IELTS Life Skills for the UK

IELTS Life Skills is for people who need to show their English speaking and listening skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels A1 or B1. IELTS Life Skills is designed to meet the requirements of UK Visas and Immigration for certain visa categories and other immigration purposes.

IELTS Life Skills is available at two levels:

• IELTS Life Skills A1 – This test is for UK visas and immigration for a “family of a settled person”.

• IELTS Life Skills B1 – This test is for UK visas and immigration for “indefinite leave to remain or citizenship” visa.

Both tests assess only your Speaking and Listening skills.

The focus of IELTS Life Skills

• At each level, the test is designed to assess whether you can listen and respond, make your meaning clear, and talk with other people.

Face-to-face Speaking and Listening tests

• You will take the test with an examiner, and with one other test taker. You will be expected to take part in short discussions on everyday subjects.

Test dates for IELTS Life Skills

• If you need an IELTS test for UK visa applications, you can only take them at a UKVI approved IELTS test centre.

• IDP IELTS Auckland  is the only UKVI approved test centre in New Zealand.

• Here, we offer all the approved IELTS tests for UK visa applications, including IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1.

 IELTS Life Skills A1 

• Is for proving your English proficiency as part of your application to UK Visas and Immigration for visas that are for the ‘family of a settled person’.

• The test duration lasts between 16-18 minutes.

IELTS Life Skills B1 

• Is for proving your English proficiency as part of your application to UK Visas and Immigration for ‘citizenship or indefinite leave to remain’.

• The test duration can take up to 22 minutes.

Both A1 and B1 tests are designed to assess your Listening and Speaking skills.

• For both the A1 and B1 tests, you will be expected to listen and respond to spoken language topics and complete certain tasks that might include describing, giving opinions, commenting or justifying your answers. 

• However, the B1 test will require you to think deeper and hold a more complex conversation that includes narrating, showing contrast and expressing opinions about future possibilities. 

Both A1 and B1 tests will require you to take the test face-to-face with an examiner and one other candidate.

• This is done so as to reflect the everyday experience of communicating with another person in an English-speaking country. 

• Rest assured that the second test taker’s performance will not affect your test results. 

In New Zealand, IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 tests are currently only available in the following test centre:

• IDP IELTS Auckland

Important note: If you need an IELTS Life Skills test for UK visa applications, you can only do so at approved test centres. These UKVI-approved test centres meet the administrative requirements outlined by the UK Home Office.