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Rules checked 12 October 2026

A2 English test for a spouse visa extension

To extend your partner visa after 2.5 years, you need A2 in speaking and listening, unless you already passed A2 or higher. Here are the tests that count, what they cost and how to book.

  • IELTS Life SkillsFee set by each centre
    Pass
    A2, pass
    Length
    Shown when you book
    Result
    Shown when you book
    Where
    In and outside the UK
    Book with IELTS SELT Consortium
  • PTE Home£170
    Pass
    A2, pass
    Length
    25 minutes
    Result
    Usually within 2 days
    Where
    In and outside the UK
    Book with Pearson
  • LanguageCert International ESOL SELT (speaking and listening)£160
    Pass
    A2, pass
    Length
    Shown when you book
    Result
    3 to 5 working days
    Where
    In and outside the UK
    Book with LanguageCert
  • Trinity GESE (Graded Examinations in Spoken English)£160
    Pass
    Grade 3, pass
    Length
    7 minutes
    Result
    GESE: provisional result by 9am the next day
    Where
    In the UK
    Book with Trinity College London
  • Skills for English UKVI (2 component)Fee set in each country
    Pass
    A2, pass
    Length
    Shown when you book
    Result
    Usually within 3 to 5 days
    Where
    Outside the UK
    Book with PSI Services
  • A2Speaking and listening
  • 2.5 yearsWhen you extend
  • £160 to £170UK fees
  • 7 minTrinity GESE Grade 3
Take the free speaking and listening checkCheck your visa's English rule

Who needs A2

  • If you passed A1 for your first visa, you need to pass A2 to extend.
  • If you passed A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2 for your first visa, you can use that result again, if the certificate has not been withdrawn.
  • If you were exempt for your first visa, GOV.UK says you need to pass A1.

What A2 means

At A2 you can understand sentences about everyday things, such as shopping, work and where you live, and you can take part in a simple conversation about familiar topics.

How to book

  • Choose a test from the table and book on the provider's website, in the name on your passport or eVisa.
  • Leave time before your visa ends: GOV.UK says you should be able to sit within 28 days of booking.
  • Put the reference number from your result on your extension application.

Planning ahead

Settling after 5 years needs B1 in speaking and listening before 26 March 2027 and B2 on or after it. If you take B1 now instead of A2, you can use it again to settle before that date.

Questions

Do I need A2 English to extend my spouse visa?

Yes, unless you passed A2 or higher for your first visa or you are exempt. Exemptions include being over 65 and being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Can I take B1 instead of A2 for my extension?

Yes. A2 is the minimum. A B1 pass can be used again to settle before 26 March 2027, if the test is still approved.

How much is the A2 test?

In the UK, on the providers' sites on 12 October 2026: Trinity GESE Grade 3 £160, LanguageCert A2 speaking and listening £160, PTE Home A2 £170. IELTS Life Skills prices are set by each centre.

On GOV.UK

Want more practice before your A2 test?

Our practice is set at B1, a step above A2, so the A2 test feels easier after it. It is optional: you only need to pass A2. Try the free check first to see where you are.

  1. ListeningTwo recordings, 10 questions, marked with reasons
  2. SpeakingA two-minute task and three questions, read for feedback
  3. TestsFour, each with new recordings and a new task

Try the free speaking and listening check first

B1 Visa English

£29 once. No VAT is charged.

Four B1 speaking and listening practice tests, marked against our B1 line, for 12 months.

  • Four B1 practice tests: two recordings and ten questions each
  • Every answer marked, with the reason and the transcript
  • A speaking task in each test, read against the band descriptors
  • Your first sitting of each test saved, so you can see your progress

Access for 12 months, until 13 October 2027. Sit all four B1 practice tests, the last at least four weeks after the first. If your last test is below our B1 line and no higher than your first, we refund the £29 in full. Or ask for a full refund within 14 days of paying, for any reason.

By paying you agree to our Terms and get access straight away, which ends your 14-day cancellation right. Your full refund within 14 days, for any reason, still applies.