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IELTS Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR / Settlement)

United Kingdom · UK Home Office

Minimum Required

4Overall

B1 speaking and listening - Life in the UK test also required

Key Facts

  • ILR requires B1 English in speaking and listening only (Life in the UK test also mandatory).
  • Most applicants use IELTS Life Skills B1 (a separate test) rather than full IELTS.
  • If you passed IELTS at B2+ level for your original visa, it may satisfy the B1 requirement.
  • British citizenship requires a further B1 proof if not already evidenced.

Tips

  • IELTS Life Skills B1 is shorter and cheaper than full IELTS - use it specifically for this step.
  • Keep your original IELTS certificates - they may serve as evidence for future applications.

Processing time: 6-12 months

🇮🇳 For Indian applicants

The UK is the fastest-growing destination for Indian students post-Brexit. The Graduate Route visa (2 years post-study work) is a major draw - and most Indian students will need IELTS for UKVI (Academic) at Band 6.0-6.5 to secure admission to eligible universities.

A counsellor's honest guidance

Think of your IELTS score as the key that unlocks admission - and the admission letter is what actually makes your ILR / Settlementpossible. If you do these four things in order, you'll avoid the mistakes that cost students a year:

  1. 1.

    Confirm the exact band your course needs.The number on your own program's admissions page is the one that counts - not a general figure you read online.

  2. 2.

    Plan the money early. A United Kingdom student visa asks you to show you can fund tuition and living costs, so build a realistic budget before you fall in love with a city. See United Kingdom cost of living →

  3. 3.

    Compare your routes.If one visa path doesn't fit your situation, another might suit you better. All United Kingdom IELTS requirements →

  4. 4.

    Practise against the real bar, not a guess. Take a scored mock test so you know your current band by skill before you book the real exam.

How close are you to this requirement?

Enter your current scores to find the single skill that gets you to Band 4.0.

Listening
6.5
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0
Speaking
6.5

Current

6.5

+0.5 band to go

Target

7.0

Easiest path to Band 7

Improve Listening by +2.0 (6.5 → 8.5) while keeping others the same.

Dictation drills for Section 4, shadowing at 0.9× speed, and timed note-completion practice.

Single-skill path to Band 7

Listening

Currently 6.5 → need 8.5

+2.0

Reading

Currently 6.0 → need 8.0

+2.0

Writing

Currently 6.0 → need 8.0

+2.0

Speaking

Currently 6.5 → need 8.5

+2.0
Practice the skill you need to improve

Do this next

Stop spreading effort across all four modules. Your fastest route to Band 7.0 is Listening.

Students lose time when they "study harder" instead of fixing the exact skill blocking the next score jump.

Start Listening improvement now

Frequently Asked Questions

Other United Kingdom Visa Types

Student VisaSkilled Worker

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