Q: Which IELTS Life Skills test do I need?

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.

Q: How do I choose my IELTS Life Skills test?

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.

Question 1

What is IELTS Life Skills?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

Which IELTS Life Skills test do I need?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

How do I choose my IELTS Life Skills test?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

When can I take an IELTS Life Skills test?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

Where can I take IELTS Life Skills tests?

Accepted Answer

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

IELTS Life Skills scores explained

Learn More About IELTS Life Skills

Featured news and articles

Get your results

IELTS Life Skills scores explained

Learn More About IELTS Life Skills

Featured news and articles