IELTS for UKVI
IELTS for UKVI is IELTS taken at a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration, with a report the UK Home Office accepts as a Secure English Language Test. The Academic and General Training versions are the same test as standard IELTS — same content, same 0–9 bands — plus a separate IELTS Life Skills test for family and settlement routes. Here is which one each UK visa needs, and the score to aim for.
IELTS UKVI score chart by visa route
Pick your route to see the IELTS version and the typical score it asks for. Exact requirements are set per visa and can change — confirm yours on gov.uk before you book.
Which IELTS do you need for the UK?
Pick your UK route to see the test type (standard vs UKVI vs Life Skills), the CEFR level, and the score you need.
Test type
Standard IELTS Academic
CEFR level
B2–C1
Score needed
6.0–7.5 overall
Set by each university. Undergraduate is typically 6.0–6.5, postgraduate 6.5–7.0, and competitive courses (law, medicine, journalism) 7.0–7.5 — usually with no component below 6.0–6.5.
University bands are where preparation pays off most. Practise to your target with real IELTS tasks and instant, examiner-style feedback.
Start practising freeIELTS for UKVI is the same test and scoring as standard IELTS, taken at a UKVI-approved SELT centre with extra security and a unique reference number. Always verify current requirements on gov.uk before booking.
The IELTS UKVI tests
“IELTS for UKVI” is not one test — it is a family of approved tests. Which one you take depends on your visa.
IELTS Academic (UKVI)
Degree-level study at a UK university, and many pre-sessional / foundation courses.
IELTS General Training (UKVI)
Below-degree study, training, and some work or migration routes that ask for General Training.
IELTS Life Skills A1
Initial family / partner (spouse) visa. Speaking & Listening only, graded Pass/Fail.
IELTS Life Skills A2
Family-route visa extension. Speaking & Listening only, Pass/Fail.
IELTS Life Skills B1
Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and British citizenship. Speaking & Listening only, Pass/Fail.
IELTS UKVI vs standard IELTS
For Academic and General Training, the test is identical — same questions, same difficulty, same band scoring. The only differences are where you sit it and what the certificate says:
- •Test centre: UKVI must be taken at a UKVI-approved centre; standard IELTS can be taken anywhere.
- •The report: UKVI results carry a Secure-English-Language-Test reference the Home Office accepts for visas; standard IELTS does not.
- •Fee: UKVI usually costs a little more.
- •Preparation: exactly the same — everything you practise for standard IELTS applies directly to UKVI.
This page is general guidance, not immigration advice. Visa requirements change and vary by route — always confirm the current rule for your specific visa on gov.uk before booking a test.
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