LanguageCert

Overview

LanguageCert is a UK-based awarding organisation offering English language exams for academic, work, immigration and general purposes, alongside qualifications in other languages. Two related English product families matter most: LanguageCert International ESOL, a general English proficiency qualification across six CEFR levels, and LanguageCert SELT, a UK Home Office-approved Secure English Language Test used for UK visa, settlement and citizenship applications. Both assess Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 to C2.

Who can apply

Anyone can sit LanguageCert International ESOL to certify their English level for study, work or personal use; there is no nationality or age restriction on this qualification. For UK visa and immigration purposes specifically, the test required depends on the visa route: family, settlement and citizenship applications typically need only the 2-skill Speaking & Listening SELT at A1, A2 or B1; Student visa routes need LanguageCert Academic SELT (CEFR B1-C2); and Work visa routes need LanguageCert General SELT (CEFR A2-C1). Only LanguageCert tests that appear on the UK Home Office's current approved SELT list count for an immigration application, so applicants should check that list before booking.

Test types and levels

LanguageCert International ESOL

International ESOL certifies general English ability across six CEFR levels, A1 to C2. It has two separately certificated components: a Written exam covering Listening, Reading and Writing, and a separate Spoken exam. It is available paper-based or computer-based at approved test centres worldwide, or online with live remote invigilation for the Written exam and a live two-way video Speaking exam, at B1 and above. Results are reported per skill as Pass, High Pass or Fail, rather than a single combined score.

LanguageCert SELT (for UK visas)

Since 1 January 2025, LanguageCert's UK Home Office-approved SELT range has three current tests, which replaced the earlier single 4-skill LanguageCert ESOL SELT:

• Speaking & Listening (A1, A2, B1) — a 2-skill test for visa routes that only require a minimum Speaking and Listening level, such as family, settlement and citizenship applications.

• Academic SELT (CEFR B1-C2) — a 4-skill test of academic English (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) for UK Student visa applications.

• General SELT (CEFR A2-C1) — a 4-skill test of general English for UK Work visa applications.

Across the SELT range, Speaking is conducted live, one-to-one with an examiner, either face-to-face at a test centre or by live remote video, not as a recorded response. SELT tests are delivered through a network of approved test centres in the UK and over 200 locations worldwide, to meet Home Office security requirements. A LanguageCert SELT result used for a UK visa application is valid for 2 years from the test date.

Marking and results

Each skill is graded separately as Pass, High Pass or Fail, rather than as a single aggregate score; the Written exam and the Spoken exam are reported individually. Results turnaround depends on the delivery format, with results for online exams under live remote invigilation issued faster than for paper-based sittings. LanguageCert issues a Statement of Results followed by a certificate.

Fees

Fees differ by test (Speaking & Listening SELT, Academic/General SELT, or International ESOL), by country, and by test centre, and are shown in the local booking currency — GBP for UK bookings — on LanguageCert's own fee and exam-booking pages. As a general pattern for 2026, the 2-skill Speaking & Listening SELT tests (A1/A2/B1) are priced lower than the 4-skill Academic and General SELT tests. Candidates should check the current fee for their specific test and location before registering, since both LanguageCert's SELT line-up and its fees have changed as recently as January 2025.

How to apply

Candidates register through the LanguageCert website: create a LanguageCert account, choose the right exam (International ESOL by CEFR level, or the correct SELT test for the intended visa route), and pick a test centre and date, or an online sitting with live remote invigilation where that option is offered. Candidates taking a SELT test should first confirm their chosen test is on the Home Office's current approved SELT list on GOV.UK, since the approved list and test names have changed over time.

Preparation tips

LanguageCert publishes free official practice material for each exam and level on its site, including sample papers for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and qualification handbooks that describe each task type and the marking criteria. Candidates preparing for a SELT test should use the SELT-specific sample papers and handbooks on LanguageCert's SELT site, since item types can differ slightly by level even within the same test family.