Need to retake one skill? IELTS One Skill Retake is here.
IELTS Life Skills scores
IELTS Life Skills test is for people needing to prove their English speaking and listening skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Levels A1, A2 or B1. You can use your Life Skills results to apply for certain visa types to the UK.
In the Life Skills test, you will only be assessed for your listening and speaking skills. A trained and qualified IELTS examiner will assess your English-language proficiency across these two skills. In the IELTS Life Skills, examiners will mark you on your ability to obtain and convey information, speak to communicate and engage in discussion. Unlike IELTS General Training or Academic where you get a band score, in the Life Skills test your results will simply be given as a pass or fail.
Results for IELTS Life Skills tests
Test results are normally available within seven days of your test. You will get one of two results:
| IELTS Life Skills Result | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Pass | Your can use your test for a UK visa application |
| Fail | Your test cannot be used for your UK visa application |
IELTS Life Skills FAQ
IELTS offers a special test for the UK, called IELTS Life Skills. IELTS Life Skills tests your Speaking and Listening proficiency again a common European standard, the CEFR Levels A1, A2 and B1. IELTS Life Skills is designed to meet the requirements of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for certain visa categories and other immigration purposes.
Book IELTS for UKVI
If you are applying to UK Visas and Immigration for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, choose IELTS Life Skills A1.
If you are applying to UK Visas and Immigration for a 'family of a settled person' extension visa, choose IELTS Life Skills A2.
If you are applying to UK Visas and Immigration for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship, choose IELTS Life Skills B1.
- In January 2016, the UK government announced its intention to introduce the A2 English requirement for family route migrants seeking to extend their stay in the UK. After two-and-a half-years in the UK, non-EEA national partners and parents on the family route will need to pass a speaking and listening test at level A2 in order to qualify, for further leave to remain on the five-year partner or parent route to settlement. Information on when this requirement will be introduced and further details will be confirmed in due course and published on the GOV.UK website. Please note that the new A2 English language requirement will not affect those required to apply for further leave to remain in the meantime.
IELTS Life Skills A1
Prove your English speaking and listening skills as part of your application to UK Visas and Immigration for further leave to remain.
IELTS Life Skills A2
Prove your English speaking and listening skills as part of your application to UK Visas and Immigration for further leave to remain (extension visa).
IELTS Life Skills B1
Prove your English speaking and listening skills as part of your application to UK Visas and Immigration for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship.
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.
IELTS Life Skills tests are available throughout the world, in locations specified by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The UKVI will not accept results from other testing locations. You must confirm at the time of registration that you wish to use your test result for a UK visa application, and make sure that you sit the test in an 'IELTS for UKVI' test session.
Book IELTS for UKVI
Learn More About IELTS Life Skills
Featured news and articles
IELTS tests
