Which SELT level do I need: A1, A2 or B1?

Published 2 October 2026

If you have started researching the UK Secure English Language Test, you have probably seen three different labels: A1, A2, and B1. These are not three versions of the same exam. They are three separate levels, each with its own exam names, its own format, and its own exam day.

This article explains what each level is and which exam names belong to it. It does not tell you which level your own application needs — that is set by the Home Office, and depends on your visa route. Check the current requirement for your route at gov.uk before you book anything.

Three levels, three separate exams

A1, A2 and B1 come from the CEFR scale, a standard way of describing English ability. For UK visa purposes, each level is tested by its own exam, on its own day, with its own result:

• A1 — the lowest of the three. Commonly associated with an initial partner or family visa application.
• A2 — the middle level. Commonly associated with extending a visa, sometimes called FLR (Further Leave to Remain).
• B1 — the highest of the three. Commonly associated with settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) or citizenship.

These are general patterns, not a rule for your case. Some routes work differently, and requirements change over time. gov.uk is the only place to confirm what your specific route requires.

Passing one level does not carry over to another. An A1 certificate does not count towards A2. An A2 certificate does not count towards B1. If your route needs a different level from one you have already passed, you sit a new exam at that level.

Two providers, every level

At every level — A1, A2 and B1 — two providers are approved to run a speaking-and-listening SELT: Trinity College London, and LanguageCert. Each one uses its own exam name per level. The list of approved providers is set by the Home Office and can change — check the current list at gov.uk before you book.

A1: GESE Grade 2 and LanguageCert SELT A1

Trinity’s A1 exam is called GESE Grade 2. It is one-to-one with an examiner, and the whole exam lasts 6 minutes. It has a single assessed part: a conversation led by the examiner, on everyday topics such as your home, your family, and your daily life. You must ask the examiner at least one simple question during the exam.

LanguageCert’s A1 exam is called LanguageCert SELT A1 Speaking and Listening. It runs 8 to 9 minutes, also one-to-one, in four parts: personal questions, two short role-plays, a picture task, and a listening-and-speaking section.

A2: GESE Grade 3 and LanguageCert SELT A2

Trinity’s A2 exam is called GESE Grade 3. The whole exam lasts 7 minutes, again a single conversation phase, covering slightly broader everyday topics — routines, places, past events, plans.

LanguageCert’s A2 exam is called LanguageCert SELT A2 Speaking and Listening. It runs 9 to 11 minutes, following the same four-part shape as A1, with a wider range of language expected in each part.

B1: GESE Grade 5 and LanguageCert SELT B1

Trinity’s B1 exam is called GESE Grade 5. The whole exam lasts 10 minutes, split into two assessed phases: a Topic phase (up to 5 minutes), discussing a topic you prepare in advance, and a Conversation (up to 5 minutes), on subject areas chosen by the examiner.

LanguageCert’s B1 exam is called LanguageCert SELT B1 Speaking and Listening. It runs 11 to 13 minutes, in the same four-part shape as A1 and A2, with the most demanding tasks of the three levels: a decision-making discussion and a longer unsupported talk.

How to find out which level is yours

This article cannot tell you which level your application needs, and you should be cautious of anything online that claims to without pointing you to an official source. The level depends on your visa category, your current immigration status, and sometimes your age or nationality. gov.uk sets out the English language requirement for each route — start there, and if your situation is at all unusual, speak to a qualified immigration adviser before you book a test.

Once you know your level

UK SELT Simulator runs spoken mock sessions for all three levels — GESE Grade 2, GESE Grade 3 and GESE Grade 5 from Trinity, and LanguageCert SELT A1, A2 and B1 — with an AI examiner and a short report after each session. Choose your level and provider when you set up your account. 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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