A SELT (Secure English Language Test) is an official English language test approved by the UK Home Office for visa and immigration applications. If you are applying for a UK visa that requires proof of English, you will almost certainly need to pass a SELT at the right level.
SELT stands for Secure English Language Test. These are English language tests that have been approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) β the part of the Home Office that processes visa applications.
Not every English test qualifies as a SELT. Only tests approved by UKVI and delivered by approved test providers such as Trinity College London can be used for UK visa applications. A Cambridge or IELTS qualification, for example, cannot generally be used in place of a SELT for immigration purposes.
The SELT level you need depends on the type of visa you are applying for. There are four SELT levels corresponding to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) levels:
The lowest SELT level. Required for family visa applicants (spouses and partners) entering the UK for the first time. Tests Speaking and Listening only.
Required when extending a family visa after entering the UK. Also covers Speaking and Listening.
Required for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and naturalisation as a British citizen. Can cover all four skills or Speaking and Listening only depending on the test.
Required for Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Scale-up Worker and several other work visa routes. Covers all four skills.
The most widely used SELT provider is Trinity College London, which offers two test types:
A Speaking and Listening test available at A1 (Grade 2), A2 (Grade 3) and B1 (Grade 5) levels.
A four-skill test covering Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. Available at B1 (ISE I) and B2 (ISE II) levels.
The most effective way to prepare for a SELT is targeted preparation with an experienced tutor who knows the format of the test and exactly what examiners are looking for.
Elite Language Solutions offers SELT preparation courses at all levels β A1, A2, B1 and B2. Our 98% first-time pass rate reflects the quality and focus of our preparation courses.
We do not administer the official SELT test β you will sit the test at a UKVI-approved test centre such as a Trinity College London centre. We prepare you to walk into that test fully ready.
A SELT (Secure English Language Test) is an official English language test approved by the UK Home Office for visa and immigration applications. If you are applying for a UK visa that requires proof of English, you will almost certainly need to pass a SELT at the right level.
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