LS Legal News Bulletin
Skilled Worker Visa - B1 English Exam Requirement
Thursday 18th January 2024
Krisztina Szidun
As part of a UK skilled worker visa application, it is a legal requirement to complete a B1 English examination which is compartmentalised in four components containing written, oral - speaking and listening, and reading assessments. This is known as a type of secure English language test (SELT) based around the framework defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This examination determines the level of proficiency the applicant possesses within the English language.
Within the category of skilled worker visa application, the level of proficiency in the English language is significant since the applicant would be granted the right to reside and work within the UK based on their skills, education, and work experience, however, the lack of proficiency within the English language would be non-productive for their work and obstructive to their life in the UK alongside a complication for their employer.
This examination is 2 hours and 40 minutes and taken at an approved test centre where the applicant would be required to attend. This duration contains 10 minutes of oral (speaking) examination where the applicant would be asked a series of questions about themselves, their family and personal interests and may be given a topic to speak about for a brief minute. Upon completion there is an oral (listening) examination of 45 minutes where the applicant is required to listen to a variety of audio recordings and answer related questions, followed by an hour-long reading examination to test the applicant's ability to comprehend text and completed by a writing component for 45 minutes to write a short essay on a given topic.
This entire process contains components of one-to-one human interaction or video conferencing, and all other components are completed through means of a computer. Upon completion you will be given your results that would be required to be submitted to the Home Office as part of your application.
In some circumstances, a person may be exempt from this requirement. For example, if they are a national of an English majority speaking country or have a degree which was taught in English, and this has been approved and verified by ECCTIS.
