Language Testing for UK Visas and Immigration
- Oliver Lui
- May 1, 2015
- 2 min read
Going to the UK to study, work or live and needing evidence of English language proficiency? IELTS is the answer to all of these needs - IELTS is now the one and only test that is recognised and listed for all categories of UK visas and immigration. IELTS has this singular status because it accurately assesses how candidates use the four skills needed for all the different contexts in an English speaking world.
The UK government has recently introduced new requirements for secure English language testing for visa and immigration purposes. The rules are summarised below:
From 6 April 2015, students outside the UK must take an IELTS (Academic) test at a test centre operated by the IELTS SELT Consortium. If you take an IELTS test at any other test centre, it will not be accepted.
International students inside the UK can take an IELTS SELT Consortium test or one of the tests offered by Trinity College London: Integrated Skills in English Test or Graded Examinations in Spoken English. Trinity operates a small number of approved test centres at cities in the UK, including London, Birmingham and Manchester.
IELTS, Cambridge English Exams and Pearson PTE tests taken on or before 5 April 2015 can be used to apply for a student visa up until 5 November 2015. Cambridge English Exams and Pearson PTE are no longer approved after this date. If you have an IELTS test certificate dated before 6 April 2015, and you want to apply for a student visa after 5 November 2015, you will need a new IELTS SELT Consortium test.
The TOEFL Test is not accepted, regardless of when or where the test was taken.
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