UK visa SELT guide
IELTS UKVI — IELTS for UKVI Requirements, Practice & Visa Guide
IELTS UKVI (IELTS for UKVI) guide: UK visa SELT requirements, Academic vs General UKVI, score checkers, and free practice. Same test format as standard IELTS.
IELTS for UKVI is the Secure English Language Test (SELT) version of IELTS required for many UK visa routes. It uses the same test format as standard IELTS Academic or General Training—but must be taken at an approved SELT centre with UKVI registration. Results from standard IELTS taken outside the SELT framework are not accepted for routes that mandate UKVI.
Check your IELTS UKVI scores
Enter your latest listening, reading, writing, and speaking bands to see if you meet common UK visa SELT thresholds.
CEFR B1 — common work visa minimum
Scores appear below this threshold
Improve: listening, reading, writing, speaking (min 4.0 each band).
Which IELTS UKVI variant do you need?
Academic UKVI and General Training UKVI use different reading and writing tasks—match your visa or registration route.
IELTS Academic UKVI
For UK degree courses, NMC nursing registration, and many healthcare SELT routes when Academic is required.
IELTS General Training UKVI
For Skilled Worker, family, settlement, and work-focused UK visa routes that accept General Training.
UK visa pathway guides
UK visa requirements guideWhy score planning matters
The most expensive UKVI mistake is booking standard IELTS when your visa route requires UKVI at a SELT centre—or preparing for the wrong variant (Academic vs General). Nurses who target only the Health and Care Worker visa minimum often discover NMC registration needs IELTS Academic UKVI 7.0 with 6.5 in writing.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking standard IELTS when UKVI at a SELT centre is mandatory.
- Preparing General Training when your route requires Academic UKVI.
- Targeting visa SELT minimums when professional registration needs much higher scores.
Your prep path
- Confirm on GOV.UK whether your visa route requires SELT at an approved centre.
- Choose IELTS for UKVI Academic or General Training based on your visa and registration needs.
- Use the UK visa requirement finder to map CEFR levels to per-band IELTS targets.
- Practice with the matching Academic or General modules on EnglishTestNow—the format is identical.
- Book IELTS for UKVI only when timed mocks meet all per-skill thresholds.
- Re-check GOV.UK SELT rules within 30 days of your application.
Frequently asked questions
What is IELTS UKVI?
IELTS for UKVI is an approved Secure English Language Test for UK visa applications. The test content matches standard IELTS, but it must be taken at a SELT-approved centre.
Do I need IELTS UKVI or standard IELTS?
UK visa routes that require SELT need IELTS for UKVI. University admission alone often accepts standard IELTS Academic—check both your offer letter and visa rules.
Which IELTS UKVI variant should I book?
Skilled Worker routes often use General Training UKVI. Healthcare, professional registration, and many degree routes use Academic UKVI. Confirm before booking.
Can I practice for UKVI on EnglishTestNow?
Yes—use Academic or General section practice and mock demos. The skills tested are the same; only the booking centre and TRF differ for SELT.
What scores do I need for IELTS UKVI?
Scores depend on your visa route—commonly CEFR B1 (4.0 each band) or B2 (5.5 each band). NMC registration commonly cites 7.0 overall with 6.5 writing.
Is IELTS UKVI harder than standard IELTS?
No—the questions and scoring are the same. UKVI is not a harder test; it is the same IELTS taken at an approved SELT centre with a visa-ready TRF.
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