ENGLISH LANGUAGE PREPARATION

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Compare recognised tests and follow official guidance. Acceptance always depends on the institution, programme and route.

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British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment

IELTS Academic

Academic English assessment for higher education entry.

Skills assessed: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
Score scale: 0–9; whole and half bands
Test format: 2 hours 45 minutes. Computer delivery; IELTS announced withdrawal of paper-based tests from mid-2026 with timelines varying by market. IELTS Online is a separate delivery option in selected countries.
University acceptance: Check the chosen university and programme, including whether online results and One Skill Retake are accepted.
UKVI SELT status: Standard IELTS Academic is not the UKVI SELT variant.
Result validity: Recommended two-year period; receiving institutions set their acceptance policy.

IELTS SELT Consortium

IELTS Academic for UKVI

The academic IELTS variant for applications requiring a Secure English Language Test.

Skills assessed: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
Score scale: 0–9; whole and half bands
Test format: Take the approved UKVI version at an approved test location. IELTS states its UKVI SELT will be fully digital under the 2026 delivery changes.
University acceptance: Confirm the required test version with the university or sponsor before booking.
UKVI SELT status: Approved variant when taken under the current SELT arrangements.
Result validity: For a new SELT-based visa application, the result normally must have been awarded within the previous two years.

ETS

TOEFL iBT

Academic English assessment with updated scoring introduced on 21 January 2026.

Skills assessed: Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing
Score scale: 1–6 in 0.5 increments for sections and overall. A comparable overall 0–120 score is also shown during a two-year transition after January 2026.
Test format: Internet-based assessment; confirm the delivery version accepted by the receiving institution.
University acceptance: Institutions set their own overall, section and delivery-format requirements. Do not treat historical thresholds as automatically converted.
UKVI SELT status: Not listed as a UKVI-approved SELT; institutional acceptance is a separate matter.
Result validity: Two years from the test date.

Pearson

PTE Academic

Computer-based academic English assessment.

Skills assessed: Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening
Score scale: 10–90
Test format: Computer-based at a test centre; Speaking & Writing, Reading and Listening sections.
University acceptance: Check the specific university, programme and intake requirements.
UKVI SELT status: Standard PTE Academic is not the UKVI SELT variant.
Result validity: Confirm the institution's result-age requirement; UKVI version results are valid for two years.

Pearson

PTE Academic UKVI

Four-skill SELT with a Unique Reference Number for UK visa applications.

Skills assessed: Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening
Score scale: 10–90
Test format: Computer-based at an authorised test centre; cannot be taken at home. Content and scoring are the same as PTE Academic.
University acceptance: Confirm academic entry scores separately from visa evidence requirements.
UKVI SELT status: Approved UKVI SELT variant.
Result validity: Two years from the test date.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Cambridge C1 Advanced

Cambridge English qualification targeted at CEFR C1.

Skills assessed: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Use of English
Score scale: Cambridge English Scale: certificate results 160–210; lower reportable scores 142–159 do not receive a certificate.
Test format: Digital and paper-based formats; confirm local centre availability.
University acceptance: Universities set their own overall and skill requirements.
UKVI SELT status: Not listed as a UKVI-approved SELT.
Result validity: Certificate does not expire; each institution may impose a result-age limit.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Cambridge C2 Proficiency

Cambridge English qualification targeted at CEFR C2.

Skills assessed: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Use of English
Score scale: Cambridge English Scale: certificate results 180–230; lower reportable scores 162–179 do not receive a certificate.
Test format: Confirm available delivery format and dates with an authorised exam centre.
University acceptance: Acceptance and score requirements depend on the university and programme.
UKVI SELT status: Not listed as a UKVI-approved SELT.
Result validity: Certificate does not expire; each institution may impose a result-age limit.

Duolingo

Duolingo English Test

Online adaptive English assessment.

Skills assessed: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking
Score scale: 10–160 in 5-point increments
Test format: Taken online from home; approximately one hour. Follow current equipment and proctoring rules.
University acceptance: Check the exact university, programme and intake; acceptance is not universal.
UKVI SELT status: Not listed as a UKVI-approved SELT.
Result validity: Two years.

