IELTS for UKVI Life Skills

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.