IELTS United Kingdom (UK) – UK Immigration | Study in UK

Students who plan to study in the UK should surely take the IELTS, however, the type of ILETS you choose could depend on the type of visa and university you’re planning to apply to. The United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) department has made some changes in the IELTS test that international students should take before applying for UK universities.

The most significant changes are the introduction of IELTS (UKVI) and IELTS Life Skills tests. While IELTS (UKVI) is the same as the regular IELTS test in terms of the format and difficulty level, the differences come in the Test Report Form (TRF) and a higher level of security protocols in the examination room.

The (UKVI) IELTS test is the Secured English Language Test, which is approved as a proof of English language by the UK visas and immigration department. These tests are taken at the testing centres and similar to IELTS, they provide proof of your English language proficiency by giving you appropriate scores in the listening, writing, reading and speaking part of the test.

The United Kingdom has now released a vaccine for the virus that’s caused the global pandemic and is expecting a surge in the number of students or people wishing to migrate there.

IELTS tests approved by UKVI

The following IELTS tests are approved by the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration:

IELTS Academic

This test is for those who are looking to take up undergraduate or postgraduate education or professional services such as teachers, doctors, and so on in the United Kingdom.

IELTS General Training

This test is for those who are willing to go to the United Kingdom for training or work purposes.

IELTS Life Skills A1

This test is applicable for those who want to prove their English speaking and listening skills in order to get the UKVI for the family in order to settle there as a part of the application.

IELTS Life Skills A2

This test is for those who are willing to prove their English speaking and listening skills in order to get the UKVI for an extension to the family spouse or partner visa as a part of the application.

IELTS Life Skills B1

This test is for those who are willing to prove their English speaking and listening skills in order to get the UKVI for permanent citizenship.

Also check : 

• How to score band 8 in IELTS
• IELTS exam dates
• IELTS Test centres

IELTS or IELTS (UKVI)

You may be confused now whether to register for the IELTS or the IELTS (UKVI). To simplify it a bit for you; if you’re planning to apply for a Bachelors degree or higher in the UK, which means you’ll be going for a Tier 4 study visa, you may go for the regular IELTS test. Although you should still confirm with your university on whether they require the IELTS (UKVI) score. The situations where you’ll definitely have to take the IELTS (UKVI) is mentioned below:

• If you’re a student, migrating to the UK to start studying below a degree level
• If the university you’re planning to apply for, requires an IELTS UKVI score
• If the university you’re planning to apply for is not part of the Highly Trusted Sponsors list.
• If you’re not applying for a Tier 4 study visa to get into the UK

UK Tier Visa System

UK Tier visa system is a points-based visa system where the immigrants have to get a minimum number of points to be eligible for him/her to get a visa. The visa may be given to the immigrants based on certain factors like age, qualification, English language fluency and other specific criteria. If you travel to the UK through the tier category, it makes you eligible for tier settlement or tier citizenship.

UK Tier 1: High-Value Migrants

The tier 1 category that is high-value migrants holds the sub-categories like:

•  Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent):

The internationally recognized people with talent in arts or science come under this category.

• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur):

Persons who are willing to start, take up or involved in the business in the UK come under this category.

• Tier 1 (Investor):

The person who wants to make an investment in the UK comes under this category.

• Tier 1 (General):

This category is eligible for highly skilled workers.

• Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur):

These are the Non-Europeans who graduated from higher education from the UK and have some innovative and entrepreneurial skills.

UK Tier 2: Skilled Workers

This tier is the category of skilled workers and these also have the subcategories which are explained as follows:

• Tier 2 (General):

This category includes someone who is quite skilled at his job and is in a position that cannot be taken by a person who is settled in the UK.

• Tier 2 (Minister of Religion):

This category includes the people like priests, missionaries, ministers and so on who have been given the position of the faith-based community in the United Kingdom.

• Tier 2 (Sportsperson):

This category includes people like athletes or coaches who have been famous globally by the high level of competition.

• Tier 2 (Intra- Company Transfers):

This category includes the employees of the Multinational company who have been transferred to the UK branch of the particular organization.

UK Tier 3: Unskilled Workers:

This category includes the people who are the unskilled workers or low skilled workers who were hired during the temporary labour shortages. This category is banned currently.

UK Tier 4: Adult Students:

This category includes the adult students from age 16 or above and also college tier or university programs are included under this tier.

UK Tier 5:Temporary Workers:

This category includes the people who are temporary workers and the subcategories to avail these visas are as below:

• Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting):

This category includes the persons who are entertainers, creative artists, sportsman or athletes.

• Tier 5 (Charity Workers):

This category includes the people who migrate to the UK for Voluntarily carried out charity work.

• Tier 5 (Religious Workers):

This category includes the people who migrate to the UK to take up the faith-based work like preaching, pastoral work, ministry and so on.

• Tier 5 (Government Authorized Exchange):

This category includes the people moving to the UK as part of a government-approved program that promotes sharing of experience, knowledge and so on.

• Tier 5 (International Agreement):

This category includes the people migrating to the UK under a particular contract that comes under international law.

• Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme):

This category includes young people who wish to move to the UK to experience what kind of life exists in the UK.

IELTS Scores to migrate for the UK

The score for UKVI depends on what kind of Visa you are willing to take.