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IELTS test for UK Visas and Immigration
If you are making a visa application to study or stay in the UK, you need to prepare for the IELTS test required by United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Register for your test for UKVI
IDP has test locations approved by the UK government. You can book your test at one of our IDP offices with the assistance of our friendly staff or click here to find dates and book your IELTS test online.
• Confirmation must be given at the time of registration if your test result will be used for a UK visa application.
• Not all IELTS tests results is accepted by UKVI apart from an “IELTS for UKVI” test session.
What are the changes made by United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI)?
If you are going to or staying in the UK, there is an IELTS test for your visa application.
In addition to the IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic tests, which you may already know of, a test called IELTS Life Skills has been introduced.
IELTS Life Skills test is a single test covering speaking and listening skills for people who need to prove their speaking and listening skills at levels A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
Find out more about approved IELTS tests for UKVI.
IELTS for entering bachelor degree or higher in the UK
UKVI has confirmed that these changes do not affect you if you are entering directly at degree level or higher at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the UK. Higher Education Institutions currently choose their own method of testing students’ English language ability for entry onto their courses and this will not change.
Student route – previously known as Tier 4 Student Visa (without a professional)
If you are applying for a Student route (previously known as Tier 4 route) to enter a university to study a bachelor or postgraduate degree, you must meet the English language level set by the institution. All British universities and colleges accept IELTS results. Student route applicants can apply to the UK universities listed here with an IELTS result.
Find out more information on the UK Visas and Immigration website.
What is IELTS Life Skills
IELTS Life Skills 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.
Before you register for your test you should check the English language requirements for your visa category. Please visit www.gov.uk.
Find out more information about the changes to the IELTS test for UK Visas and Immigration. Refer to the frequently asked questions to find out more information about IELTS Life Skills.
For more information, please download the IELTS Life Skills Guide for Test Takers and Agents.
How to register for IELTS Life Skills
You can also book your test at one of our IDP offices with the assistance of our friendly staff or click here to find dates and book your IELTS test online.
What’s in the test?
IELTS Life Skills is available at two levels:
• IELTS Life Skills – A1 Speaking and Listening
• IELTS Life Skills – B1 Speaking and Listening
More information about the two levels of IELTS Life Skills.
Test dates for IELTS Life Skills
We offers 2 IELTS Life Skills test sessions per month, find your best suitable test date and register here.
Results for IELTS Life Skills tests
Test results will be available within 7 days of your test.
You will get one of two results:
• Pass
• Fail
A fail result means that you have not been successful and your test cannot be used for your visa application.
Which test will you need?
As a guide, you can use the following table:
Visa description | Minimum CEFR level required | Skills | IELTS test and minimum score required overall and in each skill 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa | B1 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 7.0 overall, and in each of the four skills |
Tier 1 (General) visa | C1 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills |
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa | B1 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills |
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa | B1 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills |
Tier 2 (General) visa | B1 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills |
Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa 2 | A1 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills |
Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa | B2 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills |
Student route (General) student visa - below degree level | B1 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills |
Student route, previously known as Tier 4 (General) student visa - degree level and above and including some pre-sessional courses 3 | B2 | Reading, Writing Speaking, and Listening | IELTS - 5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills |
‘Family of a settled person’ visa | A1 | Speaking and Listening | IELTS Life Skills at A1 – Pass 4
|
Indefinite leave to remain (to settle) or citizenship 5 | B1 | Speaking and Listening | IELTS Life Skills at B1 – Pass |
Both General and Academic Training modules are accepted. The CEFR requirement for each skill must be met.
2 IELTS is accepted by UKVI at band scores 4.0 and above, equivalent to CEFR level B1.
3 Universities on UKVI’s list of Tier 4 Sponsors decide which exams to accept when a SELT is not required, and these may include IELTS taken at any of the 1000+ IELTS test locations.
4 IELTS can be used where IELTS Life Skills is used; candidates would need to get 4.0 or above in Speaking and Listening (scores for Reading and Writing will be ignored).
5 Currently, UKVI will also accept an Ofqual regulated test for this category. The test must cover Speaking and Listening at B1 level. Please note that these changes do not affect the use of IELTS by people from the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland and ‘majority English speaking countries’ as defined by the UK Home Office. More information on www.gov.uk/english-language. 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 Guidance on Applying for UK Visa – approved English language tests.