UK settlement English
The B1 English test for ILR, and how to prepare for it
To settle in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR) on most routes, you need to prove your English at CEFR level B1. For speaking and listening this is a Secure English Language Test (SELT), most commonly the Trinity GESE Grade 5, a short face-to-face exam with a real examiner.
- Level
- CEFR B1
- Length
- About 10 minutes
- Skills
- Speaking & listening
- Format
- Face to face
- Phases
- Topic + Conversation
- Results
- Pass / Merit / Distinction
Greeting
Topic phase
your prepared topic + follow-up questions
Conversation phase
two everyday subject areas
Is there a pass rate for the B1 test?
Unlike the Life in the UK test, Trinity College London does not publish an official pass rate for GESE Grade 5, so any exact percentage you see online is not official. What is true is that the test is built to be passable at B1 with preparation. The people who pass are not the ones with perfect English; they are the ones who have spoken out loud many times, prepared their topic, and understood exactly what to fix. If a preparation service advertises a “98% pass rate”, treat it with care: that is their own marketing, not Trinity data.
What the B1 speaking test looks like
GESE Grade 5 lasts about ten minutes and has two parts. In the Topic phaseyou talk about a subject you prepared in advance and answer the examiner's follow-up questions. In the Conversation phase the examiner leads a discussion on two everyday subject areas, such as travel, food, work, or festivals. There is no reading or writing. You are assessed on four things: how well you communicate, your grammar, your vocabulary, and your pronunciation.
How you are marked, and what you need
The examiner gives one of four results: Fail, Pass, Pass with Merit, or Pass with Distinction. For settlement and citizenship you only need a Pass. That is worth remembering on the day: you are not chasing a perfect performance, you are showing you can hold a clear, everyday conversation at B1.
Communication
You hold a clear, natural conversation.
Grammar
Your basic tenses and structures are right.
Vocabulary
You have the words for everyday topics.
Pronunciation
You are easy to understand.
For ILR you only need a Pass, not Merit or Distinction.
How to prepare: a simple study plan
- 1
Prepare a real topic, not a script.
Choose a subject you genuinely enjoy and can talk about, then build four or five honest talking points. Examiners follow up, so a memorised speech falls apart, but real points let you keep going.
- 2
Speak out loud, every day.
You cannot pass a speaking test by reading about it. Say your answers aloud, record yourself, and get used to hearing your own English.
- 3
Rehearse the everyday subject areas.
Practise the kinds of topics the Conversation phase uses, home and family, work, travel, food, festivals, so nothing on the day is a surprise.
- 4
Fix specific mistakes, not vague 'improve my English'.
Find out exactly which grammar or pronunciation points cost you marks, and drill those. Understanding why you make a mistake, in your own language, is what stops it repeating.
- 5
Know honestly when you are ready.
Practise full mocks until a clear, calm conversation is normal for you. Booking the test before you are ready just means paying the fee twice.
How Speak & Stay helps
Speak & Stay is an AI conversation partner that runs the GESE Grade 5 format, marks you against the published B1 criteria, and then explains every mistake in your own language, contrasting it with how your first language works. You practise in English, but you understand in the language you think in. It gives you a calm, honest readiness read, so you know when to book your test.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a pass rate for the B1 SELT (Trinity GESE Grade 5)?
Trinity College London does not publish an official pass rate for GESE Grade 5. The exam is designed to be achievable at B1 with preparation, and most people who practise speaking out loud beforehand pass. Be cautious of preparation providers advertising figures like a '98% pass rate': those describe their own students, not official data.
How long is the B1 speaking test?
About 10 minutes, face to face with a real examiner at an approved SELT centre.
Does the B1 test include reading and writing?
No. GESE Grade 5 assesses speaking and listening only. There is no reading or writing paper.
What do I need to pass the B1 test for ILR?
Just a Pass. Results are Pass, Pass with Merit, or Pass with Distinction (or Fail). For settlement (ILR) and citizenship you only need a Pass; you do not need Merit or Distinction.
Can I prepare my topic in advance?
Yes. In the first phase you talk about a topic you have chosen and prepared, and answer the examiner's questions on it. Preparing genuine talking points, not a memorised script, is the key to this phase.
How much does the B1 test cost?
Around £150. Check Trinity College London for the current fee, as it changes. A failed test means paying again, so preparation is the cheaper path.
What happens if I fail the B1 test?
You can book and pay to take it again. There is no fixed limit, but each attempt costs the fee and can delay your settlement application, which is why speaking practice beforehand matters so much.
Which SELT do I need for ILR at B1?
For speaking and listening at CEFR B1, the most common SELT is the Trinity GESE Grade 5. Approved equivalents (such as LanguageCert) also exist. Always check the current Home Office list of approved tests for your route.
What does CEFR B1 mean?
B1 is the 'intermediate' level on the Common European Framework. At B1 you can hold an everyday conversation, describe experiences and plans, give simple opinions and reasons, and understand clear standard speech on familiar topics.
Fees and approved-test lists change; always confirm the current details with Trinity College London and the Home Office for your route. Speak & Stay is an independent preparation service and is not affiliated with Trinity College London, the Home Office, or any test provider. Practice results are feedback, not an official result, and nothing here is immigration advice.