What Is the B1 English Test for ILR? (2026 Guide)

The B1 English test is the English-language requirement you must meet to settle in the UK. If you're applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British citizenship, you'll usually need to prove your English is at B1 level — and you do that by passing an approved speaking and listening exam. This post explains what "B1" means, which test to take, and how it fits into your application.

For the full picture, see our pillar guide to the B1 English test for ILR.

What "B1" actually means

B1 is a level on the CEFR — the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the standard scale used across Europe to describe language ability. At B1, often called "intermediate", you can:

• hold a conversation on familiar topics
• describe experiences, events, and ambitions
• give reasons and explain your opinions
• deal with most situations you'd meet while travelling or living in the country

You don't need perfect or fluent English. You need to communicate clearly and be understood — which is exactly what the test is designed to check.

How you prove B1: an approved SELT

You prove your level by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) in speaking and listening. "Secure" means the test is on the Home Office's approved list and run under controlled conditions at an approved centre.

The two SELTs most people in the UK take at B1 level are:

• Trinity GESE Grade 5 — a one-to-one spoken exam with an examiner, including a topic you prepare in advance
• IELTS Life Skills (B1) — taken in a paired format with another candidate

Both are accepted for ILR. You only need to pass one of them. We compare them in IELTS Life Skills vs Trinity GESE.

It's not the Life in the UK Test

This trips a lot of people up. The B1 English test and the Life in the UK Test are two completely separate requirements:

Passing one does not exempt you from the other. We unpack the difference in Life in the UK Test vs English test, and our complete Life in the UK Test guide covers the knowledge test in full.

Where it fits in your application

On the testing side, a typical ILR checklist looks like this:

1. Pass an approved B1 SELT (Trinity GESE Grade 5 or IELTS Life Skills B1) — or confirm you're exempt.
2. Pass the Life in the UK Test — or confirm you're exempt.
3. Keep your certificates and reference numbers for your application.

On the family route, English is tested in stages as you move through the system, with B1 required at the ILR stage. The rules are route-specific and set by the Home Office, so always confirm exactly what your application needs on GOV.UK.

Who might be exempt

You may not need to take a B1 SELT at all if you are:

• a national of a majority English-speaking country
• a holder of a degree taught or researched in English
• aged 65 or over, or unable to meet the requirement due to a long-term physical or mental condition

Exemptions are assessed separately from the Life in the UK Test. Read our full guide to B1 test exemptions before assuming you qualify.

What to do next

If you do need the B1 test, the good news is that the speaking exam is very preparable — especially the Trinity GESE Grade 5, where you choose and rehearse your own topic in advance. Start with our B1 English test pillar guide, then read about what happens in the Trinity GESE Grade 5 exam.

Rules and fees change — always verify the current requirements on gov.uk/english-language.