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Many countries have a language policy, and those policies are mainly targeting either promoting use of a particular language or preventing the use of another. While throughout the history, the states have utilized a policy towards stimulating the use of their official language, recently official steps have been being taken by several countries in order to preserve regional and minority languages. Still, the countries are mainly working for the conservation of their official languages, and they lay down conditions for various benefits in their land, such as work permit, residence permit, education, migration etc. United Kingdom is no exception to this fact.[1]

Basically, the given conditions are generally composed of several language tests evaluating different skills such as speaking, writing, reading, listening etc. Being held by native speakers, these tests aim at determining the level of non-native speakers’ level of use in a specific language, in English in the UK case - as the 98% of the population speaks English as native speaker.[2]

The UK mandates different qualification types for different fields. According to official sources of the UK Government, non-native English speakers who want to benefit from any of services including education and migration should take an approved and/or recognised English test qualification, including the well-know standardized test International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the tests provided by several universities.[3]

Even though all four countries, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have an umbrella state within the United Kingdom, they have their own language requirements in their offices for various reasons. However, these countries generally do not have language requirements in their native languages, namely Scottish and Welsh, as in English language because of variety of reasons, mainly English being the most common and official language. In addition, different proficiency tests and different grades are required for different types of benefits.[4]

Citizenship and Settlement

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There are different ways in which an individual can acquire the citizenship to UK and the language requirements that grant you this citizenship vary accordingly, in some cases they are not even present. The first and most common is naturalization which is a legal process that comprises a set of rules that regulate the application of the individual who wants to become citizen to the UK. These rules differ from country to country and usually demand the person a minimum period of residency and some other conditions such as the proof of knowledge of the national language. In the present case of analysis, in circumstances of naturalization, the precondition of knowledge of the English language and society must be regularly fulfilled. There are two main situations that allow the person to apply for citizenship by naturalization and they are moving to the UK or being born in the UK. According to the first situation, the person must have entered the UK on a visa or been from a country in the EEA (European Economic Area)[5].

Alternatively, on some conditions the spouse or civil partner of a citizen who moved to UK may become British citizen even though the process is not automatic as it is in some countries and the person needs to present an application like in the above mentioned cases. The second situation, being born in the UK is not as straightforward and dependent on when and on the parents’ circumstances. Further ways in which a person may be eligible to become citizen include the cases in which the individual is born in the UK, he or she has a British parent, he or she is stateless or had previously renounced to his or her citizenship and eventually, the case in which he or she is a Commonwealth citizen[6]. In general, some countries do not admit a dual citizenship and ask the applicant to renounce to the other citizenship following the national legislation rules[7], in the UK instead the dual citizenship is admitted and British citizens can be citizens to other states[8]. As regards the settlement, the so-called “indefinite leave of remain” which means that the person settling can stay in the UK indefinitely with limitation of time, there are infinite cases in which settlement application is possible[9] and for instance if you are a EU citizen or if you are a family member or partner of British citizen or someone who has settled in Britain. There is eventually the peculiar case of refugees and humanitarian protection[10].

British Life and Language Testing

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In order to establish a sufficient knowledge of English language and British life for citizenship and settlement the government demands you to pass a computer-based test which is called “Life in the UK test”[11]. The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 instituted such a test that everyone who is interested in naturalizing British and get settled has to take, the test if formally part of the application. The test can be booked online on the website of UK government at least 3 days in advance and at a cost of £50. You are exempted from taking the test when you are under 18 or over 65 and in circumstances that unable you to take the test which will be evaluated[12]. This test is meant to assess your general understanding of life in the United Kingdom while the sole knowledge of the language you can prove by having either an English qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level (the Life in the UK test corresponds to a B1 level on the CEFR according to the government) or a degree taught or researched in English[13].

Life in the UK test has been object of criticism as some people consider it too difficult because containing questions that not even British people would know how to answer to and moreover, it has been observed that it is not an incentive to learn, which was supposed to be one of the goals of government by instituting such a test[14].

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To prove the knowledge of English required for the application for citizenship or to settle in the Uk is necessary to have a recognized English test qualification from an approved test center.[15] There is only a certain kind of certification that a person can take to be able to obtain English knowledge recognition. The applicant has to choose a certification from English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification that is on these tables[16]:

