Check your UK visa route or study sponsor

Start with your exact application

Open the Student English guidance or Skilled Worker English guidance for those routes. For another visa, use its own GOV.UK page. Read the evidence alternatives and any rules for a previous permission or result.

• Confirm the visa route and whether you are entering, switching or extending.
• Record the required CEFR level and whether all four skills must be proved.
• Check whether accepted qualifications or previous evidence remove the need for a new test.

For study, confirm the sponsor’s instructions

For degree-level study or above, the Student guidance allows an eligible Higher Education Provider to assess English itself. Ask your provider how it will assess and record your English evidence, including the test needed for your course and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

If the provider asks for standard PTE Academic, confirm that this is consistent with the evidence method for your visa. Do not replace a required SELT with a standard academic test.

A useful written question is: “For my course and intake, will you assess English for sponsorship, which PTE version do you accept, what overall and skill scores must I meet, and do I need a SELT for this application?” Include your course and offer reference, not unnecessary passport or financial documents.

Check the approved product and location

Use GOV.UK’s SELT list to check PTE Academic UKVI, the grade required for your CEFR level and an approved test location. For testing in India, use the list for locations outside the UK.

Match the exact test name in the booking. Keep the SELT URN from the result for electronic checking, and confirm the result-age rule for your application.

Make a final evidence record

• Route and application stage, intended submission date and relevant current GOV.UK URL.
• Required CEFR level, all assessed skills and the matching PTE component thresholds.
• For study: course, intake, sponsor assessment method and written clarification where needed.
• For a work-route transition: previous permission type and dates, and the provision you are relying on.
• Exact Pearson test, approved location, accepted ID and official result reference.

Check again when the result arrives

Compare each required skill with the actual report. For a four-skills B2 requirement, Pearson lists 59 or higher in every component; the B1 figure is 43 per component. Use the UKVI score explanation if you are unsure why an overall score cannot compensate for one component below the threshold.

Read the SELT URN from the result and enter it exactly where the application requests it. GOV.UK uses that reference for electronic verification. A screenshot or booking email is not a substitute for the requested reference. Follow the results guide for account and report access.

Confirm the result-age condition and applicable route rule at submission, especially if the application has been delayed. An earlier course offer does not freeze the immigration requirement. If the evidence method remains unclear, resolve it with the sponsor or relevant authority before submitting.

Return to your route

Continue with the UK study and work route, the PTE Academic UKVI guide and the booking checklist once the official requirements are resolved.