IELTS (Academic or General Training)
IELTS (Academic or General Training)
If you’re applying for Tier 1 and Tier 2 visas to the UK, this is the test for you.
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training for UKVI are designed to meet certain administrative requirements that are specified by the UK Home Office.
The actual test taken is the same as IELTS (for all other purposes), same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on.
The difference is in the customer journey on the test day. Test Report Forms will be slightly different, to show that you have taken the test at an IELTS UK visa session.
IELTS Life Skills
If you’re applying for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, extension of a ‘family of a settled person’ visa or for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship, IELTS Life Skills is the test for you.
IELTS Life Skills is a new test, approved by UKVI as a Secure English Language Test (SELT).
It’s for people who need to show they have speaking and listening skills at Level A1, A2 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Important information regarding IELTS Life Skills A2
On 18 January 2016 the government announced a new English language 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 A2 level in order to qualify for further leave to remain on the five-year partner or parent route to settlement.
The government recognises the need to give those affected sufficient time to prepare for the new test. The timing of implementation and further details will be confirmed by the Home Office in due course and published on the GOV.UKwebsite. The new A2 English language requirement will not affect those required to apply for further leave to remain in the meantime.