B2 scores
| Test | B2 needs | Where |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI IELTS SELT Consortium | 5.5 in each skill | In and outside the UK |
| PTE Academic UKVI Pearson | 59 in each skill | In and outside the UK |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT LanguageCert | 60 in each skill | In and outside the UK |
| LanguageCert General SELT LanguageCert | 60 in each skill | In and outside the UK |
| Trinity ISE (Integrated Skills in English) Trinity College London | ISE II, pass | In the UK |
| Skills for English UKVI (4 component) PSI Services | B2, pass | Outside the UK |
B1 scores
| Test | B1 needs | Where |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS for UKVI IELTS SELT Consortium | 4 in each skill | In and outside the UK |
| PTE Academic UKVI Pearson | 43 in each skill | In and outside the UK |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT LanguageCert | 40 in each skill | In and outside the UK |
| LanguageCert General SELT LanguageCert | 40 in each skill | In and outside the UK |
| Trinity ISE (Integrated Skills in English) Trinity College London | ISE I, pass | In the UK |
| Skills for English UKVI (4 component) PSI Services | B1, pass | Outside the UK |
B1 is still the level for Student visas below degree level, for Skilled Workers extending a visa they had before 8 January 2026, and for settlement applications made before 26 March 2027.
Rules for every test
- Book the SELT version: IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills, LanguageCert Academic, General or International ESOL SELT, PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Home, Skills for English UKVI, or Trinity's Secure English Language Tests for UKVI.
- Take it at an approved test centre. Trinity is in the UK only; PSI's Skills for English is outside the UK only.
- Results count for two years from the date they are awarded.
- Where skills are tested together, every skill the visa needs must reach the level in the same test.
- LanguageCert's four-skill ESOL SELT was replaced on 6 July 2025 by the Academic and General SELT. Results already held still count for two years.
Questions
Is IELTS 5.5 B2?
For UK visas, IELTS for UKVI at 5.5 in each skill is B2 on the Home Office list. 7.0 in each skill is C1.
What PTE score do I need for B2?
PTE Academic UKVI: 59 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. 43 in each is B1.
What LanguageCert score is B2?
LanguageCert Academic SELT or General SELT: 60 in each skill. 40 is B1 and 75 is C1.
Can I use standard IELTS Academic for a UK visa?
No. GOV.UK says to book the test approved as a SELT: IELTS for UKVI, or IELTS Life Skills for speaking and listening only.
Is there a B2 test in speaking and listening only?
Not on today's approved list. Two-skill tests go up to B1; every B2 test examines all four skills.