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IELTS Life Skills is for people who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Levels A1, A2 or B1. They are accepted by the UK Visas and Migration Department for certain visa types.
It is designed to see how you can communicate and convey as well as gather information across listening and speaking only.
IELTS Life Skills A1, A2 and B1 only test your listening and speaking skills. It is designed to see how you can communicate and convey as well as gather information. You will be tested for your ability to obtain and gather information, communicate and engage in discussion. The second test taker’s performance will not affect your test results.
IELTS Life Skills results are a little different. Instead of receiving a band score, you will either get a pass or fail result. A pass result means you can use your test result for your visa application.
They run between 16 and 22 minutes and are conducted with an examiner as well as a second test taker.
Ask IELTS
In the IELTS Life Skills test, your results are given as a pass or fail mark.
There is no pass or fail in IELTS Academic or General Training test. Scores are graded on the 9-band system. Each educational institution or organisation sets its own level of IELTS scores to meet its individual requirements.
IELTS for UKVI, sometimes called SELT, is the same as any other IELTS test, but with additional security measures required by the UK Government.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a 6-point scale, from A1 for beginners to as high as C2 for those who have mastered a language.
If you wish to migrate, study or work in the UK, you may be required to take the IELTS for UKVI test. Use the UK Government visa check list to find out whether you need to take an approved test and which level you need to achieve.
If you take IELTS on computer, your Test Report Form (TRF) will be posted 3 to 5 days after your test date. If you take IELTS on paper, your Test Report Form will be available 13 calendar days after your test date.
You will only receive one copy of your Test Report Form, unless you are applying to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), or United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) – in this case, you can receive two. Some test centres provide SMS alerts and you can preview your results online. Contact your local test centre to find out more.
Learn More
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IELTS for UKVI: Moving to the UK
IELTS Speaking: AI vs face-to-face speaking with an examiner
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