Your UK visa, ILR or citizenship starts with one English test.
- Ideal Centre is now an officially approved Trinity College London Secure English Language Test (SELT) centre. We prepare and test adults at A1, A2, B1 and B2 — the levels the UK Home Office requires for visas, ILR and British citizenship. All four of our centres. Local to you.
Important: UK immigration English rules are changing.
From 8 January 2026, Skilled Worker visa applicants must demonstrate B2 English proficiency — upgraded from B1. Further changes affecting ILR and family visa routes are expected from late 2026 and into 2027, with the English requirement for settlement rising from B1 to B2. Don't leave your application until the last minute — start your preparation now.
- Home Office approved
- Trinity accredited
- 4 local centres
- Weekday & weekend
- A1 · A2 · B1 · B2
- Results in days
- UK visa & immigration
Which test do you need?
- The level of English test you need depends entirely on the type of visa or immigration application you are making. Use the guide below to find your level — or speak to us and we'll confirm exactly what you need before you book.
A1 English
Speaking & Listening · ~10 min
- Entry-level test for family visas. Tests basic communication — introducing yourself, answering simple questions, understanding everyday spoken English.
- Required for: Initial UK Spouse / Partner / Parent (Family route) visa
- Speaking
- Listening
£160
Trinity SELT exam fee · prep separate
A2 English
Speaking & Listening · ~10 min
- Required when extending your family visa. Tests your ability to hold a conversation on familiar topics and describe past events.
- Required for: Family route visa extension (after 2.5 years)
- Speaking
- Listening
£160
Trinity SELT exam fee · prep separate
B1 English
GESE Grade 5 · Speaking & Listening
- The most commonly required test. Needed for ILR and British citizenship. You discuss a topic you chose in advance and show you can communicate confidently in everyday English.
- Required for: Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) · British Citizenship
- Speaking
- Listening
£160
Trinity SELT exam fee · prep separate
B2 English
ISE II · All 4 skills
- Upper-intermediate level now required for Skilled Worker visas from January 2026. Tests reading, writing, speaking and listening across two modules taken on the same day.
- Required for: Skilled Worker visa (new applications from 8 Jan 2026) · HPI visa
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
£200
Trinity ISE II 4-skills exam fee · prep separate
- Preparation courses
Don't just book the test — pass it
- Taking the test without preparation is the most common reason people fail. Our structured preparation courses teach you exactly what the examiner expects, give you real practice in timed conditions, and build the confidence to perform on exam day.
A1 Preparation
4-week course · 2 sessions/week
£80
total (8 sessions)
- 8 sessions × 90 minutes
- Speaking & listening focus
- Trinity exam format practice
- Mock test with feedback
- Study materials included
A2 Preparation
4-week course · 2 sessions/week
£80
total (8 sessions)
- 8 sessions × 90 minutes
- Speaking & listening focus
- Trinity exam format practice
- Mock test with feedback
- Study materials included
B1 Preparation
6-week course · 2 sessions/week
£120
total (12 sessions)
- 8 sessions × 90 minutes
- Speaking & listening focus
- Trinity exam format practice
- Mock test with feedback
- Study materials included
B2 Preparation
8-week course · 2 sessions/week
£160
total (16 sessions)
- 8 sessions × 90 minutes
- Speaking & listening focus
- Trinity exam format practice
- Mock test with feedback
- Study materials included
- How we compare
Ideal Centre vs other local providers
- We've done the research so you don't have to. Here's how Ideal Centre's preparation courses compare on price, local access and what's included.
| Provider | Prep course fee | Duration | Mock tests | Local centres | Trinity approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal Centre | £80 - £160 | 4 - 8 weeks | Yes (up to 2) | 4 centres | Yes |
| London Brookes College | £120 (all levels) | 4 weeks | Not specified | 1 centre | Yes |
| Generic language school | £150 - £200+ | Varies | Rarely | Limited | Sometimes |
| Private tutors | £30 - £50/hr | Unstructured | No | No fixed location | No |
- Class timetable
Classes that fit around your life
- All preparation courses run twice a week in 90-minute sessions. We offer weekday evening and weekend morning options so you can study without disrupting work, childcare or family commitments.
- Mon & Wed
9:00 – 11:00am
Weekend · Morning
2:00 – 4:00pm
Weekend · Afternoon
- Tue & Thu
9:00 – 11:00am
Weekend · Morning
2:00 – 4:00pm
Weekend · Afternoon
- Saturday
9:00 – 11:00am
Weekend · Morning
2:00 – 4:00pm
Weekend · Afternoon
- Sunday
9:00 – 11:00am
Weekend · Morning
2:00 – 4:00pm
Weekend · Afternoon
- New course cohorts start every 4 weeks. You can join mid-course if an assessment shows the level is appropriate. One-to-one preparation sessions are also available on request.
- How it works
From first call to passing certificate
- STEP 01
Contact us
Call, WhatsApp or book online. Tell us which visa you're working towards and we'll confirm the correct test level.
- STEP 02
Free assessment
A short, free English level check helps us place you in the right preparation group.
- STEP 03
Join your course
Attend twice-weekly preparation classes. Your tutor covers the Trinity syllabus, technique and practice questions.
- STEP 04
Mock test
Complete at least one full practice test under real exam conditions, with detailed feedback before the official SELT.
- STEP 05
Book your SELT
When ready, book your official Trinity SELT at Ideal Centre. We handle scheduling, ID briefing and exam-day setup.
- STEP 06
Receive results
Provisional GESE results arrive by email the next morning. Your digital certificate and UER number follow in 4–7 days.
- Book now
Three easy ways to get started
Book online
Fill in our quick online form — choose your level, centre and start date. Under two minutes, 24/7.
WhatsApp us
Message our team to ask questions, confirm your level or book a course. We reply within a few hours.
Call Us
Speak to our team. We'll talk through what you need, check funding and get you booked in.
Walk in
Visit any of our four centres. Our staff will book your free assessment on the spot.
- Parent & student reviews
Real results, real families
- Frequently asked questions
Answers to everything people ask us
The earlier the better. Starting in Year 10 allows time to build strong foundations and enter Year 11 with confidence. Year 11 students who join in September still have plenty of time — we recommend starting no later than October. For mid-Year 11 starters, we run intensive catch-up programmes to maximise progress quickly.
Every new student begins with a free diagnostic assessment. This maps where they are against their target grade, identifies specific topic gaps, and tells us which sessions will get the fastest results. You'll receive a written summary before booking a single paid session.
Yes. When enrolling you tell us your child's exam board for each subject, and we assign a tutor who specialises in that specification. We cover AQA, Edexcel/Pearson, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, Cambridge IGCSE and CCEA. Every session is calibrated to the exact paper your child will sit.
One-to-one is ideal for highly targeted support or pushing for the highest grades. Group tuition (max 6 students) is excellent for structured syllabus coverage with exam technique built in. Many students use both — group for weekly coverage and one-to-one for focused topic work before mocks.
After-school sessions run weekdays at 5:00–7:00pm and 7:15–9:15pm. Weekend sessions are available Saturday and Sunday at multiple slots. You choose the slot that works for your family. All sessions are two hours long.
We provide written progress updates regularly, and after every mock exam your child receives a detailed grade analysis report. Parents can speak with tutors any time. We flag concerns proactively — you'll never hear bad news for the first time on results day.
Give your child the best after school experience.
- Spaces at each branch are limited. Register your interest today and we'll confirm your child's place within 24 hours.