A 4-skills (Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking) exam in English, aligned to the C1 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 C1 accepted for the following visa type:

• Student visa (this route replaces Tier 4) – (degree level and above)

CEFR level C1 is not an immediate requirement for any UK visa type, however, some sponsoring educational institutions may require this high level of English language competence.

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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Key features
 EXAM LEVEL   C1
 FORMAT Computer-based
 SELT SCORE Listening:  33/50
Reading:    33/50
Writing:     33/50
 TEST REPORT  Issued 5 business days after the exam

Written

Exam format
Computer-based 3 hours & 10 minutes
Listening
Listening

30 minutes

Reading and writing
Reading & Writing

2 hours & 40 mins uninterrupted

Listening

Part 1: 6 multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)
Task:

  • Listen twice to 6 unfinished conversations between 2 speakers
  • Conversations will include idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, register shifts and use of stress and intonation to indicate attitude
  • Choose the appropriate option to complete each conversation

Part 2: 6 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 option for each question

Part 3: 7 questions (write notes on the message pad based on the information in the recording)

Task:

  • Listen twice to a dense, factual lecture, radio broadcast, narrative, presentation, etc. to identify specific information
  • Jot down answers consisting of 1 to 5 words

Part 4: 7 multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)

Task:

  • Listen twice to a discussion to identify gist, examples, fact, opinion, contrast, purpose, key ideas, attitude, cause and effect
  • Choose the appropriate response for each question

Reading

Part 1: 5 questions (sentences identifying true and false statements about a text)

Task:

  • Text includes idiomatic language, narrative or academic ideas, arguments and opinions
  • Determine whether the statements are true or false

Part 2: 6 questions (8 sentences to choose from to complete 6 gaps in the text. 2 sentences are provided as distractors)

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 each question

Part 4: 8 questions (requiring short answers of up to 5 words)

Task:

  • A continuous text: narrative, descriptive, explanatory, expository, biographical, instructive
  • Provide short answers of up to 5 words for each question

Writing

Part 1: 150 – 200 words (respond appropriately to a given input in order to produce a formal response for an intended public audience)

Task:

  • Write a letter, report, argument or article using a written, graphic or visual input for the intended reader expressing stance, opinion, justification, argumentation as appropriate

Part 2: 250 – 300 words (produce a personal letter, a narrative composition/ story or a descriptive composition)

Task:

  • Write an informal piece for a specified reader in order to persuade, argue or hypothesise, expressing mood, opinion, justification, evaluation etc.
Official practice material

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