Key points
- PTE Academic UKVI: four skills, for work and study visas
- PTE Home: speaking and listening, for family and settlement
- Ordinary PTE Academic has no URN and is not a SELT
PTE for the UK
PTE for UK visas: PTE Academic UKVI, PTE Home and the CEFR levels
UK visas need a Secure English Language Test. For Pearson that is PTE Academic UKVI for work and study, or PTE Home for family and settlement. Skilled Worker needs B2 from 8 January 2026, which is 59 in every skill; a below-degree Student visa needs B1, 43 in every skill.
Which UK route needs which level and which PTE test
Levels are on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Work and study routes test all four skills; family, settlement and citizenship routes test speaking and listening only.
| Route | CEFR level | PTE test | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, new applicants and switches | CEFR levelB2 in all four skills | PTE testPTE Academic UKVI | Sourcegov.uk, Skilled Worker: knowledge of English | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Skilled Worker, extension of a visa held before 8 January 2026 | CEFR levelB1, or no new proof if already shown | PTE testNot needed if already proven | Sourcegov.uk, Skilled Worker: knowledge of English | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Student, below degree level | CEFR levelB1 in all four skills | PTE testPTE Academic UKVI | Sourcegov.uk, Student: knowledge of English; Pearson UK visa table | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Student, degree level and above | CEFR levelB2; the university may assess it itself | PTE testPTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI, as the university says | Sourcegov.uk, Student: knowledge of English; Pearson UK visa table | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Family route, first application | CEFR levelA1, speaking and listening | PTE testPTE Home A1 | SourcePearson UK visa table; Home Office approved test list | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Family route, extension | CEFR levelA2, speaking and listening | PTE testPTE Home A2 | SourcePearson UK visa table; Home Office approved test list | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Settlement and British citizenship | CEFR levelB1, speaking and listening | PTE testPTE Home B1 | SourcePearson UK visa table; Home Office approved test list | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
What a SELT is and why the version matters
Only a SELT proves English for a UK visa, and for Pearson that means PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Home.
A Secure English Language Test (SELT) is a test the Home Office has approved for UK visas. For Pearson that means PTE Academic UKVI, which tests all four skills, and PTE Home, which tests speaking and listening. Both must be taken at an approved centre, and the result carries a SELT Unique Reference Number (URN) that goes on the visa application.
Ordinary PTE Academic has the same tasks and 10 to 90 scale, but it is not a SELT and has no URN, so even a high score cannot prove English for a Skilled Worker visa or a below-degree Student visa. Unsure which you need? Ask the sponsor or university which version it wants before booking; the PTE Academic UKVI page covers the test itself.
Skilled Worker: B2 from 8 January 2026
New Skilled Worker applicants need B2 from 8 January 2026, which means 59 in every skill on PTE Academic UKVI.
From 8 January 2026 the Skilled Worker route asks new applicants, and people switching from another visa, for English at B2. B1 still applies to someone who held the visa before that date and is extending or updating it, and no new proof is needed where English was shown in an earlier successful application.
On PTE Academic UKVI, B2 is 59 in each of the four skills; the overall score does not carry a weak skill. That leaves little margin, so aim for the mid 60s in every skill on a full mock before booking. The UK Skilled Worker B2 guide sets out the rule and how to prepare for it.
Key points
- B2 means 59 or more in every skill
- Extensions of pre-8 January 2026 visas can stay at B1
- Plan for a margin above 59 in each skill
Studying in the UK: visa level and university level
The visa sets a floor of B1 or B2, but the university’s own course score is usually higher.
For a Student visa below degree level, such as a foundation or pathway course, the Home Office asks for B1 in all four skills through a SELT, which for Pearson is PTE Academic UKVI at 43 per skill. At degree level and above the level is B2.
At degree level, a Higher Education Provider can assess English itself, by its own choice of test, as long as the result is equivalent to B2. Pearson’s visa table says that, depending on the university, that test can be ordinary PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI.
The university’s own entry score is usually above the visa level and is set per course. Read the offer and the course page, then book the version the university names. The accepted universities page lists sourced minimums at major UK universities.
