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Which type of English language test do I need?

Find out below which tests are suitable for our Pre-sessional courses.

To meet the entry requirements for our on-campus and combined Pre-sessional courses and apply for a Student Visa to travel to the UK, you will need a valid Secure English Language Test (SELT).

The following SELTs can be used to apply for the on-campus and combined Pre-sessional courses.

IELTS (Academic) for UK Visas and Immigration (IELTS for UKVI)

This is only available at certain test centres – see IELTS and the list of SELT centres.

You can take this test in the UK or overseas.

Pearson Test of English Academic UKVI (Pearson PTE UKVI)

This is only available at certain test centres – see Pearson and the list of SELT centres.

You can take this test in the UK or overseas

Pre-sessional courseOverallListeningReadingWritingSpeaking
20 week5143435146
12 week59464651*51
10 week6959596259
8 week62515159*51

*for academic offers requiring 6.5 in Writing applicants must have 59 in this sub-score to join 12 week and 62 in this sub-score to join 8 week

Trinity ISE

This test is only available at certain test centres – see Trinity College London and the list of SELT centres.

You can only use this test if you take it in the UK.

Online Pre-sessional courses

If you are studying one of our online Pre-sessional courses you have a wider choice of English tests that can be used to meet our entry requirements:

  • you can use one of the Secure English Language Tests (IELTS, Pearson or Trinity) as described above
  • you can use the non-UKVI version of the IELTS, Pearson and Trinity tests described above
  • you can use a TOEFL iBT test (including Home Edition) or Duolingo

TOEFL iBT and Duolingo

Online Pre-sessional CourseMinimum TOEFL iBT scoresMinimum Duolingo scores
20-week61 overall with Writing 16, Speaking 16, Reading 6, Listening 990 overall with a minimum of 90 in all components
12-week68 overall with Writing 16*, Speaking 18, Reading 10, Listening 12100 overall with a minimum of 90 in all components**
8-week A78 overall with Writing 17*, Speaking 18, Reading 14, Listening 15110 overall with a minimum of 100 in all components**
10-week90 overall with Writing 20, Speaking 20, Reading 18, Listening 17120 overall with a minimum of 110 in all components

*for academic offers requiring 6.5 in Writing applicants must have 17 in this sub-score to join 12 week and 20 in this sub-score to join 8 week

**for academic offers requiring 6.5 in any sub-score applicants must have 95 in all components to join 12 week and 105 in all components to join 8 week