Do I need an English test for ILR?
Most applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain need to prove their knowledge of English as part of the application. The English language test for ILR is one of two "knowledge of life in the UK" components — the other being the Life in the UK Test itself. Both are normally required, and they test very different things.
You will not need to take a separate English test for ILR if any of the following applies to you:
- You are a national of a country GOV.UK lists as a "majority English-speaking country" (full list below).
- You have a degree or higher academic qualification that was taught or researched in English, verified by UK ENIC (formerly UK NARIC).
- You are aged 65 or over on the date of application.
- You have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from taking the test, confirmed by a doctor.
- You already proved your English at the required level for an earlier UK visa (for example, on a Skilled Worker visa) and the level still meets ILR requirements.
If none of those apply, you'll need to book a SELT and pass at B1 or above before you submit your ILR application. The Home Office will refuse your settlement application if the qualification you submit is not on the approved list, so the provider you choose matters as much as the level you pass at.
What level of English do you need for ILR?
The minimum standard for the ILR English test is CEFR B1 (the third of six levels on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), assessed in speaking and listening. Reading and writing are not formally required for the settlement route — though most providers test all four skills together anyway.
B1 is described as "lower intermediate" English. In practical terms it means you can:
- understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar topics like work, family, school, and leisure;
- deal with most situations you'd meet while travelling in an English-speaking country;
- produce simple connected text on topics you know well;
- describe experiences, opinions, plans, and reasons with reasonable fluency.
B1 is the floor — you can submit a higher-level qualification (B2, C1 or C2) and it will still satisfy the ILR English test requirement. If you're planning to apply for British citizenship later, the English standard is the same B1, so a single B1 pass usually covers both stages.
Approved English test providers for ILR (the SELT list)
Only Secure English Language Tests — SELTs — from a small, named list of providers count for ILR. There are currently four approved SELT providers for UK visa and settlement applications:
- IELTS SELT Consortium — runs "IELTS for UKVI" and "IELTS Life Skills". For ILR (B1 speaking and listening), most candidates book IELTS Life Skills A1, B1 or B2, with the B1 version being the standard ILR choice.
- LanguageCert — runs "LanguageCert International ESOL SELT" and other SELT formats. A B1-level pass meets the ILR English test requirement.
- Pearson — runs "PTE Home" (the SELT designed specifically for UK visa and settlement applicants) and "PTE Academic UKVI".
- Trinity College London — runs the Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) and Integrated Skills in English (ISE) tests. For ILR, GESE Grade 5 is the typical B1 speaking-and-listening qualification.
The Home Office occasionally updates this list — providers are added and removed from time to time — so always check the live "approved English language tests" guidance on GOV.UK before you book. A pass from a school, college, or language centre that isn't a SELT (for example, a generic ESOL course, GCSE, A-level or NVQ) does not count for ILR, even if the teaching was excellent.
How much does the English test for ILR cost?
Fees vary by provider, test centre, and country. As a rough guide, expect to pay somewhere in the region of £150 to £200 for a B1 SELT in the UK at the time of writing. Some providers price slightly below that, others slightly above; tests booked overseas can cost more once local fees and travel to an approved centre are factored in.
Either way, you're paying meaningfully more than the £50 Life in the UK Test fee — and unlike the LUK Test, you can only book a SELT at a centre approved by that specific provider, not at any test venue. Before paying, check the live fee on the provider's own booking site rather than relying on figures in forums or older blog posts.
How to book the SELT English test
The booking flow is similar across all four providers:
- Pick a provider from the GOV.UK approved list.
- Go to that provider's official SELT booking website.
- Choose the test (for ILR, a B1-level speaking-and-listening test).
- Choose a test centre — providers operate UK centres and a network of overseas centres.
- Pick a date and time slot.
- Pay the fee and bring photo ID (your in-date passport) on the day.
Availability varies. In London and major UK cities you can often find a slot within a couple of weeks; smaller centres and overseas locations may have longer waits. Build a buffer into your timeline — you want the pass certificate safely in hand before you start filling in the ILR form.
English test exemptions explained
The exemptions list is worth reading carefully because being exempt saves you a meaningful amount of money and stress.
Majority English-speaking countries
Nationals of these countries do not need to take a SELT for ILR. The current GOV.UK list includes:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- The British overseas territories
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
Ireland sits in a slightly different position — Irish nationals are treated specially in immigration terms and do not normally need ILR at all. Always confirm the latest list on GOV.UK before relying on it.
