Skip to content

Which English test for my UK visa?

Checked against GOV.UK and each provider's pages on 11 October 2026

For a family visa, settlement or citizenship, the Home Office asks for a speaking and listening test, and it accepts several. They are set at the same level, but they feel very different on the day. Find your level first, then choose the format that suits you.

Step 1: find your level

Rules differ by route and some people are exempt. Check the GOV.UK page for your own visa before you book. See also our guide to the English level for each UK visa.

Step 2: compare the four tests

IELTS Life SkillsPTE HomeTrinity GESELanguageCert
Who you talk toAn examiner and one other candidateNobody. You speak to a computer through a headsetOne examiner. Trinity says the examiner joins by video linkOne examiner. LanguageCert calls it an online conversation with a live examiner
LengthUp to 18 minutes (A1), 20 (A2) or 22 (B1)Up to 30 minutes at every level6 minutes (A1), 7 (A2) or 10 (B1)8 to 9 minutes (A1), 9 to 11 (A2) or 11 to 13 (B1)
What you doAnswer questions, talk with the other candidate, and listen to recordingsRepeat sentences, describe pictures, and answer questions about or retell what you hearHave a conversation. At B1 you also discuss a topic you preparedAnswer questions, two role plays, a picture task (a discussion at B1), a short talk to listen to, and a short talk of your own
Who marks itThe examinerA computerThe examinerThe examiner. The test is recorded and checked
ResultPass or failPass or failA letter from A to D. A, B and C are passesPass or fail. The pass mark is 60 out of 100
When you hearCheck with your test centrePearson says usually within 48 hoursTrinity says a provisional result by 9am the next dayLanguageCert says a provisional result within minutes, the official one in 3 working days
WhereApproved centres in the UK and in other countriesApproved centres in the UK and in other countriesTrinity centres in the UK onlyLanguageCert approved centres. Check the GOV.UK list for your country
Preparation neededPractise speaking with a partnerPractise speaking to a microphone, with no pausesAt B1, prepare a topic and questions to ask the examinerPractise role plays, asking questions about a picture, and timed short talks
Free practiceIELTS Life Skills practicePTE Home practiceTrinity GESE practiceLanguageCert practice

Prices and test dates change, so we do not list them. Compare them on each provider's booking page.

Step 3: choose the format that suits you

This part is our opinion, not official guidance.

  • You get nervous talking to strangers

    PTE Home has no examiner and no other candidate. You sit alone with a headset. The other side of that is that the computer does not wait for you, repeat anything or smile.

  • You speak better with a real person

    Trinity GESE and LanguageCert are both conversations with one examiner, who can rephrase a question if you do not understand. Trinity GESE is the shortest test.

  • You like knowing exactly what is coming

    LanguageCert has the most fixed structure: the same four parts every time, from questions about you to a short talk of your own. Each part can be practised on its own.

  • You have a friend or relative to practise with

    IELTS Life Skills includes talking with another candidate, so practising in pairs is the best preparation for it.

  • You are applying from outside the UK

    Trinity is approved for tests taken in the UK only. Look at IELTS Life Skills, PTE Home or LanguageCert, and check which has a centre near you.

  • Your accent is strong but people understand you

    A human examiner judges whether you communicate. A computer scores what it recognises. If people often ask you to repeat yourself, try our PTE Home practice in Chrome first and see how many words the browser hears.

  • You need the result quickly

    Ask the provider about the next available date as well as the result time. A test with fast results is no help if the nearest centre is full for a month.

The quickest way to decide is to try each one. Our practice tests are free and need no account, and ten minutes with each format will tell you more than any comparison.

What is the same for all of them

  • They test speaking and listening only. There is no reading or writing.
  • A pass at the right level counts the same, whichever provider you choose.
  • The result is valid for 2 years from the date it is awarded.
  • The test must be booked as a secure English language test and taken at an approved centre.

Questions

Which English test is easiest for a UK visa?
None is officially easier. Each one is set at the same CEFR level, A1, A2 or B1. What differs is the format: a computer with PTE Home, one examiner with Trinity GESE or LanguageCert, and an examiner plus another candidate with IELTS Life Skills. The easiest test for you is the format you are most comfortable in.
Does the Home Office prefer one test?
No. GOV.UK says it is for you to decide which test to take. A pass at the right level from any approved provider counts the same.
Can I use a normal IELTS or PTE Academic result?
Only if it was booked and taken as a secure English language test (SELT) at an approved centre. An ordinary IELTS booking is not a SELT, even at the same test centre.
How long is the result valid?
GOV.UK says SELT results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded.
What if my visa needs reading and writing too?
Then these tests are not enough. Routes such as Skilled Worker and Student need all four skills, for example IELTS for UKVI. See our IELTS for UKVI page.
Do I need a test at all?
Some people are exempt, for example people aged 65 or over and nationals of certain majority English-speaking countries, and a degree taught in English can count instead. Check the GOV.UK page for your own visa.

More help

Official sources

TestWise Prep is independent and is not connected to the Home Office, IELTS, Pearson, Trinity College London or LanguageCert. This page is general information, not immigration advice.