IELTS for immigration and visa application to the UK
What are the changes?
If you are travelling to or staying in the UK, there is an IELTS test for you.
In addition to the IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic tests, which you may already know, there are the IELTS Life Skills and UKVI tests.
IELTS Life Skills is aimed at candidates who need to provide evidence of language skills in speaking and listening at levels A1 and B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is a single section test which will measure two skills: speaking and listening.
Face-to-face test on Verbal Communication and Listening Comprehension
The test is presented with one examiner and one other candidate.
The IELTS Life Skills exercises are designed to reflect the everyday experience of communicating in an English-speaking country. The candidate is expected to participate in short discussions on everyday topics, such as:
- Personal information/experiences
- Shopping
- Work
- Health
- Hobbies
- Education / Training
- Transport
- Housing
- Climate
IELTS UKVI (Academic or General Training) is aimed at candidates who will be undertaking a visa process in the UK.
Available in CD IELTS and Paper Based.
For more information on immigration and UK visas, visit:
Guidance on applying for a UK visa: approved English language tests.
The IELTS Life Skills approach
At each level, the test is designed to determine whether you can listen and respond, clarify meaning and/or talk to other people.
Focus
The candidate is expected to be able to:
- Listen and respond to oral communication, including simple narratives, statements, questions and one-step instructions.
- Convey basic information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics.
- Give opinions
- give personal information
- express preferences
- comment
- Asking for information or descriptions
- Expressing agreement or disagreement
- Explaining, giving reasons or justifying
- Decide / Suggest / Choose
- Describe
Focus
In addition to the A1 tasks above, B1 tasks may include:
- Listening and responding to oral communication, including simple information and narratives and following explanations and instructions.
- Conveying information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics in an appropriate tone.
- Talking to one or more people in a familiar situation giving relevant contributions and responding to what others say in order to reach acommon understanding on familiar topics.
- Compare, contrast, explain reasons, causes and objectives.
- Prioritise / Plan / Persuade / Narrate.
- Ask about events in the past and future.
- Expressing possibility and certainty about the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (Candidates)
IELTS Test for Visas and Immigration to the UK