The B1 English Test for ILR

The B1 English test is the English-language requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)and British citizenship. “B1” is a level on the CEFR scale (the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) — it means you can hold a conversation, describe experiences, and explain your opinions in everyday English.

You prove you are at B1 level by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) in speaking and listening. The two SELTs most people in the UK take at this level are the Trinity GESE Grade 5 and IELTS Life Skills (B1). Both are accepted for ILR — you only need to pass one.

The B1 English test is separate from the Life in the UK Test. The Life in the UK Test checks what you know about British history and society; the B1 test checks your language. For ILR you usually need both. We explain how they differ in our guide to the Life in the UK Test vs the English test.

Usually, yes. Most people applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain or citizenship must meet the B1 English requirement — unless they qualify for an exemption (see below). On the family route, English is tested in stages as you move through the system, with the B1 level required at the ILR stage.

A typical ILR checklist on the testing side is:

1. Pass an approved B1 SELT in speaking and listening (Trinity GESE Grade 5 or IELTS Life Skills B1) — or confirm you are exempt.
2. Pass the Life in the UK Test — or confirm you are exempt. See our complete Life in the UK Test guide.

Rules are route-specific and set by the Home Office, so always confirm exactly what your application needs on GOV.UK.

Both are approved B1 SELTs accepted for ILR. The main practical differences are the format and the experience on the day:

• Trinity GESE Grade 5 is a one-to-one exam with a single examiner. It includes a prepared topic of your own choice (the topic phase) followed by a conversation on familiar subjects.
• IELTS Life Skills (B1) is taken with another candidate in a paired format, assessing speaking and listening together.

Many in-UK candidates prefer the Trinity GESE one-to-one format and the chance to prepare their own topic in advance. We compare the two in detail in IELTS Life Skills vs Trinity GESE — which to book.

The Trinity GESE Grade 5 is a short, one-to-one spoken exam of about ten minutes with an examiner. It has two parts:

• Topic phase. You lead a conversation about a topic you chose and prepared in advance on a topic form. You're expected to take the initiative, give reasons and opinions, and — a point many candidates forget — ask the examiner a question.
• Conversation phase. The examiner leads a discussion on familiar subjects, which at Grade 5 are festivals, transport, special occasions, entertainment, music, and recent personal experiences.

At Grade 5 you're expected to handle future plans, past narration, and comparisonsin your speech. Choosing the right topic — and preparing what you'll say about it — is the part you have most control over. Our guide to GESE Grade 5 topic ideas walks through how to pick one, and what happens in the exam covers the day step by step.

A Trinity SELT GESE sitting costs £160, and that fee is not refunded if you don't pass. IELTS Life Skills fees vary by provider. Because a resit means paying again, it's worth preparing properly the first time — especially the topic phase, which you can rehearse in advance.

Fees and rules change. Always confirm the current price and booking details with your chosen SELT provider and on GOV.UK before booking.

Not everyone needs to take a B1 SELT. You may be exempt from the English requirement if you are:

• A national of a majority English-speaking country.
• A holder of a degree taught or researched in English (you may need confirmation from Ecctis/UK NARIC).
• Aged 65 or over, or unable to meet the requirement because of a long-term physical or mental condition.

Exemptions are assessed separately from the Life in the UK Test, and the rules are route-specific. Read our full guide to B1 test exemptions, and confirm your own position on GOV.UK before assuming you qualify.

Because the B1 exam is spoken, the best preparation is practice speaking aloud — not just reading. For the Trinity GESE Grade 5 specifically:

• Choose your topic early and make it genuinely yours. A topic you care about is far easier to talk about under pressure.
• Plan the five points you want to make about your topic, and rehearse answers to the questions an examiner might ask.
• Practise the grammar Grade 5 expects — talking about future plans, narrating past events, and making comparisons.
• Remember to ask the examiner a question. It's a real Grade 5 requirement that's easy to forget on the day.