People searching for the "ILR English test" usually want one answer: B1 or B2? The honest answer is that it depends on the route, the date of your application and whether you are exempt. This page reads the Immigration Rules text and compares it with the other official pages. It is general information, not personal advice. Check the linked gov.uk pages for the current rule before you act.
What the Skilled Worker rules say
In Appendix Skilled Worker, rule SW 22A.1 covers settlement. Where the date of application is on or after 26 March 2027, the applicant must, unless an exemption applies, show English language ability in speaking and listening to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Rule SW 22A.2 says the requirement is met as set out in Appendix English Language.
Dependent partners and children of a Skilled Worker have their own rule, SW 44.1. Before 26 March 2027 it asks for B1 in speaking and listening. On or after that date it asks for B2.
| Applicant | Application before 26 March 2027 | On or after 26 March 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker settling (SW 22A.1) | See the rule text on the gov.uk page | Speaking and listening, B2 |
| Dependent partner or child (SW 44.1) | Speaking and listening, B1 | Speaking and listening, B2 |
The sources I read do not set out the Skilled Worker level before that date in a way I can quote, so I do not state one here. Other settlement routes were not checked for this page: each has its own appendix.
Who is exempt
Under Appendix English Language, rule EL 1.1, an applicant for settlement is exempt if, at the date of application, they:
- are aged 65 or over;
- are aged under 18; or
- have a disability (physical or mental condition) that prevents them from meeting the requirement.
The consumer page on English language exemptions sets out the evidence needed for a long-term condition, so check it if that applies to you.
EL 1.1 also has a route for some applicants with 15 years of continuous UK permission. They show speaking and listening at A2 and provide a teacher letter. The letter's test is whether the teacher thinks the applicant is unlikely to reach B1 through further study for applications before 26 March 2027, and B2 for applications on or after it. Read the full wording on the page to see who qualifies.
Official pages worded differently
The rules also say, in EL 3.1, that the requirement is met if the applicant has already shown it, at the level required for their current application, in an earlier successful application. The consumer page on English language exemptions says that some people using certain work visas do not need to prove English because they did when they applied for their current visa.
The wording about the level required for the current application matters: a pass at B1 may not be the same as B2 for a Skilled Worker application made after 26 March 2027. I cannot tell you how the Home Office will apply these texts to your case, and this page does not decide it. If your route is affected, check both pages and the rule for your route.
The route table on ielts.org is worded differently again: it lists indefinite leave to remain at B1, listening and speaking, with IELTS for UKVI Life Skills B1. That table is general and does not show the Skilled Worker date.
Which test, and how long a pass lasts
- The overview at gov.uk/english-language says a settlement or citizenship application will be refused if you send the wrong qualification.
- Under the secure English language test (SELT) guidance, only tests on the Home Office list are approved. IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills are listed there for the IELTS SELT Consortium. Results are valid for 2 years, and you must use the reference number (the UKVI number on IELTS results).
- If you prove English by test, EL 6.1 asks for a pass in the 2 years before the application date, at the level required in each component of the route.
- The ielts.org table maps B1 in listening and speaking to Life Skills, and B2 to IELTS for UKVI (the page gives at least 5.5 in each component). UKVI accepts these tests only when taken in person at an official IELTS for UKVI centre.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
Mike teaches IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and General English, one-to-one, live on Google Meet, in English. He holds a Cambridge CELTA (July 2017), is based in Hanoi, and scored 8.5 in Speaking in IELTS. He does not set the test, book it or advise on visas. If your route asks for B2 speaking and listening, lessons can build the practice around those skills: Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format with feedback in the moment, and written progress notes in your account. Time zones matter: Hanoi is 7 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 6 in summer, and the booking calendar shows each slot in your own time. See the booking page or about Mike.
