Which IELTS test do I need for a UK visa application?

If you are applying for a UK visa, there is an IELTS test for you. For visa applications to the UK, you may need to have an English language qualification. IELTS UKVI and IELTS Life Skills are included on both the UK Home Office’s list of Secure English Language Tests (referred to as SELT tests by UK Home Office) and the OFQUAL register. It is recommended you check all visa requirement information directly with the UK government website. To find out whether you need to take an approved test, what level you need to achieve, and which test you can use, you should contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). For more information, please visit here .

How is my IELTS test different if I take it for UK visa purposes?

UK visa applicants must ensure that they register for an ‘IELTS for UKVI’ test date at one of the UKVI locations. The IELTS test for UK visa purposes is designed to meet certain administrative requirements that are specific to UK Visas and Immigration. There are no differences in the test format or questions. The actual test taken is the same – same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on. Test Report Forms, however, will be slightly different in order to show that test takers have taken the test at an IELTS UK visa session. IELTS for the UK

What is the difference between IELTS and IELTS for UKVI?

IELTS and IELTS for UKVI are exactly the same test in terms of format, content, scoring and level of difficulty. The only difference is an IELTS for UKVI test is approved by the UK Home Office for work, study and migration purposes. If you take an IELTS for UKVI test, your test report form will be a little different to show that you have taken an IELTS for UKVI test at an approved IELTS test centre.

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 UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). You must confirm at the time of registration that you wish to use your test result for a UK visa application. You must sit the test in an ‘IELTS for UKVI’ test session, as UKVI will not accept results from other testing locations.

What does IELTS for UKVI, SELT and CEFR mean?

IELTS for UKVI, sometimes called SELT, is the same as any other IELTS test, but with additional security measures required by the UK Government. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a 6-point scale, from A1 for beginners to as high as C2 for those who have mastered a language. If you wish to migrate, study or work in the UK, you may be required to take the IELTS for UKVI test. Use the UK Government visa check list to find out whether you need to take an approved test and which level you need to achieve.

IELTS Academic for UKVI Australia

If you want to study in the UK or apply for professional registration, you might need to take an IELTS Academic for UKVI test. It is a Secure English Language test (SELT) approved by the UK home office for visa applications to the United Kingdom.

The Academic for UKVI test is the same as the Academic test in terms of content, format, scoring and the level of difficulty. However, the UKVI test is only available at test centres who meet the administrative requirements outlined by the UK Home Office. Your Test Report Form (TRF) will also look slightly different if you take a IELTS for UKVI test.

The IELTS UKVI Academic test may be what you need if you are applying for a UK student visa. Check with the UK Visas and Immigration website to find out whether you need to take an approved test, what level you need to achieve, and which test you can use.

The IELTS Academic for UKVI test will assess your English skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking in a professional setting. You can take the test in the IELTS on paper format or in the IELTS on computer format. Before you head into an IELTS on computer test, make sure you take some time to get familiar with the IELTS on computer format of the test

Listening

The Academic Listening test consists of 4 parts and takes 30 minutes. It will assess your ability to understand main ideas, detailed information, opinions, purpose and attitudes of the speakers, as well as your ability to follow the development of ideas.

Reading

The Academic Reading test is made up of 3 long texts which are taken from current books, journals, magazines and newspapers. The texts are related to topics you might face if you were to study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level or apply for professional registration in an English-speaking environment. You will have to answer 40 questions in the Academic Reading test. These questions can range from multiple choice to identifying information or a writer’s view, matching headings, features and sentence endings, as well as sentence, summary, note, table and flow-chart completions, and short-answer questions.

Writing

The IELTS Academic Writing test is made up of two tasks, Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2. The questions in the Academic Writing test are different to those in the General Training Writing test.

Speaking

The Academic Speaking test is made up of 3 parts and takes between 11 and 15 minutes. In Part 1, the examiner will ask you about yourself and general questions from common topics like work, family, studies, interests and hobbies. In part 2 of the Academic Speaking test, you will be given a card with a topic and asked to talk about it for 2 minutes. You will have one minute to prepare for your topic and a pencil and paper to draft your response. Part 3 is a two-way conversation, and the examiner will ask questions related to the topic discussed in Part 2. Our free practice materials can help support you to get the best score.

Book IELTS for the UK

IELTS for UKVI (IELTS for UKVI Academic and General, and IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 tests) are currently only available in Australia, in the following test centres:

If you need an IELTS test for UK visa applications, you can only do so at approved test centres. These UKVI-approved test centres meet the administrative requirements outlined by the UK Home Office.

Make sure you select the correct "Test Type." If you are taking the IELTS for your UK visa application, you need to take the IELTS UKVI or the IELTS Life Skills tests.

Learn more about which test is right for your UK visa application.

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