Skills for English A2

What Skills for English A2 is

Skills for English UKVI A2 (2 component) is on the GOV.UK list for tests taken outside the UK, with a minimum grade of Pass, effective from 1 October 2020 (GOV.UK list). GOV.UK says a family visa extension after 2.5 years needs A2 speaking and listening if the first visa used A1 (GOV.UK). PSI says the result can be used for applications made inside the UK (PSI). GOV.UK says a SELT result is valid for 2 years from the date it is awarded (GOV.UK). Rules can change, so check GOV.UK for your situation.

PSI is not a UK-based provider on the GOV.UK list. GOV.UK shows PSI Services (UK) Ltd as not available for tests taken in the UK. We are not connected to PSI. We use its name only to say which test we mean. Information is as of 9 November 2026.

What happens in the test, step by step

1. Book and attend. You take the test at a centre in one of the 130 or more countries PSI lists (PSI). It is one computer session with no examiner or assessor present.
2. Part 1, introduce yourself. You hear five questions: your name, how to spell your first name, where you are from, your birthday and what you do. This takes 1 to 2 minutes and is not assessed (specification).
3. Part 2, topic exploration. You hear 5 questions about your personal context and 5 questions about everyday life. You speak your answers and they are recorded.
4. Part 3. A1 and A2 use a role play. You see 5 prompts on screen, for example about describing an event to a friend or talking to a shop assistant. You get 1 minute to read and up to 3 minutes to respond (specification). Answers that do not fit the situation cannot get full marks for relevance.
5. Listening. Listening takes about 25 minutes. Each recording is played twice and a computer marks it (specification). Part 1 has five short recordings with one 3-option multiple-choice question each. Part 2 is one conversation between two speakers with five 3-option questions. Part 3 is a monologue, for example a phone message or announcement, and you complete five sentences by dragging answers from ten options.
6. Finish. Speaking is about 10 minutes. PSI gives a maximum time of 35 minutes for the whole test (PSI).

Marks, criteria and results

Marks are 15 for speaking and 15 for listening, 30 in total (specification). Result is Pass or Fail. Every component must be passed. The number of marks needed to pass is not published in the specification, so we do not give a pass mark.

The speaking criteria at A1 and A2 are relevance and appropriacy of response, accuracy of response (grammar and vocabulary), and clarity and pronunciation (specification, mark schemes). At A1, the top band is for short accurate responses where mispronunciations do not significantly impede, and lower bands are for frequent errors that cause misunderstanding.

PSI says results usually come within 3 to 5 days (PSI). Compare providers on SELT test results.

Topics

PSI says A2 includes the A1 topics and adds (specification): current, past and future work and studies; general health, medication and labels; accommodation; local area; socialising; personal opinions; free time and going out; TV and media; holidays and festivals; food and ingredients; shopping, returns, ordering and complaining; emergencies, lost and found; enquiries and bookings; and travel, maps, timetables and directions.

How to practise

You do not need to see the real screen to practise the method. Follow these steps.

1. Practise Part 1 until you can answer the five questions without thinking: your name, spelling, country, birthday and what you do.
2. Practise Part 2 with a timer. Answer each question in one or two clear sentences. Example: "Last weekend I went to the market with my sister. We bought fruit and some shoes."
3. For Part 3, read five prompts in one minute and plan one sentence for each. Use all five prompts, because a missing prompt loses relevance.
4. Practise listening twice to a short message and then do the questions. On the first listen, find the main idea. On the second listen, find the numbers, days and names.
5. Record your speaking. Check that each answer fits the question and that your words are clear.

You can practise Skills for English A2 in this format with an AI examiner on this site. Our feedback is always an estimate. PSI also shares free practice tests, test-taker guides and annotated responses on its prepare page and practice tests page. Not sure of your level? Take the free level check, no sign-up, at our level check.

Fee and booking

The fee in pounds is not confirmed. PSI sells the test outside the UK in local prices through its booking site, and no price was visible to us. Check the booking page. See SELT test fees. Because the test is outside the UK only, read Skills for English for an overview of all levels, or compare other providers on SELT test.