Approved secure English language test SELT provider Awarding body Level Minimum grade required
Integrated Skills in English Trinity College London Trinity College London B1 ISEI Reading: Pass; Listening: Pass; Speaking: Pass; Writing: Pass
Integrated Skills in English Trinity College London Trinity College London B2 ISEI Reading: Pass; Listening: Pass; Speaking: Pass; Writing: Pass
Integrated Skills in English Trinity College London Trinity College London C1 ISEI Reading: Pass; Listening: Pass; Speaking: Pass; Writing: Pass
Integrated Skills in English Trinity College London Trinity College London C2 ISEI Reading: Pass; Listening: Pass; Speaking: Pass; Writing: Pass
Graded Examinations in Spoken English Trinity College London Trinity College London A1 GESE Grade 2 pass
Graded Examinations in Spoken English Trinity College London Trinity College London A2 GESE Grade 3 pass
Graded Examinations in Spoken English Trinity College London Trinity College London B1 GESE Grade 5 pass
IELTS Life Skills IELTS SELT Consortium Cambridge English Language Assessment A1 Pass
IELTS Life Skills IELTS SELT Consortium Cambridge English Language Assessment A2 Pass
IELTS Life Skills IELTS SELT Consortium Cambridge English Language Assessment B1 Pass
IELTS for UKVI IELTS SELT Consortium Cambridge English Language Assessment B1 Listening: 4.0; Speaking: 4.0; Reading: 4.0; Writing: 4.0
IELTS for UKVI IELTS SELT Consortium Cambridge English Language Assessment B2 Listening: 5.5; Speaking: 5.5; Reading: 5.5; Writing: 5.5
IELTS for UKVI IELTS SELT Consortium Cambridge English Language Assessment C1 Listening: 7.0; Speaking: 7.0; Reading: 7.0; Writing: 7.0
IELTS for UKVI IELTS SELT Consortium Cambridge English Language Assessment C1 Listening: 8.5; Speaking: 8.5; Reading: 8.5; Writing: 8.5


Table 2: Approved SELT test centres in UK
Provider Name of test centre Country Test centre type Exam
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, Belfast UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills Computer based testing
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, Birmingham UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills Computer based testing
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, Cambridge UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, Cardiff UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills Computer based testing
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, Edinburgh UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, Edinburgh UK UK permanent Computer based testing
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, London Central UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, London Central UK UK permanent Computer based testing
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, London North UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, London North UK UK permanent Computer based testing
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, London West UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, London West UK UK permanent Computer based testing
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, Manchester UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills Computer based testing
IELTS SELT Consortium British Council, Portsmouth UK UK permanent IELTS (all facets) Life Skills Computer based testing
Trinity College London Trinity Belfast SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity Birmingham SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity Cardiff SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity Croydon SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity Glasgow SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity Leeds SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity London Hammersmith SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity London Holborn SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity Manchester SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE
Trinity College London Trinity Peterborough SELT Centre UK UK permanent ISE GESE


As we can see from the list, the two main certifications are the Trinity College of London and IELTS.

Most of the recognized test qualifications only last for two years, but the applicant can still use a B1 level qualification that took more than two years ago in two situations[17]:

1) In applying for citizenship, the applicant can use a B1 level certification that has run out if the qualification was accepted when the person settled in the UK. Furthermore, if the applicant obtained a B1 level certification but the test is not on the current list of recognized tests the person does not need to take another test.

2) When applying to settle in the UK if the applicant had a B1 level test that’s run out he can still use it if it is on the current list of recognized tests and if it was accepted for another UK immigration application.

Moreover, an applicant can prove his knowledge of English by having a degree that was taught or researched in English. If the applicant has a degree from a UK university, the person has to present the degree certification. Otherwise, if the person obtained a degree not from a UK university the subject will need the degree certificate and also: a letter or document from UK NARIC confirming the equivalent level of your degree, plus an official letter from your university with your name and degree confirming that your degree was taught in English an official certificate from your university confirming the degree was taught or researched in a majority English-speaking country (except Canada).

Regarding the costs of the English certification the fee for IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration is GBP 200. As for the Trinity College London certifications the costs are not stated.

Exceptions to proficiency tests

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Despite all the language certifications that are required and demanded from those who want to study, work or immigrate to the UK, a variety of countries’ citizens are exempted from providing the given documents and proficiency. According to the government’s official sources, within the framework of this exemption, Ireland’s citizens are included, but with another exception: Only for citizenship reasons Republic of Ireland’s citizens are exempted from providing the document.[18]

Along with Republic of Ireland; citizens from many ex-colonies of the UK and those from some countries where the English is an official language are included in the given exceptions, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.[18]

Apart from the citizens of these countries, it is strictly stated that “if you’re from a country that’s not on the list you’ll need to prove your knowledge of English, even if English is an official language.”[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "UK Policy on Languages". Languages Company. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  2. ^ "Languages of the United Kingdom", Wikipedia, 2018-12-10, retrieved 2018-12-17
  3. ^ assets.publishing.service.gov.uk https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/753520/Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres__-_website.pdf. Retrieved 2018-12-17. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "Benefits - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  5. ^ "Check if you can become a British citizen". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  6. ^ "Check if you can become a British citizen". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  7. ^ "Naturalization", Wikipedia, 2018-11-25, retrieved 2018-12-13
  8. ^ "Dual citizenship". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  9. ^ "Find out if you can apply to settle in the UK". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  10. ^ "Settlement: refugee or humanitarian protection". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  11. ^ "Life in the UK Test". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  12. ^ "Life in the UK Test - Everything you need to know". lifeintheuktests.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  13. ^ "Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  14. ^ Lotbinière, Max de (2011-08-02). "UK proposes tougher English language test for family migration". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  15. ^ "Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
  16. ^ assets.publishing.service.gov.uk https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/753520/Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres__-_website.pdf. Retrieved 2018-12-14. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ^ "Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
  18. ^ a b c "Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
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