Qualified teacher status (QTS): English language test
How to provide an English language test as part of your QTS application that will meet all the requirements.
Applies to England
If you plan to provide evidence that you鈥檝e passed an English language test as part of your , you鈥檒l need to make sure your test meets all the requirements.
What your English language test must show
For QTS, the test must be a 鈥楽ecure English Language test鈥� (SELT). That means it was taken:
- with an approved provider
- at an approved test location
- within the last 2 years
Your test must be at level B2 or above of the .
Approved providers and tests
The Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA) recognises 5 approved SELT providers for QTS.
Each provider offers a number of different tests, so it鈥檚 important to understand which ones we can accept.
You鈥檒l also need to know your provider鈥檚 required scores for the 4 disciplines of:
- listening
- speaking
- reading
- writing
| Approved provider name | Tests we can accept | Required scores |
|---|---|---|
| 鈥業ELTS for UKVI鈥� or 鈥業ELTS Life Skills鈥� | Listening: 5.5 , Speaking: 5.5 , Reading: 5.5, Writing: 5.5 | |
| 鈥楲anguageCert International ESOL SELT鈥� | Listening: 33/50, Speaking: 33/50, Reading: 33/50, Writing: 33/50 | |
| 鈥楶TE Academic UKVI鈥� or 鈥楶TE Home鈥� | Listening: 59, Speaking: 59, Reading: 59, Writing: 59 | |
| 鈥楽kills for English UKVI鈥� | Listening: Pass, Speaking: Pass, Reading: Pass, Writing: Pass | |
| 鈥楽ecure English Language Tests for UKVI鈥� 鈥� Integrated Skills in English (ISE) or Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) | Listening: Pass, Speaking: Pass, Reading: Pass, Writing: Pass |
If you鈥檙e already in the UK when you book your SELT, you cannot use PSI Services. If you鈥檙e outside the UK, you cannot use Trinity College London.
Deciding which test is right for you
We cannot recommend which of the approved providers is right for you. Prices and locations vary between providers, so you鈥檒l need to research costs, as well as the availability of an approved test location near you.
About other SELT providers
The TRA does not recognise any other providers or SELTS at the moment. If they do so in future, those providers and tests will also be listed on this page.
If you plan to use your SELT for a Skilled Worker visa, you must use one of the 5 approved providers listed on this page. No future providers or tests will be accepted for this purpose.
Providing evidence of your SELT
The QTS application form will ask you to provide the reference number for your SELT. The approved providers use different names for these numbers. These are:
- IELTS SELT Consortium 鈥� 鈥榯est report form number鈥�
- LanguageCert 鈥� 鈥榰nique reference number鈥�
- Pearson 鈥� 鈥榮core report code鈥�
- PSI Services 鈥� 鈥榰nique reference number鈥�
- Trinity College London 鈥� 鈥榗ertificate number鈥�
You do not need to upload any documents. The QTS assessor will check your reference number on your chosen provider鈥檚 website.