IELTS Life Skills
What is IELTS Life Skills? What is it for?
IELTS for UKVI Life Skills is a test for those who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills to acquire a UK VISA, and is available at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels A1 and B1.
Meeting UKVI Requirements for Visa and Immigration
• IELTS for UKVI Life Skills A1: If you are applying for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa
• IELTS for UKVI Life Skills B1: If you are applying for a ‘indefinite leave to remain or citizenship’ visa
There is no restriction on how many times you take the IELTS for UKVI Life Skills test, however, if you pass the test once, you will not be able to re-take it at the same level for a duration of two years.
Availability of IELTS for UKVI Life Skills test
IELTS for UKVI Life Skills tests are available throughout the world, in locations specified by UKVI. The UKVI does not accept results from other testing locations. You must confirm at the time of registration that you wish to use your test result for a UK visa application, and make sure that you sit the test in an ‘IELTS for UKVI’ test session.
Format of the IELTS Life Skills test
The IELTS for UKVI Life Skills test is designed to meet specific immigration requirements for which applicants only need to demonstrate Speaking and Listening skills. You’ll be assessed on your everyday communication in an English speaking country, the topics may include:
• Personal experiences
• Friends and family
• Buying good
• Education, work or training
• Weather, leisure or trave
• Transport, housing, health, and more
A Clear Guide to Understanding the Focus and Key Components of the Listening and Speaking Tests
A1 | B1 | |
Test focus | listen and respond to spoken language, including simple narratives, statements, questions and single-step instructions basic information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics talk with another person in a familiar situation about familiar topics | listen and respond to spoken language, including straightforward information and narratives, and follow straightforward explanations and instructions. communicate information, feelings and opinions on familiar topics, using appropriate formality. talk with one or more people in a familiar situation, making relevant points and responding to what others say to reach a shared understanding about familiar topics. |
Tasks | Tasks may include: Describing Giving opinions Giving personal information Stating preferences Commenting Asking for information or descriptions Agreeing and disagreeing Explaining, giving reasons or justifying Deciding Suggesting Selecting | In addition to the A1 tasks shown on the left, the B1 tasks may include: Comparing Showing contrast, cause, reason or purpose Prioritising Planing Persuading Narrating Asking about past or future events Expressing future certainty or possibility |
You take the test with another test taker and one examiner. Your own performance on both Speaking and Listening is assessed during this one session.
S. No. | Test type | Test duration |
1 | IELTS for UKVI Life Skills CEFR Level A1 | 16–18 minutes |
2 | IELTS for UKVI Life Skills CEFR Level B1 | 22 minutes |
There is no break between speaking and listening components as you are assessed on both skills at the same time.
IELTS for UKVI Life Skills assessment criteria
A certified IELTS examiner assesses your performance throughout the Speaking and Listening test based on:
• Obtaining information
• Conveying information
• Speaking to communicate
• Engaging in discussion
Remember to give your best shot as the performance of the other test taker paired with you in the IELTS for UKVI Life Skills test does not affect the assessment of your own performance.
Test results within a week
You can get your IELTS for UKVI Life Skills result within seven days of your attempt. Your TRF is sent to the postal address you mention at the time of filling up your registration form.