IELTS Life Skills Test

ELTS Life Skills is an English Language test for those who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills at A1 or B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Before registering for the test, you should check the English requirements listed on your visa. Please view “UK Visa Application Guide: Accepted English Language Tests” for further information.

Take IELTS Life Skills Tests at IDP

Since April 2015, IELTS Life Skills has been available at IDP test centers. To find suitable test dates and register for IELTS Life Skills, please view: UKVI Exam.

IELTS Life Skills Overview

There are two levels in IELTS Life Skills:

IELTS Life Skills – Listening & Speaking A1
IELTS Life Skills – Listening & Speaking B1

Test delivery: Face-to-face Listening and Speaking

You will take the test together with another candidate in the presence of an examiner.

IELTS Life SKills is designed to assess test takers’ experiences in daily communication in English-speaking countries. You will get into short conversations about common topics in daily life:

Personal information/experiences
Family and friends
Shopping
Work
Health
Entertainment
Education/Training
Traffic
Accommodation
Weather

IELTS Life Skills Test focus

A1 and B1
Test focus	You have to: Listen and respond to spoken language, including simple narratives, statements, questions and single-step instructions Giving basic information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics Talk to another person in a familiar situation about familiar topics
Tasks	Describing Giving opinions Giving personal information Stating preferences Commenting Asking for information or descriptions Agreeing and disagreeing Explaining, giving reasons or justifying Deciding Suggesting Selecting

A1 and B1

Test focus

You have to:

Listen and respond to spoken language, including simple narratives, statements, questions and single-step instructions

Giving basic information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics

Talk to another person in a familiar situation about familiar topics

Tasks

Describing

Giving opinions

Giving personal information

Stating preferences

Commenting

Asking for information or descriptions

Agreeing and disagreeing

Explaining, giving reasons or justifying

Deciding

Suggesting

Selecting

B1
Test focus	You have to: Listen and respond to spoken language, including straightforward information and narratives, and follow straightforward explanations and instructions. Communicate information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics, using appropriate formality. Talk to one or more people in a familiar situation, making relevant points and responding to what others say to reach a shared understanding about familiar topics.
Tasks	In addition to tasks listed for A1 level above, B1 level includes: Comparing (So sánh) Showing contrast, cause, reason or purpose Prioritising Planning Persuading Narrating Asking about past or future events Expressing future certainty or possibility

Test focus

You have to:

Listen and respond to spoken language, including straightforward information and narratives, and follow straightforward explanations and instructions.

Communicate information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics, using appropriate formality.

Talk to one or more people in a familiar situation, making relevant points and responding to what others say to reach a shared understanding about familiar topics.

Tasks

In addition to tasks listed for A1 level above, B1 level includes:

Comparing (So sánh)

Showing contrast, cause, reason or purpose

Prioritising

Planning

Persuading

Narrating

Asking about past or future events

Expressing future certainty or possibility