# A1, A2 and B1 English tests for UK family visas in Punjab A spouse or partner applying from Punjab needs CEFR A1 English for the first visa, A2 to extend after 2.5 years, and B1 for settlement, rising to B2 from March 2027. Only a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider counts, and the test must be booked at a UKVI-approved centre. Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/procedure/a1-english-test-punjab · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST. ## Steps 1. **Know which level your stage needs** A1 is the first Partner or Fiancé visa from India. A2 is the extension inside the UK after 30 months. B1 is settlement today and British citizenship. From March 2027 settlement needs B2. Students need B2 for degree courses and the India Young Professionals Scheme needs B1. 2. **Understand what A1 and A2 test** A1 is a 10 to 15 minute speaking and listening test: greetings, family, daily routine, simple questions. A2 adds short descriptions and opinions. There is no reading or writing at A1 or A2 for family routes. B1 and above test all four skills for Student and settlement purposes, though settlement and citizenship accept speaking and listening only. 3. **Pick an approved SELT provider** The Home Office approves a fixed list for tests taken outside the UK: IELTS for UKVI (IELTS Life Skills A1, A2, B1 and IELTS for UKVI Academic or General), LanguageCert (SELT), PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home A1, A2, B1 (Pearson), and Skills for English UKVI (PSI). Trinity College London tests are UK-only. A test from any other body, including general IELTS, is not accepted. 4. **Book only at a UKVI-approved centre** Each provider runs some centres for general tests and a smaller set for UKVI tests. On the booking page choose the UKVI or SELT version and check that the centre shows as UKVI-approved. The certificate carries a UKVI reference number; without it the Home Office rejects it. 5. **Carry the passport you will use for the visa** You must take the test with the same passport you use in the visa application. The centre photographs you and checks the passport. A name mismatch between the test certificate and the application is a common refusal point. 6. **Prepare for 2 to 4 weeks** IELTS Life Skills A1 is a pair test with another candidate. Practise introducing yourself, your family, your village or town, your work and your daily routine in simple English. Coaching centres in Punjab run 2-week A1 batches at about ₹3,000 to ₹6,000. 7. **Collect the result and check the dates** Results take 7 days for IELTS Life Skills and 2 to 5 days for PTE and LanguageCert. The certificate is valid for 2 years for the visa application. If the visa application is delayed past 2 years, you sit the test again. 8. **Check exemptions before paying** You do not need a test if you hold a degree taught in English confirmed by ECCTIS, are aged 65 or over, or have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you meeting the requirement. Most Punjab spouse applicants with a BA or BSc from an Indian university cannot use the degree route unless ECCTIS confirms English-medium teaching. ## Places - IDP IELTS for UKVI test centre, Sector 17 and Sector 34 commercial area, Chandigarh, Chandigarh - Pearson PTE UKVI test centre, Industrial Area Phase 1 and Sector 17 area, Chandigarh, Chandigarh - IDP IELTS for UKVI test centre, Feroze Gandhi Market and Mall Road area, Ludhiana, Ludhiana - IDP IELTS for UKVI test centre, Model Town and GT Road area, Jalandhar, Jalandhar - IDP IELTS for UKVI test centre, Ranjit Avenue area, Amritsar, Amritsar - LanguageCert SELT centre, Venues allocated at booking through the LanguageCert website, Chandigarh and Ludhiana ## FAQ **Is general IELTS accepted for a UK spouse visa?** No. Only IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills taken at a UKVI-approved centre, or another provider on the SELT list. A general IELTS certificate, even with a high band, is rejected. **What score is A1 in IELTS?** IELTS Life Skills A1 is pass or fail; there is no band. If you take IELTS for UKVI instead, the Home Office treats 4.0 in speaking and listening as A1, 4.5 as A2, and 4.0 in all four skills as B1 for most purposes. Check the level table on gov.uk for your route. **How long is the English certificate valid?** 2 years from the test date for the application. A certificate used successfully for the first visa can be reused for the extension only if it was at A2 or higher and still within its validity. **Can my husband in the UK take the test for me?** No. The applicant takes the test personally with the passport used in the application. **Which is the easiest A1 test?** IELTS Life Skills A1 and PTE Home A1 are both short speaking and listening tests. Most Punjab applicants choose IELTS Life Skills because centres are nearer. The content is simple; the failures come from nervousness and not practising in English at home. **Do I need B1 or B2 for settlement?** B1 for settlement applications until March 2027. From March 2027 the level rises to B2. If you are near the 5-year point, book the test and apply before the change. --- UK Visa Desk is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are a private company, not affiliated with the UK Government, and we are not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We serve applicants who are in India; applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated UK adviser. We do not handle work visas. Information here is general, not legal advice, and no visa outcome is guaranteed. We do not handle UK work visas. Applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.