English 
Български 
Română 
Polski The question this guide answersHow do I choose online lessons for my B1 SELT?
Check your application route
Before anything else, find out whether you need an English test at all and at which level. B1 is an intermediate level of English. It is not the level for every route, and some applicants are exempt or can use an earlier result.
The place to look is gov.uk, starting with how to prove your knowledge of English. Read the page for your own route, write down the level it asks for, and note the date you read it. Rules for immigration applications change, so the page you read matters more than anything a lesson provider tells you, including this guide.
We cannot give immigration advice. If your case is complicated, ask an immigration adviser who is regulated to give that advice.
Identify the approved test
A SELT must be taken with a provider that is on the government’s list, and gov.uk explains the list in its guidance on Secure English Language Tests. A certificate from a language school, including ours, does not count as the test.
One option for B1 speaking and listening is Trinity College London’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) Grade 5. Trinity’s B1 test page explains the format and length of the speaking and listening conversation with an examiner. Other providers and other tests may be listed for your route, so compare them on gov.uk.
Test fees are paid to the test provider, not to us. The provider’s booking help page shows the current fee, so check it on the day you book and before you budget.
Assess your speaking
A B1 conversation test rewards clear, connected answers, not perfect grammar. The most useful thing you can do before choosing lessons is hear yourself.
Set a timer for two minutes, ask yourself a question such as “Tell me about your daily routine” or “Describe a place you like”, and record the answer on your phone. Listen back and note three things: where you stopped, which words you could not find, and whether a stranger would follow you. Then ask someone else to ask you a question you have not seen, because the surprise is part of what makes a real test hard.
Bring the recording to your first lesson. A good tutor will use it to see what to work on, which is more reliable than a general level label.
Compare lesson formats
You have two kinds of online lesson to compare, and they do different jobs.
| One-to-one lessons | Group course | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Private 55 minute lessons on a live video call | A small live group on Zoom, up to 12 people |
| Best for | Practising the test conversation and fixing your own errors | Building general English across a level |
| Price | £15 per lesson, or £20 if the lesson is taught entirely in English | £298 per level course |
| Timetable | Agreed with your tutor | Set by the course |
For a B1 speaking and listening test, one-to-one lessons usually fit best, because every minute is your own speaking time. At Ucraya, tutors prepare you for the speaking and listening format. We do not run the test, and we cannot promise a result.
Whichever format you choose, ask the provider these questions before paying:
- Will I do most of the speaking, or will the tutor talk for most of the lesson?
- Will you correct my mistakes while we practise, and show me how to say it better?
- Will we practise questions I have not seen, in the order a real test might ask them?
- Can I record a lesson or take notes so I can practise between sessions?
If you would like to see how group teaching feels first, the school lets you join one live group class free of charge. A group course is better when your general English is still well below B1.
Agree a preparation plan
Plan backwards from the test date. Work out how many weeks you have, how many evenings are free, and how many lessons you can afford. One-to-one lessons are paid per lesson or in blocks agreed with the office, so you do not have to commit to a large package at the start.
A sensible plan has a simple shape. In the first lesson the tutor listens to you and sets two or three targets. In the middle weeks you practise answering unexpected questions out loud, with corrections you write down. In the last week you rehearse the test routine so that nothing about the day surprises you.
Here is the route-to-test checklist to fill in before you pay for anything. Keep it somewhere you can see it.
| Step | What to write down | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Does my route need an English test? | Yes or no, and the level | gov.uk English language |
| Can an earlier result or an exemption be used? | Yes or no, and why | The same gov.uk page |
| Which approved provider and test will I book? | Provider, test name, date | gov.uk SELT guidance |
| What does the test cost and when must I pay? | Fee, booking deadline | The provider’s booking site |
| Date I checked the official rule | Write today’s date here | Check again on the day you book |
| Who will prepare me, and how? | Tutor, number of lessons, first lesson date | The B1 lessons page |
The row for the date you checked the rule is the one people skip. Do not skip it: if you later see a different rule, the date tells you which version you followed.
Related guides
Sources
Questions answered in this guide
What does SELT mean?
SELT stands for Secure English Language Test. It is an English test taken with an approved provider for certain UK immigration applications.
Are lessons the official test?
No. Lessons help you prepare, but you book the approved test separately with the test provider. Ucraya does not run the test.
Is B1 right for everyone?
No. The level you need depends on your route, and some people are exempt or can use an earlier result. Check your own route on gov.uk before you book anything.