Degree taught in English
If you hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree that was taught or researched in English, you don't need a SELT. The qualification must be verified by UK ENIC (formerly UK NARIC) — the official body that compares overseas qualifications to UK equivalents. You'll need:
- an academic-level statement from UK ENIC confirming the qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher;
- an English language proficiency statement (or, for UK-taught degrees, the degree certificate itself) showing the qualification was taught in English.
Age 65 or over
If you are 65 or older on the date you apply for ILR, you do not need to take either the English test or the Life in the UK Test. The exemption applies on the application date, so check your timing carefully.
Long-term physical or mental condition
If a long-term illness or disability prevents you from taking the test, you can apply for an exemption supported by a letter from a registered doctor. The bar is genuinely "long-term" — short-term illness is not enough — and the decision sits with the caseworker.
English test vs Life in the UK Test — what's the difference
The two tests cover very different ground, and most ILR applicants need to pass both.
| Feature | English test (SELT, B1) | Life in the UK Test |
|---|---|---|
| What it tests | Spoken and listening English at B1 level | Knowledge of UK history, society, and values |
| Format | Face-to-face or computer-based, with speaking | 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | B1 in speaking and listening | 18 out of 24 (75%) |
| Typical cost | ~£150-£200 | £50 |
| Where to book | Approved SELT centre (UK or overseas) | Approved Life in the UK Test centre |
| Validity | No formal expiry for settlement | No expiry once passed |
For a closer comparison of how the Life in the UK Test fits into the ILR process, see our companion piece on whether you need the Life in the UK Test for ILR.
Preparing for the SELT B1 English test
B1 is intermediate, not advanced — but it isn't a free pass either. The single biggest reason people fail the speaking and listening test is nerves, followed by underestimating how the speaking section is structured.
A realistic prep plan looks something like this:
- Two to four weeks of focused practice. Find sample questions and practice tasks on your chosen provider's website — IELTS, LanguageCert, Pearson and Trinity all publish free sample materials.
- Rehearse the speaking task out loud. The test format usually involves a short conversation with an examiner or recorded prompt. Rehearsing answers in your head is not the same as saying them.
- Listen daily. BBC Radio 4, podcasts, and UK news clips at normal pace are excellent free training. The listening section is real British speech at conversational speed.
- Don't try to sound advanced. B1 examiners are looking for clear, organised, accurate B1 — not nervous attempts at C-level vocabulary. Simple sentences delivered confidently score well.
If English is your first language but you're still nervous about the format, remember you may already be exempt — check the majority English-speaking country list and the degree-in-English route before paying for a test you don't legally need.
Frequently asked questions
Is the English test for ILR the same as the citizenship one?
Yes, in practice. The English language requirement for naturalisation as a British citizen is the same B1 SELT (speaking and listening). If you pass at B1 for ILR and apply for British citizenship later, the same certificate normally covers both.
Does my Skilled Worker English test still count for ILR?
Often yes. If your earlier UK visa required you to prove English at B1 or above using an approved SELT, that pass typically still satisfies the ILR English test requirement — so you don't need to retake. Confirm against the current GOV.UK guidance, because the rules for individual visa routes do change.
What if I fail the SELT?
You can book another SELT — there's no statutory limit on retakes. Each attempt is a new booking and a new fee, so it's worth doing focused practice before retrying rather than booking straight back in.
Do I need both the English test and the Life in the UK Test?
For most ILR applicants, yes — both are required. The English test proves you can speak and listen at B1; the Life in the UK Test proves you know enough about British history, government, and society. The only people exempt from both are those aged 65+, those with a qualifying long-term condition, and a small number of specific visa categories.
Can I take the SELT online from home?
No. All SELTs must be taken in person at an approved test centre — that's part of what makes them "secure". Online English tests, however polished, are not accepted for ILR.
How long is a SELT pass valid for ILR?
There is no fixed expiry for settlement purposes — your B1 certificate remains valid for ILR indefinitely in most cases. The Home Office can, in principle, ask for a more recent test if it has reason to doubt your current ability, so most applicants try to take the test within roughly 12 months of their planned ILR submission.
I'm not sure if I'm exempt. What should I do?
Check the live GOV.UK English language guidance, and if your situation is unusual — degree from a country whose teaching language isn't obvious, dual nationality, complex medical exemption — consider speaking to a regulated immigration adviser before paying for a test. The wrong qualification on an ILR form can mean a refused application.
Where can I check the latest list of approved SELT providers?
The official source is GOV.UK's "Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling" guidance, which links through to the current list of approved English language tests and test centres. Always cross-check there before booking — providers and centres change.