LANGUAGECERT

LANGUAGECERT Academic

Academic English assessment reported against the LANGUAGECERT Global Scale.

Skills assessed: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
Score scale: 0–100, individual skills and overall
Test format: Confirm the exact delivery version when booking; approved SELT centres use computer-based delivery.
University acceptance: Institution- and programme-specific. Academic and Academic SELT must be distinguished.
UKVI SELT status: Only the explicitly approved Academic SELT version meets SELT arrangements; do not label all LANGUAGECERT tests as SELTs.
Result validity: Institutional acceptance period requires confirmation; SELT evidence uses the applicable two-year rule.

LANGUAGECERT

LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT & General SELT

Current four-skill SELT variants. These replaced the International ESOL SELT four-skills test from 6 July 2025.

Skills assessed: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
Score scale: LANGUAGECERT Global Scale 0–100
Test format: Computer-based at a UKVI-approved test centre.
University acceptance: Choose the test required by the university or sponsor; General SELT is not automatically an academic admission substitute.
UKVI SELT status: Approved variants, subject to current test and centre lists. Two-skill ESOL SELT is a different product.
Result validity: Two years for SELT purposes; older ESOL four-skill results retain their own two-year validity.

Trinity College London

Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) SELT

Four-skill assessment at ISE I (B1), ISE II (B2) and ISE III (C1) for relevant SELT purposes.

Skills assessed: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening
Score scale: Level-based qualification; use the applicable ISE grading specification.
Test format: Reading & Writing and Speaking & Listening modules at an approved Trinity SELT centre in the UK.
University acceptance: Check the institution's ISE level and module requirements. GESE speaking/listening alone is not the four-skill Student-route test.
UKVI SELT status: Approved SELT delivery in the UK. ISE taken outside the UK is a non-SELT qualification.
Result validity: For SELT evidence, apply the current two-year rule; institutional acceptance must be checked.

PSI Services (UK) Ltd

Skills for English UKVI

Level-based English assessment offered through approved centres outside the UK.

Skills assessed: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening
Score scale: CEFR level-based; select the required four-skill test. Detailed grading must be confirmed from the booked test specification.
Test format: Entirely computer-based in one session at an approved centre outside the UK.
University acceptance: Check the chosen institution and exact level. Two-skill options serve other purposes.
UKVI SELT status: Approved UKVI SELT; the approved outside-UK location rule applies.
Result validity: Up to two years from issue of results, per provider.

Oxford University Press

Oxford Test of English

A modular English proficiency test from Oxford University Press. This entry covers the standard Oxford Test of English; Advanced is a separate assessment.

Skills assessed: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking
Score scale: Standard test: A2 (51–80), B1 (81–110), B2 (111–140). Check the separate Advanced test if a higher CEFR level is required.
Test format: Computer-based, delivered at approved test centres; approximately two hours for all four modules.
University acceptance: Confirm directly with the receiving university; no institution-specific acceptance has been verified in this migration.
UKVI SELT status: Not listed in the current GOV.UK approved SELT provider list.
Result validity: Results do not expire, but receiving institutions can set their own recency requirements.

Password English Language Testing Ltd

Password Skills Plus

Institution-oriented English assessment with secure at-home delivery.

Skills assessed: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking
Score scale: Password scores and CEFR levels; numeric scale requires confirmation from the current test specification.
Test format: Secure at-home assessment; follow the current provider handbook and institution instructions.
University acceptance: Confirm the exact receiving institution and test version before booking.
UKVI SELT status: Not listed as a UKVI-approved SELT.
Result validity: Institutions decide the acceptance period; provider says two years is usual.

Admission and visa requirements can change. Verify the accepted assessment, version, test centre and scores with the institution and official authority before booking.

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Find the right English assessment.

IELTS Academic

IELTS Academic for UKVI

TOEFL iBT

PTE Academic

PTE Academic UKVI

Cambridge C1 Advanced

Cambridge C2 Proficiency

Duolingo English Test

LANGUAGECERT Academic

LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT & General SELT

Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) SELT

Skills for English UKVI

Oxford Test of English

Password Skills Plus

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