UK visa English requirement checker
What IELTS score do I need for a UK Student visa? Degree level or above needs B2 (IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each skill, unless your university assesses your English itself).
B2 with IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training)
5.5 in each skill
GOV.UK asks for CEFR B2 on this route.
Your result
B2 with IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training): 5.5 in each skill. GOV.UK asks for CEFR B2 on this route. On IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training) that means 5.5 in each skill. Add your scores to check them.
Results count for
2 years
- Listening–needs 5.5
- Reading–needs 5.5
- Writing–needs 5.5
- Speaking–needs 5.5
- Your score
- B2 minimum
- Approved SELT, approved centre Only tests on the Home Office list count, such as IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI, taken at an approved centre.
- Valid for 2 years Test results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded.
- Other ways to prove English A UK degree, a degree taught in English (checked by Ecctis), some UK school qualifications, or English proved in an earlier successful visa application may count instead, depending on the route.
- Nationals who do not need to prove it 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.
- One Skill Retake IELTS says UKVI accepts IELTS One Skill Retake for IELTS Academic and General Training tests on computer in selected locations.
Work on the skill that holds you back
Questions people ask
What IELTS score do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?
Skilled Worker asks for CEFR B2. On IELTS for UKVI that is at least 5.5 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
What IELTS score do I need for a UK Student visa?
Degree level or above needs B2 (IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each skill, unless your university assesses your English itself). Below degree level needs B1 (4.0 in each skill).
What PTE score is B2 for UKVI?
PTE Academic UKVI needs at least 59 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking for B2, and 43 in each for B1.
How long is a SELT valid for?
GOV.UK says SELT results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded.
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How we work this out
What it does
Pick your visa route to see the English level and the IELTS for UKVI, PTE or LanguageCert score you need, then check your own scores.
Student, Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Scale-up, High Potential Individual, Innovator Founder and family visas, and three scored approved tests: IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI and LanguageCert Academic SELT.
Method
- The CEFR level for each route comes from its own GOV.UK 'knowledge of English' page.
- The minimum in each skill for that level comes from the Home Office's list of approved Secure English Language Tests (SELTs), transcribed by script.
- Your four scores must each reach the minimum. We also show the highest level all four reach.
- A1 and A2 family routes use pass-or-fail speaking and listening tests, so we list those tests instead.
Published figures
Levels by route and scores by level
| Route | Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa, degree level or above | B2 | Your university (a Higher Education Provider) can assess your English itself and may ask for a different test, still equivalent to B2. |
| Student visa, below degree level | B1 | |
| Skilled Worker visa | B2 | If you had this visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it, you need B1 and do not need to prove it again. |
| Health and Care Worker visa | B2 | If you had this visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it, you need B1 and do not need to prove it again. |
| Scale-up Worker visa | B2 | If you had this visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending it, you only need B1 and do not need to prove it again. |
| High Potential Individual visa | B2 | |
| Innovator Founder visa | B2 | |
| Family visa (partner or parent), first application | A1 | Speaking and listening only. A pass at B1 or higher can be used again when you apply for settlement after 5 years. |
| Family visa, staying after 2.5 years (passed A1 first) | A2 | If you passed A2 or higher for your first visa, you can reuse that result if the certificate has not been withdrawn. |
| Test | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training) | 4 | 5.5 | 7 | 8.5 |
| PTE Academic UKVI | 43 | 59 | 76 | 85 |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT | 40 | 60 | 75 | 90 |
Sources
Checked .
- UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK): Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT), Approved providers; results valid for 2 years (2026)
- UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK): List of approved secure English language tests taken outside the UK (ODS), Minimum grade required by CEFR level; the in-UK list has the same scored tests
- GOV.UK: Student visa: knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa: knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa: knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: Scale-up Worker visa: knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: High Potential Individual visa: knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: Innovator Founder visa: knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: Family visas: knowledge of English