Can anyone explain difference between IELTS or SELT equivalent?

IELTS is an English test which is required to be taken by international students for studying or working in an English speaking country. It is a test to check the ability of the person in terms of listening, writing, reading and speaking English language. It is required by the universities and Visa official wants to make sure that you don’t have issues in settling in the country.

A Secure English Language Test (SELT) is considered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) authorities as proof of student applicant’s English proficiency. Students planning to study a course at below degree level (such as a foundation course, or pathway course) will need to take a SELT in order to receive the UK Student Visa. UKVI IELTS is one such test which is acceptable under SELT.

IELTS(The International English Language Testing System) is an English language test for study, migration or work. Over three million people take our test every year. IELTS is accepted by more than 11,000 employers, universities, schools and immigration bodies around the world.

Your ability to listen, read, write and speak in English will be assessed during the test. IELTS is graded on a scale of 1-9.  

  If you are in the UK

You can only take a SELT(SECURE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST) with one of the following providers:

• Trinity College London
• IELTS SELT Consortium
• LanguageCert
• Pearson

If you are outside of the UK

You can only take a SELT(SECURE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST) with one of the following providers:

• PSI Services (UK) Ltd
• IELTS SELT Consortium
• LanguageCert
• Pearson

The list of approved English language tests has been assessed as meeting Home Office requirements under the secure English language testing arrangements. Only those tests and test levels specified are approved. If you intend to use an English language test in your immigration or nationality application, you must take one of the tests on the list.

You should make sure the test that you book is the one approved for SELT:

• Pearson: ‘PTE Academic UKVI’ or ‘PTE Home’
• PSI Services: ‘Skills for English UKVI’
• Trinity College London: ‘Secure English Language Tests for UKVI’ – Integrated Skills in English (ISE) or Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)
• IELTS SELT Consortium: ‘IELTS for UKVI’ or ‘IELTS Life Skills’
• LanguageCert: ‘LanguageCert International ESOL SELT’

It is for you to decide which test to take.

The list of approved tests gives the CEFR level and minimum grade requirements for each level is mentioned below for your reference: