Life in the UK test or English test: which do you need for KoLL?
For most applicants the answer is both. The knowledge of language and life in the UK (KoLL) requirement for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and British citizenship has two separate parts: passing the Life in the UK test covers the "life in the UK" half, and proving your English language ability, currently at level B1 or above, covers the language half. Home Office caseworker guidance is explicit that "a person must meet both parts of the requirement", so passing one test does not excuse you from the other unless a specific exemption applies.
- KoLL has two parts: knowledge of language, and knowledge of life in the UK
- The Life in the UK test only satisfies the "life in the UK" half, never the English half
- English is proved by a B1+ SELT, a degree taught or researched in English, or nationality of a majority English-speaking country
- The Life in the UK test costs £50, has 24 questions in 45 minutes, and the pass mark is 18/24 (75%)
- Under 18s, people aged 65 or over, and those with a qualifying long-term condition are exempt from both parts
- Appendix KoLL states the English level for settlement rises from B1 to B2 from 26 March 2027
What the KoLL requirement actually is
KoLL is set out in Appendix KoLL of the Immigration Rules for settlement, and mirrored in the naturalisation requirements for citizenship. It bundles two distinct tests of integration. The first is knowledge of the English language, demonstrated to at least level B1 of the Common European Framework. The second is knowledge of life in the UK, demonstrated by passing "the test known as the 'Life in the UK test'" (or its Isle of Man and Channel Islands equivalents).
Because the two halves are assessed separately, the common question "do I take the Life in the UK test or an English test?" has a slightly awkward answer: unless you are exempt from one half, you need to satisfy both. The good news is that many people satisfy the English half without sitting any exam at all.
How the English half is satisfied
GOV.UK lists three main routes to prove knowledge of English for citizenship and settling:
- An approved English test at B1, B2, C1 or C2. This must be a Secure English Language Test (SELT) taken with an approved provider. GCSEs, A levels and NVQs do not count, and ESOL qualifications only count if they appear on the approved SELT list. Our guide to B1 English test options compared walks through the choices.
- A degree taught or researched in English. UK degrees qualify directly; overseas degrees need confirmation that they were taught in English.
- Nationality of a majority English-speaking country. Citizens of countries including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and the USA are exempt from proving English (Ireland and Malta also appear on the GOV.UK exemptions list).
None of these routes touches the Life in the UK test. Whichever way you prove English, the £50, 24-question, 45-minute test still stands on its own, with a pass mark of 18 out of 24.
GOV.UK warns that your citizenship or settlement application will be refused if you send the wrong qualifications. Check that your English test is on the current approved SELT list before you book, and keep your Life in the UK test unique reference number safe, as no paper pass letters have been issued since December 2019.
What happened to the ESOL with citizenship route
You may still see older websites describing an alternative route: completing an ESOL course with citizenship materials instead of sitting the Life in the UK test. As of August 2026, that route does not exist anywhere in the current rules. Appendix KoLL and the current caseworker guidance contain no ESOL course alternative, and the approved qualifications page is clear that ESOL certificates only help if they are on the approved SELT list, in which case they satisfy the English half only. Treat any site promising an "ESOL instead of the Life in the UK test" shortcut as out of date.
One genuine safety valve does survive in Appendix KoLL for the language half: a decision maker can accept evidence from a qualified English teacher that an applicant has tried to learn English but cannot reach the required level. That is a narrow, discretionary provision, not a standard route.
Who is exempt from one or both halves
The headline exemptions apply to the whole KoLL requirement. You do not need either test if you are under 18 or aged 65 or over, or where a long-term physical or mental condition makes it unreasonable to expect you to meet one or both parts, evidenced through the exemption form completed by a doctor. There are also English-only exemptions, for example for nationals of majority English-speaking countries. For the full picture, see who is exempt from the Life in the UK test.
One forward-looking point to plan around: the Immigration Rules published on GOV.UK state that for settlement applications the required English level rises from B1 to B2 from 26 March 2027. If you will apply for ILR after that date, factor the higher level into your preparation now.
For most readers the practical takeaway is simple: sort your English evidence through whichever route fits you, then prepare properly for the Life in the UK test, because that half almost always has to be passed the hard way.