What is IELTS Life Skills? All the information about IELTS Life Skills exam

What is the IELTS Life Skills certificate? How is it different from regular IELTS? Perhaps this is an exam that has quite a few new points for candidates. In the following article, let's explore all the information about the IELTS Life Skills exam together with PREP!

I. What is “IELTS Life Skills”?

IELTS Life Skills is known as an English language proficiency test for those who plan to study, work, or settle in the United Kingdom. This exam focuses only on two skills: Listening and Speaking, with three levels: A1, A2, and B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

IELTS Life Skills is regulated by the UK government, replacing the KET certificate, and it was introduced on April 5th, 2015. The exam is proposed by the three partners of IELTS: the British Council, IDP Australia, and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

The examination fee for IELTS Life Skills is approximately 177 USD.

II. Who is IELTS Life Skills for?

IELTS Life Skills is a certificate designed for individuals who need to demonstrate their English speaking and listening skills according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for the purpose of applying for a UK visa. The United Kingdom accepts this certificate for certain specific types of visas, including:

• If you want to stay with family members, spouse/partner who is already living in the UK.
• If you are currently living in the UK and wish to settle there permanently.
• If you want to become a British citizen.

Before registering for IELTS Life Skills, it is important to thoroughly check the English language requirements for each specific visa category to participate in the exam and meet the required level.

III. Format of the IELTS Life Skills exam

The IELTS Life Skills exam is conducted in a paired format, where candidates interact directly with an examiner. The test components are designed to assess the candidates' everyday communication skills and experiences. Participants will engage in short conversations on familiar topics such as home, weather, transportation, and other daily life situations.

IV. Time and structure of the IELTS Life Skills exam

The time and structure of the IELTS Life Skills test are divided according to each level as follows:

1. IELTS Life Skills A1

For the IELTS Life Skills A1 test, the duration of the exam is approximately 16 - 18 minutes. Candidates will take the test with another candidate and an examiner. This test is suitable for those who need to demonstrate listening and speaking skills at the A1 level of the CEFR reference framework.

Requirements of the test:

• Candidates listen and respond to English in simple contexts, such as announcements and instructions.
• Communicate basic personal information, express emotions, express opinions, and viewpoints on familiar topics.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate with others in specific situations on familiar topics.

Structure of the test:

• Description
• Giving opinions
• Presenting personal information
• Presenting preferences
• Making comments
• Asking for and describing information
• Presenting agreement or disagreement
• Explaining and giving reasons
• Making decisions
• Presenting suggestions
• Making choices

2. IELTS Life Skills A2

The IELTS Life Skills A2 test has a duration of 20 minutes. Candidates will take the test with another candidate and an examiner. This test is suitable for those who need to demonstrate listening and speaking skills at the A2 level.

Requirements of the test:

• Candidates listen and respond to English related to basic information, short narratives, explanations, and instructions.
• Candidates communicate and convey basic personal information, and express emotions, opinions, and viewpoints on familiar daily topics.
• Communicate with others, and exchange information in a situation related to a familiar topic.

Structure of the test:

• Comparison
• Organizing ideas
• Persuasive argument about an issue

3. IELTS Life Skills B1

The IELTS Life Skills B1 test has a duration of 22 minutes. Candidates will take the test with another candidate and an examiner. This test is suitable for those who need to demonstrate listening and speaking skills at the B1 level.

Requirements of the test:

• Candidates listen and reflect in English on simple information such as short narratives, and follow simple explanations and instructions.
• Candidates communicate and convey information related to personal matters, express emotions, opinions, and viewpoints on familiar topics.
• Candidates communicate with others about a familiar topic, provide evidence, personal opinions, and respond to others in a discussion.

Structure of the test:

• Showing contrast, reasons, causes, purposes of issues.
• Detailed narration of an issue.
• Question and answer about past or future events.
• Expressing certainty or possibility of future events.

V. Criteria and scoring of the IELTS Life Skills exam

The IELTS Life Skills exam does not have a scoring scale. The result is either "achieved" or "not achieved." The examiner will assess your ability to gather and convey information, communicate orally, and engage in discussion during the conversation passage.

VI. Some common topics in the IELTS Life Skills exam

In the IELTS Life Skills exam, you will encounter communication topics that are familiar in daily life and work, such as:

• Personal information/experiences
• Family and friends
• Leisure time
• Education/training
• Transportation
• Housing
• Weather
• Shopping
• Jobs
• Health

In the IELTS Life Skills exam, you will discuss, express opinions, and provide information related to these topics.

VII. Compilation of reference IELTS Life Skills test papers

Below are some IELTS Life Skills test papers that you can refer to in order to familiarize yourself with the exam format!

IELTS LIFE SKILL A1 - B1 LEVEL PDF

VIII. Effective preparation for IELTS Life Skills

IELTS Life Skills primarily tests practical application and the ability to use English in everyday communication. To succeed in this exam, you need to have an effective preparation strategy. Below, PREP will suggest the most detailed ways to prepare for the IELTS Life Skills test!

