Apr 11, 2023
UKVI stands for United Kingdom Visa and Immigration, and the UKVI IELTS is backed by this department. This English proficiency test is apt for candidates who are applying for the following:
UKVI IELTS tests are specifically designed to meet administrative requirements and criteria set by the UK home office, and have to be taken at a test centre approved by the UKVI. The main test is similar to a general IELTS examination, and has the same format, scoring, and difficulty level. Only difference is that the report showcases that the test has been taken at a test centre approved by UKVI.
There are three varieties of UKVI IELTS examinations, namely Academic, General, and a new version called Life Skills examination.
The IELTS Academic examination is required by students for admission in any university, while the General Training IELTS examination is required for migration purposes. The Life Skills examination is a new test added by the UK government, and has three parts called A1, A2, and B1. IELTS Life Skills are evaluated in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
| Type of examination | Details |
| IELTS Academic Examination |
|
| UKVI IELTS General Training |
|
| UKVI IELTS Life Skills |
|
| UKVI IELTS Life Skills A1 |
|
| UKVI IELTS Life Skills A2 |
|
| UKVI IELTS Life Skills B1 |
|
There are a few key differences between the general IELTS and the UKVI IELTS examination.
| Parameter | General IELTS | UKVI IELTS |
| Test report | Regular report | Different from a normal IELTS test report as it contains the name of the UKVI approved centre |
| Mode of examination | This examination is computer based | UKVI IELTS examination is computer based and has extra security to ensure candidate authenticity |
| Examination fee | The fee for regular IELTS examination is INR 14,700 | UKVI IELTS Fee:
|
| Band score | 6.5 or more | UKVI IELTS band score: More than 4.0 in speaking and listening |
| Eligibility | All candidates who are applying from a non-English speaking country to an English speaking country | UKVI IELTS is taken by candidates who wish to move to the UK in the pursuit of study, work, or migration |
The minimum score required against the UKVI IELTS depends on the kind of visa needed. The basic scores are:
| Visa Type | Minimum CEFR level required | Minimum score required |
| Tier 1 General Visa | C1 | UKVI IELTS 7.0 score overall and in each four skills - Reading, writing, listening, and speaking, minimum 7.0 |
| Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa | B1 | UKVI IELTS 4.0 score overall and at least 4.0 in each of the four skills |
| Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa | B1 | UKVI IELTS 4.0 score overall, and minimum 4.0 in each skills |
| Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa | B1 | UKVI IELTS 4.0 score overall, and minimum 4.0 in each skills |
| Tier 2 General Visa | B1 | UKVI IELTS 4.0 score overall, and minimum 4.0 in all the four skills |
| Tier 2 or a Sportsperson Visa | A1 |
|
| Tier 2 or Minister of Religion Visa | B2 | UKVI IELTS 5.5 score overall, and minimum 5.5 in all the four skills |
| Tier 4 (General) Student Visa - below degree and pre-sessional course | B1 | UKVI IELTS 4.0 score overall, and minimum 4.0 in all the four skills |
| Tier 4 (General) Student Visa - degree level and above | B2 | UKVI IELTS 5.5 score overall, and minimum 5.5 in all the four skills |
Family route for:
| A1 |
|
Family route (extension) for:
| A2 |
|
| Indefinite leave to remain or citizenship | B1 |
|
UKVI IELTS is an important examination that has to be taken by any international candidate who wishes to study or work or stay in the UK. This examination is designed in accordance with the requirements of the UK Government’s Home Office. However, any individual who is going to the UK on a short term visa is not required to take the UKVI IELTS. Some summer school programs, diplomas, and master degrees fall under this category.