IELTS for UKVI: Moving to the UK with IELTS

IELTS Life Skills test is for people who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Levels A1 or B1. They are accepted by the UK Visas and Migration Department for certain visa types.

It is designed to see how you can communicate and convey as well as gather information across listening and speaking only.

There are two kinds of IELTS Life Skills tests:

Life Skills A1
Life Skills B1

IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 only test your listening and speaking skills. It is designed to see how you can communicate and convey as well as gather information. You will be tested for your ability to obtain and gather information, communicate and engage in discussion.

IELTS Life Skills results are a little different. Instead of receiving a band score, you will either get a pass or fail result. A pass result means you can use your test result for your visa application.

They run between 16 and 22 minutes and are conducted with an examiner as well as a second test taker. The second test taker’s performance will not affect your test results.

It is important to use the UK Government visa check list to find out whether you need to take an approved test, what level you need to achieve, and which test you can use. You can also check the section below that applies to your visa tier. Just remember: UK Visas and Immigration rules can change, so you should always check with them before you book your test .

IELTS Life Skills A1 or Life Skills B1 - What's the difference?

IELTS Life Skills A1

Is for proving your English proficiency as part of your application to UK Visas and Immigration for visas that are for the ‘family of a settled person’.
The test duration lasts between 16-18 minutes.

IELTS Life Skills B1

Is for proving your English proficiency as part of your application to UK Visas and Immigration for ‘citizenship or indefinite leave to remain’.
The test duration can take up to 22 minutes.

Both A1 and B1 tests are designed to assess your Listening and Speaking skills.

For both the A1 and B1 tests, you will be expected to listen and respond to spoken language topics and complete certain tasks that might include describing, giving opinions, commenting or justifying your answers.
However, the B1 test will require you to think deeper and hold a more complex conversation that includes narrating, showing contrast and expressing opinions about future possibilities.

Both A1 and B1 tests will require you to take the test face-to-face with an examiner and one other candidate.

This is done so as to reflect the everyday experience of communicating with another person in an English-speaking country.
Rest assured that the second test taker’s performance will not affect your test results.

Where can I take the IELTS Life Skills in Australia?

IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 tests are currently only available in Australia, in the following test centres:

If you need an IELTS Life Skills 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.