B2 speaking and listening tests for settlement: what exists today

Why this page exists

For settlement (ILR) applications made on or after 26 March 2027, the Immigration Rules on most routes ask for English at B2 in speaking and listening. Before that date, they ask for B1. The details are in B2 English for ILR.

So people want to know which B2 speaking and listening test they can actually take. This page shows what the GOV.UK approved list and each provider's own pages said on 31 October 2026. Every change gets a dated line in the update log.

The tracker

Two words matter in the table:

• On the list means the GOV.UK list of approved English tests taken in the UK. That is the list the rules refer to.
• Bookable means you can choose a date on the provider's own booking system.

Note on IELTS prices: IELTS shows UK prices on the British Council and IDP booking pages. Those pages did not load for us on 31 October 2026, and ielts.org gives no UK price. We show no IELTS price until we can read one on the provider's own page.

Note on four-skill tests: the settlement rule is about speaking and listening. The B2 tests on the list today cover four skills. How a four-skill result is used for a speaking-and-listening rule is a question for GOV.UK or a regulated adviser, not for this page.

Speaking-and-listening tests, for comparison

These tests are on the list at B1. None of them has a B2 version on the list yet.

What “announced” means for GESE Grade 7

The provider says it will be used for ILR (settlement) applications made on or after 26 March 2027.

On 31 October 2026, Trinity's page offered a form to register interest. It said Trinity will email people when bookings open. On the same day:

• the GOV.UK approved list had no GESE Grade 7 row;
• Trinity's booking system did not list Grade 7;
• Trinity had published no price.

When any of this changes, we update this page and add a line to the update log.

The format Trinity publishes for Grade 7: 15 minutes, in 3 parts.

1. Topic phase (about 5 minutes)
2. Interactive phase (about 4 minutes)
3. Conversation phase (about 5 minutes)

Each part is explained in plain English in GESE Grade 7: what happens in the exam.

What to watch for

• A B2 speaking-and-listening row on the GOV.UK approved list. The GOV.UK page that links to the list was last updated on 26 October 2026.
• Trinity opening Grade 7 bookings and publishing a price.
• Another provider announcing a B2 speaking-and-listening test. On 31 October 2026, the speaking-and-listening tests from IELTS, LanguageCert and Pearson went up to B1 only.

Want an email when this changes? Use the sign-up box below this page.

Where you can sit a test

GOV.UK's list of approved test centres in the UK has 84 centres in 29 towns and cities.

Practise while you wait

Our free speaking check has a B2 practice mode in the style of the published Grade 7 format. It takes about 4 minutes. It gives a practice estimate, not an official result.