IELTS Life Skills vs Trinity GESE: Which to Book for B1

If you need the B1 English test for ILR, you have a choice: Trinity GESE Grade 5 or IELTS Life Skills (B1). Both are approved B1 Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) in speaking and listening, both are accepted for Indefinite Leave to Remain and citizenship, and you only need to pass one. This post compares them so you can book the right one.

The headline difference: format

The biggest practical difference is who's in the room with you:

Both check the same thing — that your English is at B1 — but the experience is different.

Trinity GESE Grade 5

GESE Grade 5 is a one-to-one exam: just you and a single examiner, for about ten minutes. It has a topic phase, where you lead a conversation about a subject you prepared in advance, and a conversation phase, where the examiner leads a discussion on familiar subjects.

Why people choose it:

• It's one-to-one, so there's no second candidate to react to.
• You prepare your own topic in advance, which gives you a confident start. Our GESE Grade 5 topic ideas guide helps you choose one.
• The structure is predictable — see what happens in the exam.

Worth knowing: a Trinity SELT GESE sitting costs £160, and the fee is not refunded if you don't pass — so it's worth preparing the topic phase properly.

IELTS Life Skills (B1)

IELTS Life Skills (B1) assesses speaking and listening together in a paired format — you take it with another candidate, and part of the assessment involves interacting with them as well as the examiner.

Why people choose it:

• If you're comfortable speaking with other people, the paired format can feel natural and conversational.
• IELTS has a wide network of test centres, which can help with availability in some areas.

Worth knowing: fees vary by provider, so check the current price when you book. Because you're paired with another candidate, the exact dynamic is harder to predict in advance than a one-to-one exam.

Which should you choose?

There's no single right answer — both meet the requirement. A few pointers:

• Prefer to prepare and lead? Trinity GESE lets you bring a topic you've rehearsed, which many find reassuring.
• Nervous about speaking? Many advisers suggest the one-to-one Trinity format for nervous speakers, because there's no second candidate to react to.
• Comfortable in a paired conversation? IELTS Life Skills may suit you, especially if availability is better near you.

Whichever you pick, the most important thing is to practise speaking out loud before the day.

Don't forget the other half of ILR

The B1 English test is only one of the two testing requirements for settlement. You'll usually also need the Life in the UK Test, which is a completely separate, knowledge-based exam. Our Life in the UK Test vs English test post explains how they fit together, and the complete Life in the UK Test guide covers the knowledge test in full.

Some people are exempt from the B1 requirement altogether — read B1 test exemptions to check. For the full B1 picture, see our B1 English test pillar guide.

We're an independent study aid, not affiliated with Trinity College London or IELTS. Confirm current formats and fees with each provider and on GOV.UK before booking.