Accepted Secure English Language Tests (SELTs)
See the list below for the minimum grades required for each qualification.
Please note:
The grades shown are the minimum standards – courses may vary.
IELTS Academic for UKVI from authorised test centres only
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 6.0 Overall with 5.5 in each component.
Register: Book a new test on the British Council IELTS website.
Trinity Integrated Skills in English II (ISEII) – B2 Level
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): Pass in all Skills.
Further information: Visit Trinity College London’s Student information webpage.
Trinity Integrated Skills in English III (ISEIII) – C1 Level
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): Pass in all Skills.
Further information: Visit Trinity College London’s Student information webpage.
LanguageCert Academic SELT
Alignment to the CEFR and IELTS
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 65 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.0 equivalent) or 70 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.5 equivalent)
Register: LanguageCert Academic SELT.
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): B2 pass - no component below 33/50
Register: LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2.
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 61 (Minimum of 59 in each component).
PSI Service UKVI Skills for English test
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): B2 pass in all 4 components (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component).
English Language Proficiency Tests
See the list below for the minimum grades required for each qualification.
Please note:
The grades shown are the minimum standards – courses may vary.
IELTS Online (Academic)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 6.0 Overall with 5.5 in each component.
Register: Visit the IELTS for study webpage.
TOEFL IBT
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 78 Overall with R18, W17, L17, S20.
Register: Book a test on the ETS TOEFL website.
TOEFL IBT Home Edition
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 78 Overall with R18, W17, L17, S20.
Register: Book a test on the ETS TOEFL website.
Cambridge B2 First
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).
Register: Cambridge B2 First
Cambridge C2 Proficiency
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).
Register: Cambridge C2 Proficiency
Cambridge C1 Advanced
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).
Register: Cambridge C1 Advanced
Kaplan Test for English
Grade required: (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Minimum of 426 Overall and minimum of 396 in each component
KTE (Kaplan Test of English) - An easy-to-access online English Language test that can be taken anywhere at any time.
Use this discount code to claim a 25% discount: LJMUKRS25
Simply enter this code on the booking form to claim the discount.
You’ll receive your KTE certificate within five working days of completing the test.
Book the KTE test
For more information read the Student Guide.
LanguageCert Academic
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 65 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.0 equivalent) or 70 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.5 equivalent).
Register: LanguageCert Academic
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): B2 pass - no component below 33/50.
Register: LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator
NCUK English Language Test
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 6.0.
Register: Visit NCUK website
Oxford Test of English (OTE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 120 Overall with 111 in each component (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component).
Oxford Test of English (OTE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 130 Overall with 111 in each component (equivalent to IELTS 6.5, 5.5 for each component).
Pearson PTE Academic
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): (update to) 61 (Minimum of 59 in each component).
PSI Service UKVI Skills for English test
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): B2 pass in all 4 components (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component)
Online English Language Level Test (ELLT)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): ELLT 6 Overall, Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 (for courses that require IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component) or ELLT 7 Overall, Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 (for courses that require IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each component).
Further information: Visit the Oxford International Digital Institute website.
Register: Complete the Oxford ELLT Digital registration form. Please use the code LJMU25 to get a discounted test price of £78. If you are joining LJMU in January 2025, please use the discount code Jan35 to get an additional 10% off.
International School Qualifications
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than 4 years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. This is except for Indian qualifications which are valid for six years and Kenyan KCSE English which does not have a time limit.
Please note
The grades listed are equivalent to IELTS with 6.0 overall and a minimum of 5.5 in each component.
Selected programmes require grades equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall.
IGCSE English as a First Language
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/4
IGCSE English as a Second Language
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/4
International Baccalaureate: Literature
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 5 at SL or Grade 4 at HL
International Baccalaureate: Language
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 5 at SL or Grade 4 at HL
AS Level English Language or Literature
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
A Level English Language or Literature
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
Botswana (BGCSE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C
Brunei-Cambridge Certificate Education (CIE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C
Cameroon O Level
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade B
Hong Kong (HKDSE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 4
Hong Kong (HKALE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
India Standard XII English (CBSE and CISCE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 70%
India (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 70%
India Standard XII English (CBSE and CISCE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 70%
Please note
This qualification is not accepted for students from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, North East States (Arunachal/Assam/Mizoram/Meghalaya), who must provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI.
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C
Malawi (MSCE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): English 4
Malaysia (1119)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/6
Norway (Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 4
Singapore O Level
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade B
Singapore A Level
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
Singapore Integrated Programme (Literature in English H2 or English Language and Linguistics H2)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
South Africa (NSC)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Level 5
Tanzania Secondary School Leaving Certificate
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C in English
Uganda Certificate of Education
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 6 in English
Zimbabwe Cambridge School Certificate / Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C
West African Examination Council Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): C6
Do I need to provide evidence of my English language ability?
Applicants who are nationals of one of the following countries and have completed high school or three years of education in their home country, will normally be exempt from providing additional evidence (GOV.UK website) of their English language ability:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
The University reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language if we have concerns about an applicant’s level of English.
For further information, email the International Admissions team.
