It is important to note: – For any type mentioned in the list to be considered and subsequently issued, the minimum required English level is B2 (Upper Intermediate) in all 4 skills. Additionally, online SELT, IELTS or PTE exams taken at home are not acceptable for UKVI visa applications. Exam must be taken at an authorised examination centre.

Exam Format

The exam is divided in 2 separate tests, which can be taken in succession or at separate days or times.

Paper 1: Listening, Reading & Writing

Listening Sections: (Total time: 65 minutes)

Part 1 (discussion):

This section has 7 multiple choice question, with each question containing 3 options to choose from. In this section, there are 7 unfinished 1 formal and 6 informal conversations which need to be finished by selecting one of the 3 option choice selection. The recording is played 2 times.

Part 2 (3 conversations):

This section has 6 multiple choice questions, with each question containing 3 options to choose from. In this section, there are 3 conversations, containing 2 speakers, which need to be finished by selecting one of the 3 option choice selection. The recording is played 2 times. The student needs to identify topic, purpose, context, speakers, gist, relationship between speakers, roles, functions, attitudes, feeling and opinions.

Part 3 (narration / broadcast):

In this section there are 7 questions, whereby the student needs to identify specific information and write down answers ranging from 1 to 5 words. The audio narration or broadcast is played 2 times.

Part 4 (discussion):

In this section there are 6 questions, each with 3 options to choose from. Here the students need to identify the key idea (gist) which include (but not limited to): examples, fact, opinion, contrast, purpose, key ideas, attitude, cause, and effect. The discussion is played 2 times.

Reading Sections (Total time: 75 minutes) (4 sections):

Part 1:

This contains a long text which be either a news story, article, review or proposal. The student needs to identify the correct answer, based on multiple choice questions.

Part 2:

This is a fill-in-the-blank style section whereby there are 6 multiple choice questions, with an extra option not needed. There are a total of 6 sentences. The missing gap in sentences can be either topic sentence, summarising sentence, developing idea, emphasising a point, opinion, contrast, sequence, forward and back reference or a transition to new idea.

Part 3:

This section has 4 short texts, which can be either an email, article, advertisement, or a notice. There are 7 questions which relate to these texts.

Part 4:

The final section requires short answers up to 5 words. There are a total 7 questions, containing a continuous text which can be either narrative, descriptive, explanatory, expository, biographical, instructive in nature.

Writing Sections (Total time: 75 minutes) (2 sections):

Part 1 (100 – 150 words):

The student needs to produce a formal response to the question. This needs to be in formal or academic English.

Part 2 (150 – 200 words):

This can be an essay or a narrative description of a story or a letter. This needs to be for an informal audience on a general subject that does not require specialist knowledge but addresses a clearly defined number of content points.

PAPER 2: Speaking Sections (Total time: 13 minutes) (4 sections):

Part 1

This section is about candidate introduction, provide and spell name, where they are from and answer 5 short questions.

Part 2:

The examiner gives 2 or 3 topics / situations, and the candidate is expected to respond to that. The topics can be on any theme.

Part 3:

This is about having a discussion with the examiner, using a written piece of text as a prompt.

Part 4:

The candidates are given 30 seconds to prepare on a topic provided by the examiner, and then answer follow up questions.