IELTS for a UK visa: Pass the IELTS test with these essential tips!
Visa information for UK
The United Kingdom is one of the preferred destinations for those wishing to study or work abroad. Numerous people from all over the world enter the UK each year to work or study at one of its world-renowned universities. If you are originally from a non-English speaking country and you are applying for a visa to the UK, you will need to meet the English language requirements by taking one of the tests listed in the Secure English Language Tests (SELT)
determined by the UK Home Office. The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is one of the most widely accepted tests for obtaining a British visa. Read this article and find all the information you need for the IELTS visa. Prepare for the IELTS in London before applying for a UK visa.
What is the IELTS test?
The IELTS for UKVI is exactly similar to the IELTS test, except that it is a Secure English Language Test (SELT) approved by the UK Home Office for UK visa applications. This means that students who are planning to study or emigrate to the UK can take the IELTS UKVI to obtain their student visa. When taking the IELTS UKVI instead of the IELTS test, the difference will be in the Test Report Form, which will indicate that the student has taken the test at an authorized IELTS for UKVI center. The IELTS for UKVI test is applicable to all levels of qualification in the UK. Therefore, a student applying for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral courses in the country must take them. You can take the IELTS for UKVI test, as an alternative to the IELTS Academic. However, unlike IELTS Academic, if a student does not meet the minimum score requirements, IELTS for UKVI allows students the flexibility to take a pre-sessional English course if they do not meet the minimum requirement of a course required by the University.
Is IELTS required for the UK?
The question of whether it is compulsory to take the IELTS test when applying for a UK student visa is often raised. In some cases, it is possible to study in the UK without IELTS. Although the most advisable is to take an IELTS UK visa, with this you can be sure that you have all the knowledge to face your daily and/or university life.
Is IELTS accepted for the UK visa?
There are four ways to demonstrate that the English requirement is met. These are:
- being a national of a majority English-speaking country; or
- passing an English language test as detailed in this guide; or
- hold a degree that has been taught in English and is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher; or
- have demonstrated that they meet the requirement in a previous application.
Therefore, the IELTS is accepted for the UK visa.
What IELTS score is required for the UK visa?
The required IELTS scores for each of the visa routes are:
| UK immigration route | Required IELTS score |
| Innovator Visa | 5.5 |
| Start-up Visa | 5.5 |
| Skilled Worker Visa | 4.0 |
| Minister of Religion Visa | 5.5 |
| Student Visa | 5.5 |
| Sportsperson Visa | 4.0 |
| Representative of an Overseas Business | 4.0 |
| Family Visa (spouse/ (unmarried)/ partner) | 4.0 |
| Family Visa extension | Depends on the first test |
| Parent Visa | 4.0 |
| Indefinite leave to remain | 4.0 |
| British citizenship | 4.0 |
How long is the IELTS valid for the UK?
As the IELTS is taken in both online and offline modes, the announcement of results is made on different dates. In the case of the online mode, the results are published within 5 to 7 days, while in the offline mode the results take 13 days from the date of the exam.
The validity period of the IELTS is two years from the date of the announcement of the results.
The IELTS score will be considered invalid after two years of the result.
Where can IELTS tests be passed?
As mentioned above, you can take the IELTS test both online and offline. In London there are many institutions qualified to conduct the exam. IELTS has more than 800 test centers around the world, so it will not be a problem to find a test center.
The British Council is present in more than 15 cities throughout Spain, but there is also the possibility of taking the course in certified cities. In this case, the English school in London offers the opportunity to do it in any of its centers. You will have native teachers capable of orienting and guiding you throughout the learning and evaluation process.
Finding an institution that supports and accompanies you throughout the evaluation process is of utmost importance, since, as we have seen. The evaluation can be very intense and sometimes doubts or insecurities may arise.