Key points
- Below degree level: B1 SELT, PTE Academic UKVI
- Degree level: B2, and the university decides which PTE version
- Course minimums sit above the visa floor
Booking and planning
Book at an approved centre and time the test so the result is still valid when the visa application goes in.
Book PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home in myPTE and choose a centre on the Home Office approved list. Before booking, sit the free full mock test to see the four skill scores the Home Office reads. Fees, rescheduling and refunds are on the fees and booking page.
Results usually arrive within two business days, and a SELT result is valid for 2 years from the date it is awarded. Time the test so that it is still valid on the day the visa application goes in.
Key points
- Choose a centre on the Home Office approved list
- Check the 2-year validity against the application date
- Measure all four skills with a full mock first
PTE Academic UKVI: minimum score per skill for each CEFR level
The Home Office list of approved Secure English Language Tests sets the minimum PTE Academic UKVI score in each of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Pearson’s UK visa table gives the same numbers. PTE Home is graded Pass. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
| CEFR level | PTE Academic UKVI, each skill | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | PTE Academic UKVI, each skill43 | Used forStudent visa below degree level |
| B2 | PTE Academic UKVI, each skill59 | Used forSkilled Worker; Student at degree level |
| C1 | PTE Academic UKVI, each skill76 | Used forRoutes or sponsors that ask for C1 |
| C2 | PTE Academic UKVI, each skill85 | Used forRoutes or sponsors that ask for C2 |
SELT rules that decide whether a result counts
What the Home Office and Pearson say about the test itself.
| Rule | What applies | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approved test | What appliesPearson’s SELTs are PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home, inside and outside the UK. | Sourcegov.uk, SELT guidance | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Approved centre | What appliesThe test must be sat at an approved test location. The Home Office publishes the centre lists and updates them. | Sourcegov.uk, SELT guidance | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Reference number | What appliesYour result carries a SELT URN. Quote it in the visa application; without it the application may be refused. | Sourcegov.uk, SELT guidance | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Validity | What applies2 years from the date the test is awarded. | Sourcegov.uk, SELT guidance | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Same content | What appliesPTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI have the same test content. Book UKVI when the visa needs a URN. | SourcePearson UK visa table | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
| Where you sit it | What appliesAt a test centre, on a computer. There is no at-home version of PTE Academic UKVI. | SourcePearson, PTE Academic UKVI | Checked21 Oct 2026 |
Related
- PTE Academic UKVIThe SELT version of PTE Academic
- UK Skilled Worker: the B2 ruleThe B2 rule and how to prepare for it
- Free PTE mock testOne complete scored mock, no card
- PTE fees and bookingFees, rescheduling and refunds
- PTE accepted universitiesPublished minimums at UK universities
- UKVIThe SELT rules for UK visas
- PTE resultsTiming, checking, sending and rescoring
- PTE score calculatorFour skill scores, CEFR and IELTS
Frequently asked questions
Can I use PTE Academic for a UK visa?
Not for a visa that needs a SELT. The Home Office approves PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home, not ordinary PTE Academic. A university that assesses English itself for degree-level study may accept ordinary PTE Academic; check the offer.
What PTE score is B2 for the UK Skilled Worker visa?
59 in each of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing, per the Home Office list of approved tests. From 8 January 2026, B2 applies to new Skilled Worker applicants and people switching from another visa.
What PTE score is B1 for a UK Student visa?
43 in each of the four skills on PTE Academic UKVI. That is the B1 level the Home Office asks for on a Student visa below degree level.
What is the URN on a PTE UKVI report?
The SELT Unique Reference Number printed on a PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Home result. Quote it in the visa application; gov.uk says an application without it may be refused.
Which PTE test do I need for a UK family or settlement visa?
PTE Home A1 for a first family visa application, PTE Home A2 for an extension, and PTE Home B1 for settlement and British citizenship. Each tests speaking and listening only and is graded Pass.
How long is a PTE UKVI result valid for a UK visa?
Two years from the date the test is awarded, per the gov.uk SELT guidance. The result must still be valid when you apply.