UK visas · English test

PTE UKVI vs PTE Home vs PTE Academic: which one your UK visa needs

Short answer: for a UK visa, Pearson has two Home Office approved tests (SELTs). PTE Academic UKVI tests all four skills and is for Student and Skilled Worker routes. PTE Home tests speaking and listening only and is for family, settlement and citizenship. Standard PTE Academic is not on the UK SELT list, even though it is the same exam brand used for Australia.

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The three Pearson tests side by side

  • PTE Academic UKVI

    UK SELT: Yes
    Skills
    Listening, reading, writing and speaking
    CEFR levels
    B1, B2, C1, C2
    Length
    About 2 hours
    Used for
    Student, Skilled Worker and other routes that test all four skills

  • PTE Home

    UK SELT: Yes
    Skills
    Speaking and listening only
    CEFR levels
    A1, A2, B1
    Length
    About 20-30 minutes
    Used for
    Family visas, extensions, settlement (ILR) and British citizenship

  • PTE Academic

    UK SELT: No
    Skills
    Listening, reading, writing and speaking
    CEFR levels
    Not on the UK SELT list
    Length
    About 2 hours
    Used for
    University admission worldwide, Australian and New Zealand visas

Sources: gov.uk approved SELT list; Pearson, UK visa tests.

Which test and score each UK visa route asks for

The Home Office sets the PTE Academic UKVI minimum per skill. There is no overall score requirement, so one low skill is enough to miss the level.

Higher levels: C1 is 76 and C2 is 85 in each skill on PTE Academic UKVI. Your result must be from an approved test location and awarded in the two years before you apply. Sources: SELT list, Student, Skilled Worker, Family (all gov.uk). Last checked 8 Oct 2026.

This is English-test information, not immigration advice. It tells you which test and band a route lists; it does not tell you whether you qualify for a visa. Check your route on gov.uk or speak to a regulated UK immigration adviser or solicitor.

Going deeper

PTE Academic vs UKVI: booking, centres and score reportsSkilled Worker B2 English: who stays at B1PTE for UK visas: preparation by route1-on-1 PTE coaching on UK time

PTE UKVI and PTE Home: common questions

Is PTE Academic accepted for a UK visa?

Not as a Secure English Language Test. The gov.uk SELT list names only two Pearson tests: PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home. One exception is degree-level study: your university (as a Higher Education Provider) can assess your English itself, and some universities accept standard PTE Academic for that. Ask the university before you book.

What PTE UKVI score do I need for a UK student visa?

Degree-level study needs CEFR B2, which is at least 59 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking on PTE Academic UKVI. Below degree level needs B1, which is at least 43 in each skill. The Home Office list sets these per skill and gives no overall score.

What PTE UKVI score do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?

B2, so at least 59 in each skill. The level went up from B1 for new applicants on 8 January 2026. If you held a Skilled Worker visa before that date and are extending it, gov.uk says you need B1 (43 in each skill).

What is the difference between PTE Home A1, A2 and B1?

They are three levels of one speaking-and-listening test for family and settlement routes. A1 is for a first family visa, A2 for the extension after 2.5 years, and B1 for settlement (ILR) and citizenship. PTE Home has no reading or writing section.

How old can my PTE UKVI result be?

gov.uk says the test must have been awarded in the two years before the date of your application, and it must have been taken at an approved test location.

Can PTE Nepal tell me which visa I should apply for?

No. This page is English-test information only. For your visa route and eligibility, check gov.uk or speak to a regulated UK immigration adviser or solicitor.
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