1. Practice communication with common topics in the exam

The IELTS Life Skills test mainly revolves around familiar topics in life, such as friends, family, weather, housing, etc. You should spend time engaging in discussions about situations and issues related to these topics. You can write a dialogue in advance and practice speaking in front of a mirror, or record yourself on video to self-correct any mistakes. During the learning process, it's important to have a multidimensional understanding of a specific topic to develop reflexes and problem-solving abilities in real-life situations.

2. If possible, practice with a partner 

If you have a companion to discuss and communicate with, take advantage of it to practice more. As per the structure of the IELTS Life Skills exam, you will participate in the test with another candidate. Therefore, during practice, getting used to discussing with someone else will train you to be mentally prepared and develop natural reflexes.

Practicing with another person also helps improve both listening and speaking skills, as you receive and convey information. When practicing with a partner, choose dialogues that involve discussion, presenting arguments, expressing personal opinions, and providing basic information that aligns with the requirements and structure of the IELTS Life Skills test.

For example, you and your partner can engage in a persuasive argument about the use of electric vehicles in the topic of transportation. In such direct discussions, both individuals can correct each other's mistakes and provide feedback to make the communication session valuable.

3. Listening to English news through various media channels 

The IELTS Life Skills exam assesses candidates' ability to comprehend information. You can enhance your listening skills by actively and passively practicing through various news channels, particularly focusing on listening to current affairs related to everyday situations and stories.

Choose to listen to British English accents to familiarize yourself with the intonation of native speakers from the UK. During your listening practice, develop a habit of taking notes on the main points in news articles or dialogues to evaluate your understanding of the topics.

4. Practice with the Virtual Speaking Room at PREP 

In some countries, there are limited opportunities for direct communication with native English speakers. Therefore, one effective environment for practicing English communication that you should not overlook is the Virtual Speaking Room at PREP.

The Virtual Speaking Room at PREP accurately simulates the environment of the IELTS Academic speaking test room. However, learners can also apply it to practice for the IELTS Life Skills exam.

To effectively practice with the Virtual Speaking Room, equivalent to the level required for the IELTS Life Skills exam, you should choose topics that are familiar and closely related to daily life. For example, topics about family, friends, etc.

When practicing with the Virtual Speaking Room at PREP, you will receive detailed guidance on how to develop and present ideas in your speech. Moreover, PREP applies AI technology to provide detailed feedback on pronunciation, helping you improve your pronunciation skills.

Allocating 30 minutes each day to practice speaking in the Virtual Speaking Room at PREP will enhance your English reflexes and boost your confidence when participating in the IELTS Life Skills and regular IELTS exams.

The key to preparing for the IELTS Life Skills exam is to practice as much as possible. Therefore, if you have the opportunity, don't hesitate to use English for daily communication.

IX. Reliable IELTS Life Skills materials

Here are some effective and reputable sources of study materials for the IELTS Life Skills exam that PREP suggests for you to consider. Take a look!

1. IELTS Life Skills Official Cambridge Test Practice

IELTS Life Skills Official Cambridge Test Practice is published by Cambridge University Press. This is the top-notch resource that you cannot ignore when preparing for the IELTS Life Skills exam. The book consists of 3 volumes corresponding to the 3 levels A1, A2, B1 in the exam.

The book provides the following main sections:

• Part 1: Basic information about the exam.
• Part 2: Instructions for learners and teachers on how to use the book, along with additional reference materials such as audio recordings and pictures.
• Part 3: Guidelines for teachers on organizing practice sessions for the exam.
• Part 4: Includes 4 test tasks following the exam format. This section includes illustrative images and examiner's comments to help you understand the format of the test sections.
• Part 5: Suggested answers for the tasks.
• Part 6: Sample questions that teachers can use to help learners develop more ideas.

The knowledge provided in this book is extremely useful, so you should make the most of it. Spend time practicing the tasks in the book and use the suggested answers as helpful hints to develop your ideas in communication situations.

2. Test Practice at PREP

One of the useful study materials for the IELTS Life Skills exam that cannot be overlooked is the Test Practice question bank – especially the question bank in the Virtual Speaking Room at PREP and the Listening test at PREP.

• The IELTS Listening Question Bank is a valuable resource for practicing listening and getting familiar with the effective pronunciation of native speakers. Although the listening tasks have the structure of the IELTS Listening exam, you can still train your reflexes and accurate information reception skills through various exercise formats to improve your listening proficiency for the IELTS Life Skills exam.
• The Virtual Speaking Room at PREP, with its exclusive AI technology, is where you can train your English speaking reflexes, practice developing ideas with familiar topics, and receive advanced feedback on pronunciation. Make use of question banks that contain familiar topics often appearing in the IELTS Life Skills exam for practice.

X. Take the First Step Towards IELTS Success

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