What is IELTS Life Skills?

IELTS offers a special test for the UK, called IELTS Life Skills . IELTS Life Skills tests your Speaking and Listening proficiency against 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.

Which IELTS Life Skills test do I need?

IELTS Life Skills A1 – if you are applying to UK Visas and Immigration for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa. IELTS Life Skills B1 – if you are applying to UK Visas and Immigration for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship .

How do I choose my IELTS Life Skills test?

IELTS Life Skills A1 If you need to 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 B1 If you need to prove your English speaking and listening skills as part of your application to UK Visas and Immigration for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship.

Should I take an IELTS Life Skills test?

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.

Where can I take IELTS Life Skills tests in Australia?

The IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 tests are available in Australia, only in the following test centres: IDP IELTS Melbourne IDP IELTS Sydney Important note: 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' or 'IELTS Life Skills' test session.

IELTS Life Skills scores and what they mean

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 speaking and listening 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.