skills, test dates will be available within
28 days of booking your test.
How often can I re-take IELTS or IELTS Life Skills?
There are no restrictions on retaking IELTS. You can register fora test as soon as you feel you are ready to do so.
Candidates who have previously taken the IELTS Life Skills test
and have passed are not allowed to re-take the test at the same levelwithin two years, e.g. a candidate who has taken an IELTS Life Skills
A1 test and has passed cannot take another Life Skills A1 test within
two years. Similarly a candidate who has taken an IELTS Life Skills
B1 test and has passed cannot take another Life Skills B1 test within
two years.
How is my IELTS test different if I take it for UK visa purposes?
The IELTS test for UK visa purposes is designed to meet certain
administrative requirements that are only specified by UK Visasand Immigration. Test Report Forms will be slightly different, to showthat test takers have taken the test at an IELTS UK visa session.
The actual test taken is the same – same content, examiners, format,
level of difficulty, scoring and so on.
If I take an IELTS test for UK visa purposes, can I use my resultin other countries / for other purposes?
Yes. IELTS test results are accepted by more than 9,000 organisations
worldwide, including universities, colleges, governments and employers.
I’ve already taken IELTS, can I still use my result to apply to UK Visasand Immigration?
If you take IELTS on or before 5 April 2015 you should be able touse it for your application up to 5 November 2015, but you must
confirm this with UKVI. From 6 April 2015 you must take the test at
an IELTS test centre authorised to run IELTS tests for UK Visa andImmigration purposes.

IELTS Life Skills

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IELTS Life Skills and what is it for?
IELTS Life Skills is a test of Speaking and Listening, available at
CEFR Level A1 and CEFR Level B1. It is designed to meet therequirements of UK Visas and Immigration for certain visa categories.
When and where can I take an IELTS Life Skills test?
We will be announcing dates for registration and testing shortly on
www.takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ielts-uk-immigration-visa. IELTS Life
Skills tests are available throughout the world, in locations specified
by UK Visas and Immigration. The IELTS Life Skills test centres will
also be announced here shortly. To find out whether you need to takean approved test, and what level you need to achieve, please visit
www.gov.uk for more information.
What is the format of the IELTS Life Skills test?
You take the test with another test taker and one Examiner. Your own
performance on both speaking and listening will be assessed during
this one session.
Why does IELTS Life Skills only cover Speaking and Listening?
The new test has been designed to meet specific immigration
requirements for which applicants only need to demonstratespeaking and listening skills.

IELTS
Life Skills

www.takeielts.org

How long does the IELTS Life Skills test take?
IELTS Life Skills at CEFR Level A1 takes 16-18 minutes and Level B1
is 22 minutes.
Is there any break between Speaking and Listening?
No. You will be assessed on your Speaking and Listening skills
at the same time.

IELTS Life Skills

How is IELTS Life Skills assessed?
A certificated IELTS Examiner will assess your performancethroughout the Listening and Speaking test based on thefollowing criteria:
obtaining information
conveying information
speaking to communicate
engaging in discussion
How can I prepare for the IELTS Life Skills test?
Free test samples will be available shortly on
www.takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ielts-uk-immigration-visa.
How many copies of the IELTS Life Skills Test Report Form will I get?
You will receive one copy of the IELTS Life Skills Test Report Form.
How soon will I get my IELTS Life Skills results?
Test results are normally available within 7 days of your test.
How often is an IELTS or IELTS Life Skills test available?
For IELTS and IELTS Life Skills, test dates will be available within
28 days of booking your test.
How often can I re-take IELTS or IELTS Life Skills?
There are no restrictions on retaking IELTS. You can register fora test as soon as you feel you are ready to do so.
Candidates who have previously taken the IELTS Life Skills test
and have passed are not allowed to re-take the test at the samelevel within two years, e.g. a candidate who has taken an IELTSLife Skills A1 test and has passed cannot take another Life Skills
A1 test within two years. Similarly a candidate who has taken
an IELTS Life Skills B1 test and has passed cannot take anotherLife Skills B1 test within two years.
www.takeielts.org
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia
and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

Want to learn more?
Find the answers atwww.takeielts.britishcouncil.org/
ielts-uk-immigration-visa