UK SELT Simulator

A2 English test for a visa extension: your A1 certificate does not carry over

Published 3 September 2026

If you passed an A1 English test to get your first UK visa, you may be wondering why you need another test to extend it. The answer is simple: A1 and A2 are different exams at different levels. Your A1 result shows what you could do when you took it. It does not count towards A2. You have to sit a new test.

What your specific extension route requires is decided by the Home Office, not by us. Check the current requirements at gov.uk before you book anything. Requirements and approved providers change.

Three tests, three levels — each one is new

The UK visa English testing system works in steps:

Each level is a completely separate exam. An A1 certificate does not substitute for an A2. An A2 certificate does not substitute for a B1. You cannot use a certificate from a previous application at a different level, even if it is recent.

An expired A2 certificate may also not be accepted. The rules on how long a SELT certificate stays valid are set by the Home Office and can change. Check at gov.uk before you rely on an older result.

Two approved providers for A2

As of when we last checked, two providers offer an A2 Secure English Language Test: Trinity College London (GESE Grade 3) and LanguageCert (SELT A2 Speaking and Listening). You book directly with a provider, at a test centre that is approved for immigration purposes. The list of approved providers can change — check the current list at gov.uk before you book.

Trinity GESE Grade 3: 7 minutes

GESE Grade 3 is a one-to-one speaking and listening exam. The whole exam lasts 7 minutes.

There is one assessed phase: the Conversation (up to 7 minutes). The examiner leads. They speak slowly and clearly, allow time for you to think, and can repeat or rephrase if needed. You do not need to bring anything.

Topics at A2 level include: daily routines and times, giving dates, jobs and home life, places in the local area, weather, free time activities, and describing things that happened in the past.

You must ask the examiner at least one simple question during the exam. This is a requirement, not optional. A question like “Do you enjoy this kind of work?” or “What is the weather like where you live?” is enough. If you forget, it will affect your grade.

At A2 level, using some memorised phrases is acceptable. This is different from B1 (GESE Grade 5), where reciting rehearsed answers is specifically penalised. At A2, the examiner expects to offer more support.

You receive one grade: A (Distinction), B (Merit), C (Pass), or D (Fail). Any grade except D is a pass.

LanguageCert SELT A2: 9 to 11 minutes

LanguageCert SELT A2 lasts 9 to 11 minutes, one-to-one with an examiner. It has four parts, always in the same order. You do not need to bring anything — all content is provided on the day.

Part 1 — Personal information (1.5 to 2 minutes)

You confirm your name and spell your family name aloud, letter by letter. This is a security check, not a spelling test — but practise it before exam day because it can feel strange the first time. Then the examiner asks several personal questions. At A2, these include past events and future plans, not just the present.

Part 2 — Two role-plays (1.5 to 2 minutes)

Two short role-plays, about two turns each. The language range is wider than A1 — you may need to make a suggestion, offer help, give a warning, or respond to an invitation.

In the first, the examiner speaks first. In the second, the examiner describes the situation and then says “You start.” and waits. You have to open the conversation. A simple, relevant opener is all you need. If the situation is asking a colleague for help: “Hi, could I ask you something?” is enough to start.

Part 3 — Picture information gap (1.5 to 2 minutes)

You and the examiner each have a different version of the same picture. You exchange information to find what is the same and what is different between the two versions. The examiner starts. You describe what you see and ask about theirs. At A2, the scenes are slightly busier than at A1.

Part 4A — Listening (2 to 2.5 minutes)

The examiner reads a short monologue to you twice. You may take notes. Then you answer three questions aloud. The answers are short and factual — a name, a number, a reason.

Part 4B — Long turn (2 to 2.5 minutes)

The examiner gives you a topic linked to what you just heard. You have 30 seconds to prepare, with notes. Then you speak alone for 1 minute. A few follow-up questions close the exam.

How LanguageCert SELT A2 is marked

You receive a score out of 30 across five areas: Listening and Responding (up to 10), Interactive Communication and Task Fulfilment (up to 5), Grammar (up to 5), Vocabulary (up to 5), and Pronunciation, Intonation and Fluency (up to 5). Check the current pass threshold directly with LanguageCert — pass marks are theirs to set and can change. There is one certificate level: Pass.

At A2 level, the official descriptors accept that interaction may rely on the examiner’s support. This is expected and built into the standard. Using some memorised phrases is also acceptable at this level.

What both tests share

Both tests are at A2 level, not A1. The examiner still supports you, but slightly less than before. Compared to A1, the language expected is wider: past and future tenses, a broader vocabulary, and slightly more complex sentences. A2 is not a large jump from A1, but it is a real one — you are being assessed at a higher standard.

A foreign accent is not a fault in either test. What matters is whether you can communicate and be understood.

At A2 level, asking the examiner to repeat or speak more slowly is a recognised language function. Using it once or twice is fine; needing it constantly will affect your result.

Before you book

We are practice software, not immigration advisers. Whether A2 is required for your specific extension route, how long a certificate stays valid, which providers are currently approved, and what exemptions exist is decided by the Home Office. Check the current requirements at gov.uk and check again shortly before you book — approved tests, providers and rules all change.

Practise before you sit

UK SELT Simulator runs spoken mock sessions in the GESE Grade 3 and LanguageCert SELT A2 formats with an AI examiner and a short report after each session. See how it works.

UK SELT Simulator is independent practice software. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by UKVI, the Home Office, Trinity College London or LanguageCert.

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