The Complete Guide on UKVI IELTS Test and Why It Is Important for Your UK Visa
An English proficiency test is an integral aspect of a UK visa application. One of the most credible English tests required by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
This article discusses the UKVI IELTS test, the scores required for different visa routes, and its importance for your UK visa application.
What Is the UKVI IELTS Test?
The IELTS is one of the English proficiency tests approved by the UKVI that assesses visa applicants for listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Foreign nationals applying for an Innovator, Founder, Minister of Religion, Skilled Worker, Family, or Student Visa must take the speaking, listening, reading, and writing tests. Applicants for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and British citizenship applications only require assessment in speaking and listening.
Candidates can take the UKVI IELTS as a computer-based or paper test at a UKVI-approved testing centre in their home country.
Why is the UKVI IELTS Test Important for Your UK Visa Application?
An English proficiency test like the IELTS proves to the Home Office that your language skills can sustain daily living in the UK. Your application can get rejected if you don’t take the test or score below the required grade for your visa route.
Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) like the IELTS also notify employers that you can interact productively in a work environment, increasing your employability.
What are the Types of IELTS for UKVI Tests?
The divisions include IELTS for UKVI (Academic), IELTS for UKVI (General Training), and IELTS Life Skills.
IELTS for UKVI (Academic)
The IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test is for candidates willing to study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level in the UK. It is also suitable for those who intend to undergo professional registration.
IELTS for UKVI (General Training)
This test is for applicants wanting to study below the degree level in the UK. Applicants who intend to work or reunite with family in the UK can also take it.
IELTS (Life Skills)
The UKVI IELTS Life Skills is subdivided into A1, A2, and B1. A1 is for applicants applying for ILR as the family member of a settled person. A2 is for those applying for a Family Visa, while B1 is for anyone applying for ILR (non-family route) or British citizenship.
IELTS for UK Visa: Required Scores and Eligibility
The UKVI IELTS band score standard follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It consists of six tiers, ranked A1 to C2, with A1 being the base level and C2 the most proficient. Each of these six levels has corresponding IELTS grades, with A1 being between 0 and 2.5, A2 between 2.5 and 3.5, and it advances until C2, which is 9.0.
Each visa route has the minimum score in this grading system, and below is a tabular breakdown of major UK visa types and their required IELTS score.
What is the Format of the UKVI IELTS Test?
Here’s a breakdown of the UKVI IELTS test format:
Listening
The UKVI IELTS listening test evaluates your understanding and comprehension skills in daily interactions and organised social settings. It consists of four parts. Parts 1 and 2 assess you on daily social interactions, while parts 3 and 4 focus on educational and training situations. The test lasts 40 minutes.
Speaking
The IELTS speaking test evaluates your fluency in spoken English. Examiners interact directly with you to examine your lexical resource, pronunciation, and grammaticality. The test takes 11-14 minutes.
Reading
The reading section will test your ability to read and comprehend passages from books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and other resources. It assesses your understanding of these materials by asking you to identify information from them and even summarise the passages. The reading test takes 60 minutes for Academic and General Training.
Writing
The writing test involves two tasks of 150 and 250 words each. You’ll describe some visual information uniquely in the first test. In the second, you discuss a point of view, argument, or problem. The first test lasts 20 minutes, while the second is 40 minutes.
Who is Exempt from Taking the IELTS Test?
The following categories of people are exempt from taking the UK visa English proficiency test.
- Citizens of English-speaking countries like Australia, the USA, or New Zealand
- Applicants with a degree that is studied or researched in English
- Anyone above 65 or anyone with restricting physical and mental conditions
- Victims of domestic violence whose partner is British or has a settled status
- Anyone with humanitarian protection or refugee status
- Spouse of a deceased British citizen
- Anyone with discretionary leave in the UK
- People with exceptional circumstances.
How Much Does the IELTS Test Cost?
The Academic and General Training tests cost between £190 and £220, while Life Skills cost £155.
You should expect the results of a computer-based IELTS test three to five days after you take it, while a paper assessment might take up to 13 days. IELTS Life Skills results are usually released the first Wednesday after you write the test. You can check all results online on the IELTS website.
Conclusion
A UKVI IELTS test is mandatory to apply for a UK visa and citizenship applications. It’s essential to research the appropriate test for your visa route and strive to meet the required score for a successful visa application.
You can practice for the questions by taking practice tests online. An immigration lawyer can guide you through the test registration and preparation process and help with your visa application.
