SELT Practice
A2 English test for a spouse visa extension
For a UK spouse or partner visa extension you need English at A2 speaking and listening if your first test was A1. GOV.UK says: "you'll need to pass at least level A2 in speaking and listening", as of 10 November 2026. You take a SELT with a provider on the GOV.UK list and give your reference number in the application.
Which English test is required for the extension?
The family visa extension comes after 2.5 years. On the GOV.UK knowledge of English page:
- If you proved English at A1 for your first visa, you need to pass at least A2 speaking and listening for the extension.
- If you already passed A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2, you can use that result again as long as the certificate has not been withdrawn.
- If you proved English in a previous successful visa application, you may not have to prove it again.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. Check GOV.UK for your situation before you book.
What is an A2 test for a spouse visa?
A2 is the second CEFR level, "elementary". The test is a speaking and listening SELT, with no reading or writing. You answer questions about daily life, such as your routine, your town, past events and simple plans, and you listen to short recordings or an examiner and respond. Five providers offer A2:
| Test | Delivery | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity GESE Grade 3 | Examiner (video or tablet at a centre) | UK only |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT A2 | Examiner, recorded | UK and outside the UK |
| IELTS Life Skills A2 | Examiner, with one other candidate | UK (IELTS says A2 is UK only) |
| PTE Home A2 | Computer | UK and outside the UK |
| PSI Skills for English A2 | Computer, no examiner | Outside the UK only |
Compare them and book on the provider's own site: Which English test for a UK visa, where to book. Our PTE Home A2 practice is a provisional design, because Pearson publishes less detail for A2.
A2 English test for a spouse visa: a sample
This sample is from our free practice, written in the style of A2 questions. It is not a real test paper, and real questions will differ. The example answers are one possible answer, and yours should be true for you.
Town, buses and prices
Examiner: Please spell your family name for me.
Example answer: My family name is Villanueva. V-I-L-L-A-N-U-E-V-A.
Examiner: Where are you from?
Example answer: I am from Davao, Philippines.
Examiner: Which is better for you, the bus or the train? Why?
Example answer: I think the bus is better because it is cheaper, and it stops near my house.
A restaurant you like
Examiner: Talk about a restaurant you like.
Example answer: I like a small Pakistani restaurant in the town centre. It is near the bus station. They serve chicken karahi, rice and fresh naan bread. I go there with my husband and sometimes with friends. The food tastes like my mother's food, and the owner is friendly. It is also cheaper than other restaurants. We usually go on Friday evenings.
Examiner: How often do you eat out?
Example answer: I eat out about once a month because it is expensive.
Notice the pattern: short sentences, a reason with "because", and one detail. That is enough at A2. See more at A2 sample questions and answers.
How the A2 speaking test is built
Most A2 tests start with simple personal questions (name, where you are from, family), then a short task such as a role-play or picture, then a short talk on a familiar topic, plus listening. Time varies by provider, from about 10 minutes to 35 minutes. Read the format of your test on its practice page: Trinity GESE Grade 3, LanguageCert A2, IELTS Life Skills A2, PTE Home A2, PSI A2.
Check your result date
A SELT result must normally be awarded in the 2 years before you apply. Use the validity calculator to see when yours ends.
How to prepare
- Answer in two or three connected sentences, not one word.
- Practise the past tense: "Last weekend I went to…".
- Practise plans: "Next month I am going to…".
- Say answers out loud, with a timer, every day for ten minutes.
See the full practice hub at A2 English test and English test for a spouse visa.
Take the free level check to see where to start, then practise out loud with the AI examiner. Results here are estimates.
Which English test is required for a UK spouse visa extension?
A speaking and listening SELT at A2 if your first test was A1, according to GOV.UK. An earlier result at A2 or higher can be used again if the certificate has not been withdrawn.
What is an A2 test for a spouse visa?
An elementary-level English speaking and listening test from a provider on the GOV.UK list: Trinity GESE Grade 3, LanguageCert A2, IELTS Life Skills A2, PTE Home A2 or PSI A2.
Is there an A2 English test for a spouse visa extension sample?
Yes. This page shows a short sample from our free practice, and the A2 sample questions page has more. They are not real test papers.
Do I need reading and writing for A2?
The family routes ask for speaking and listening only.