- The Life in the UK Test costs £50 and must be booked on GOV.UK at least 3 days ahead.
- A SELT English result is valid for 2 years from the date it is awarded.
- Four routes (for example Skilled Worker and Student) need a four-skills test; citizenship and settlement need speaking and listening only.
- IELTS can be reported to security.ielts@idp.com.
Start here, by situation
- You need an English test for a visa: read approved SELT tests, then IELTS for UKVI.
- Someone offered you an IELTS result without an exam: read fake IELTS certificates.
- An employer or school has questioned your result: read IELTS results verification.
- You need to book the Life in the UK Test: go straight to booking the test.
- You paid a site that was not GOV.UK: read unofficial booking sites.
- Your result is close to two years old: read the two-year rule.
English language tests
Fake IELTS certificates describes the adverts that promise results without an exam, the platforms they appear on and why IDP says the usual outcome is lost money. IELTS for UKVI explains which IELTS versions are on the Home Office list, the reference number that every result needs and how to book through the official route.
Approved SELT tests lists the tests and providers GOV.UK names, and the warning on that page about third parties that claim a link to the Home Office. The two-year rule separates the Home Office validity period from IELTS's own record-keeping limits, a confusion that costs people time and money.
IELTS results verification explains who can look up a result and why a forged certificate has nothing to match. IELTS impersonation scams covers social media accounts that pose as IDP or British Council staff and the reporting routes.
Life in the UK Test
Booking the test gives the fee, the three-day rule, the ID list and the helpline. Unofficial booking sites gives the one fact that settles most doubts: GOV.UK is the only official booking service.
Fake passes and cheating sets out the reported cases and what could follow. Who needs the test lists the four exemptions and notes that settlement rules are being changed.
Which test goes with which application
| Route | English test needed (GOV.UK) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, Student, Health and Care Worker, Start-up, Innovator Founder and others | Four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening |
| Citizenship, settlement, partner, parent | Speaking and listening only |
The offences that apply when a result or certificate is forged are collected on UK law on fake documents.
Further guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pass a test to settle or become a British citizen?
Usually you need to show English language ability and, for settlement or citizenship, pass the Life in the UK Test unless you are exempt. GOV.UK has the current rules, and it says settlement requirements are being changed.
Where do I book the official tests?
Book the Life in the UK Test through GOV.UK. For English, book directly with an approved provider listed in the GOV.UK SELT guidance.
How long is an English test result valid for a visa?
GOV.UK says SELT results are valid for two years from the date the test is awarded.
What do I do if someone offers me a test pass?
Do not pay. IDP says sellers of IELTS results without an exam take the money and disappear, and a result bought this way will be rejected by institutions.
Who do I report a fake test offer to?
IELTS scams can be reported to security.ielts@idp.com or through the form on ielts.org. Report fraud to the police fraud reporting service and your bank if you paid.