SELT Practice
A1 English test for a UK spouse visa in Pakistan
In Pakistan you can take an A1, A2 or B1 speaking and listening test for a UK visa with LanguageCert, Pearson (PTE Home), PSI (Skills for English) or the IELTS SELT Consortium (IELTS Life Skills), as of 10 November 2026. Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi all have listed centres. The mistake people make is booking ordinary IELTS or PTE Academic instead of a test on the GOV.UK approved SELT list; most people take a speaking and listening test.
Which tests you can take in Pakistan
Outside the UK, GOV.UK says you can only take a SELT with PSI Services, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert or Pearson. Trinity College London is not on that outside-UK list, so a Trinity GESE test is for people in the UK. The table shows the providers with a listed centre in Pakistan on the GOV.UK list of approved test centres outside the UK, dated 30 October 2026 (GOV.UK SELT guidance).
The test names matter. The approved speaking and listening tests are IELTS Life Skills, LanguageCert International ESOL SELT, PTE Home and Skills for English UKVI. Ordinary IELTS, PTE Academic and LanguageCert Academic are different tests. For an A1 or A2 visa you need one of the two-skill tests.
| Provider and test | Levels on GOV.UK outside-UK list | Cities with a listed centre | Fee | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LanguageCert (Speaking and Listening) | A1, A2, B1 | Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Mirpur, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sialkot | See the provider's booking page | LanguageCert |
| Pearson PTE Home (Speaking and Listening) | A1, A2, B1 | Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore | See the provider's booking page | Pearson PTE |
| PSI Skills for English (Speaking and Listening) | A1, A2, B1 | Faisalabad, Gujrat, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Mirpur, Peshawar | See the provider's booking page | PSI |
| IELTS Life Skills (Speaking and Listening) | A1, B1 (A2: check the booking page) | Abbottabad, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Mirpur, Multan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sialkot | See the provider's booking page | IELTS |
GOV.UK lists A1, A2 and B1 speaking and listening tests for all four providers outside the UK. IELTS says its A2 Life Skills test is offered in the UK only, so check the IELTS booking page for A2. A listed centre does not always run every level on every date. Fees are set by each provider and change, so we have not copied a price. Open the booking link for the current fee in Pakistani rupees or the currency shown.
Where the centres are
Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi are the three cities where all or nearly all providers have a listed centre. Islamabad and Rawalpindi are close together, so someone in the capital region has the widest choice. Faisalabad, Peshawar, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Mirpur have a LanguageCert, PSI or IELTS centre, but not every provider.
Some people travel to Islamabad or Lahore from smaller towns. Check the exact address on the booking page, because a city name on the GOV.UK list does not tell you the street or the opening days.
Which level for which UK visa
The level depends on your route. A first partner visa needs A1. An extension of a partner visa needs A2 if your first test was A1. Settlement needs B1 or higher, and citizenship needs B1 or higher. B2 applies to some routes from 26 March 2027. Always check your own route on GOV.UK (GOV.UK family visa, GOV.UK English language). Our guide UK visa English test sets out each route in plain English. To compare providers, see which English test for a UK visa.
How to book in Pakistan, step by step
- Check your level and route on GOV.UK.
- Choose one of the providers in the table. Compare the test format, the centre nearest you, and the date.
- Open the provider's own booking page. Do not pay an agent or a site that is not the provider.
- Choose the SELT version for your level, such as A1 Speaking and Listening. Do not choose an Academic or general test.
- Pick a centre and date. Pay the fee shown.
- Keep your booking confirmation. Check what ID the centre needs. Your passport is usually the main document, so check that the name matches your visa application exactly.
If no centre near you is open, GOV.UK says you may have to travel to another country to take the test.
What happens on test day
Arrive early with the ID named in your booking confirmation. The tests have two parts, speaking and listening. Some providers use a live examiner and some record your answers on a computer, so read the provider's test format page before you go, and follow the centre's own rules on what you may bring into the room. Results are given through the provider. The time varies by provider; see SELT test results times.
How the result reaches the Home Office
The provider reports your result for your visa application, and you normally give the reference number it issues in the application. Follow the instructions on your route's GOV.UK page. GOV.UK says test results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded, so book your test with your visa timeline in mind (GOV.UK).
Who does not need the test
Pakistan is not on the GOV.UK exempt list, so Pakistani nationals normally need to prove their English unless another exemption applies, such as a degree taught in English. The GOV.UK exempt list covers a short list of nationalities, plus other exemptions such as some degrees taught in English. Read English test exemptions for the UK and the GOV.UK exemptions page before you book. Do not rely on an agent or a forum for this.
Practise for free before you pay
Our free level check gives you an estimate of your speaking and listening level in a few minutes, so you know whether A1, A2 or B1 is the realistic target. Then practise at your level: A1 English test practice and A1 sample questions. Our feedback is an estimate only. We are an independent practice site and not linked to any test provider. This page is general information, not immigration advice; check GOV.UK for your case.
How much does the UK visa English test cost in Pakistan?
Each provider sets its own fee, and it may change. We could not confirm an official price for Pakistan from the provider pages, so we do not quote one. Open the provider's booking page from the table to see the current fee before you pay.
Is there a test centre in Islamabad?
Yes. The GOV.UK list of approved test centres outside the UK, dated 30 October 2026, shows Islamabad for LanguageCert, Pearson (PTE Home), PSI and the IELTS SELT Consortium. Check the provider's booking page for the street address and dates.
How long is my English test result valid?
GOV.UK says test results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded, and your visa application must use a result from the previous two years.
How fast do I get my result?
It depends on the provider. Some give a result within a few days and some take longer. See our page on SELT result times, then check your provider's own page before you book if your visa date is close.