A 4-skills (Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking) exam in English, aligned to the B2 level of the CEFR*. It is a Secure English Language Test (SELT) for UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) delivered through LanguageCert’s global network of SELT centres.

About the exam:

  • Consists of a Written (Listening, Reading, Writing) and Spoken (Speaking) component
  • Both components can be taken on the same day or within 14 days of each other

CEFR level B2 is the minimum requirement for the following visa types:

  • Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
  • Innovator
  • Start-up
  • Student visa (this route replaces Tier 4) -(below degree level)

Applicants with a higher language level can take a C1 or C2 Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking exam, which also satisfies the application requirement.

After the exam, candidates receive a Test Report displaying their score and unique reference number (URN). The URN must be included in the visa application.

Visa requirement information is subject to change. Applicants should refer to UK Government guidance on English language exams for visas and are responsible for ensuring they take the correct exam.

Candidates are advised to contact their sponsors to confirm which CEFR level is required before registering for an exam.

*Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), developed by the Council of Europe, is widely used to describe levels of language proficiency.

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Written

Key features
 EXAM LEVEL   B2
 FORMAT Computer-based
 SELT SCORE Listening:  33/50
Reading:    33/50
Writing:     33/50
 TEST REPORT  Issued 5 business days after the exam

 

Exam format
Computer-based 2 hours & 40 minutes
Listening
Listening

30 minutes

Reading and writing
Reading & Writing

2 hours & 10 mins uninterrupted

Listening

Part 1 : 7  multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)
Task: • Listen twice to 7 unfinished conversations between 2 speakers

  • 1 conversation is formal
  • Choose the appropriate response to complete or continue each conversation

Part 2: 6 multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)
Task: • Listen twice to 3 conversations, each consisting of 2 speakers and identify: topic, purpose, context, speakers, gist, relationship between speakers, roles, functions, attitudes, feeling and opinions

  • Choose the appropriate response to complete or continue each question

Part 3: 7 questions (write notes on the message pad based on the information on the recording)
Task: • Listen twice to a radio broadcast, narrative, presentation, etc to identify specific information

  • Jot down answers of 1 to 5 words

Part 4: 6 questions (each with 3 options)
Task: • Listen twice to a discussion and identify gist, examples, fact, opinion, contrast, purpose, key ideas, attitude, cause and effect

  • Choose the appropriate response for each question

Reading

Part 1: 6 multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)
Task: • A long text: news story, article, review or proposal

  • Choose the appropriate response for each question

Part 2: 6 multiple choice questions (fill in an incomplete text. 1 option is a distractor)
Task: • A text with 6 sentences removed, e.g. topic sentence, summarising sentence, developing idea, emphasising a point, opinion, contrast, sequence, forward and back reference, transition to new idea

  • Choose the appropriate sentence for each gap in the text

Part 3: 7 questions (4 texts provide the answers)
Task: • Read 4 short texts, e.g. email, article, advert, etc. and choose which text answers which question

Part 4: 7 questions (requiring short answers of up to 5 words)
Task: • A continuous text: narrative, descriptive, explanatory, expository, biographical, instructive

Writing

Part 1: 100 – 150 words (produce a formal response for an intended public audience)
Task: • Respond appropriately to the intended reader using a clearly defined number of content points

Part 2: 150 – 200 words (produce a personal letter, a narrative composition/ story or a descriptive composition)
Task: • Produce an informal piece of writing for a specified reader on a general subject that does not require specialist knowledge but addresses a clearly defined number of content points

Official practice material

Download

Books
We work with the most prominent publishing houses to ensure that our partners and candidates have access to top quality learning materials for LanguageCert SELT exams. Below is a list of available books with links to the publishers’ websites.

Burlington Books

ELI Publishing

Express Publishing

Global ELT

Oxford University Press

Click here to download a guide for teachers, which maps each unit and topic of the English File: Upper-intermediate textbook
and refers to the competences outlined in the Common European Framework (CEFR) as B2 level.

Speaking

Key features
 EXAM LEVEL   B2
 FORMAT Online interview with a live interlocutor
 SELT SCORE Speaking:   33/50
 TEST REPORT  Issued 5 business days after the exam
Exam format
Online interview with a live interlocutor
Speaking
Speaking

13 mins

Speaking

Part 1

  • Give and spell name
  • State country of origin
  • Answer 5 questions

Part 2

  • 2 or 3 situations are presented by the interlocutor
  • Candidates are expected to respond to questions and initiate interactions

Part 3

  • Hold a short discussion to make a plan, arrange or decide something using written text as the prompt

Part 4

  • Candidates are given 30 seconds preparation time
  • Talk about a topic provided by the interlocutor for 2 minutes
  • Answer follow-up questions
Official practice material

Download

Books
We work with prominent publishing houses to ensure that our partners and candidates have access to top quality learning materials for LanguageCert SELT exams. Below is a list of available books with links to the publishers’ websites.

Burlington Books

ELI Publishing

Express Publishing

Global ELT

Oxford University Press

Click here to download a guide for teachers, which maps each unit and topic of the English File: Upper-intermediate textbook
and refers to the competences outlined in the Common European Framework (CEFR) as B2 level.

We pride ourselves on being the only SELT provider to offer our candidates a SELT re-sit service for specific exam components.

Take2 is an added value service, that works like a safety net to a SELT exam! Candidates have the option to purchase Take2, our straightforward and affordable solution to re-sit LanguageCert SELT 4-skills Written or Spoken exam components at levels B1 – C2.

Take2 re-sit exam option is offered at a fraction of the exam price and becomes available in the case of an unsuccessful SELT result. All re-sits are conducted at LanguageCert approved SELT Centres and must be taken within 14 days of the last scheduled SELT exam.

Added value

Candidates who achieve an average score of 50% or more in the Written component and/or 50% or more in the Spoken component will be awarded the corresponding LanguageCert International ESOL Certificate in Listening, Reading and Writing and/or in Speaking.

LanguageCert International ESOL certificates are recognised internationally and remain valid indefinitely.