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Secure English Language Test (SELT)

Secure English Language Test. You need one to be able to get either a family visa, work visa, or study visa to be able to live in the UK.

Price:

£150

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Description:

If you need a visa to either live, work or study in the UK, then you might have been asked to take a SELT test. We explain what Secure English Language Tests are, and what the different grades mean.

A SELT is a Secure English Language Test. You need one to be able to get either a family visa, work visa, or study visa to be able to live in the UK. The test is designed for you to show your English language proficiency - you need it to be able to live in the UK for an extended period of time for either Indefinite Leave to Remain or British Citizenship.

To be able to take your SELT test, you'll need to book one through a provider who has been approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - such as Trinity College London.

What SELT test should I take?

There are two types of SELT tests offered by Trinity College London - GESE (Graded Examination of Spoken English) and ISE (Integrated Skills in English). The test you will need will depend on the type of UK visa you are applying for.

If you are applying for either a Partner, Parent, Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain), Citizenship, a Sportsperson or Representative of an Overseas Business visa,  then you will need to be able to prove your skill of speaking and listening in English.

The SELT test that you will need for each are:

Partner - A1 GESE Grade 2 OR A2 GESE Grade 3 test for a visa extension
Parent - A1 GESE Grade 2 OR A2 GESE Grade 3 test for a visa extension
Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) or British Citizenship - B1 GESE Grade 5 test
Sportsperson - A1 GESE Grade 2 test
Representative of an Overseas Business - A1 GESE Grade 2 test

If you are applying for either an Innovator, Start-Up, Skilled Worker, Minister of Religion or Student visa, then you will need an English language test that proves you’re capable of reading, writing, listening and speaking in English - also known as an ISE.

The SELT tests that you will need for each are:

Innovator - B2 ISE II test
Start-up - B2 ISE II test
Skilled worker - B1 ISE I test
Minister of Religion - B2 ISE II test
Student - B1 ISE I test
Scale-up Worker - B1 ISE I test
What is the difference between GESE and ISE?

Both GESE and ISE are Trinity College London’s version of SELTs. The difference between them is that to pass a GESE, you need to prove your English speaking and listening abilities. For ISE, you’ll need to prove your English speaking and listening abilities, PLUS reading and writing. The type you’ll need will depend on which type of UK visa you’re applying for, and the level of English needed to apply.

What is GESE?

GESE stands for Graded Examinations in Spoken English, and they are English speaking and listening exams. They are split into grades from 1 to 12

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