If you are applying for British citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you will almost certainly need to prove your English speaking and listening skills at CEFR level B1. At Eurospeak Language School — accredited by both the British Council and ISI, with centres in Reading and Southampton — we help students prepare for exactly this. This guide covers the speaking topics that come up in the B1 test, how the exam is structured, and how to prepare.
What is the B1 English test for citizenship and ILR?
For most citizenship and ILR applications, the Home Office requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT) in speaking and listening at level B1 or above. B1 is an intermediate level: you can deal with everyday situations, describe experiences and events, and give simple reasons and explanations for your opinions and plans. The English test is separate from the Life in the UK test — most applicants need to pass both. Always check the official government guidance on gov.uk for the current requirements for your specific application.
Which B1 tests does the Home Office accept?
The two most widely taken B1 SELT exams are the Trinity College London GESE Grade 5 and IELTS Life Skills B1. Both test speaking and listening only — there is no reading or writing paper at this level.
- Trinity GESE Grade 5 is a one-to-one conversation with an examiner lasting around 10 minutes. It has two parts: a topic phase, where you talk about a topic you have chosen and prepared yourself, and a conversation phase, where the examiner chooses two subject areas from the Grade 5 list.
- IELTS Life Skills B1 takes around 22 minutes and you take it together with one other candidate, so you need to be comfortable listening and responding to another speaker as well as to the examiner.
The list of approved tests and providers can change, so confirm your chosen exam is on the current Home Office approved list before booking.
What topics come up in the B1 speaking test?
The B1 speaking component assesses your ability to communicate in everyday situations. It is not just about the words you use — it is about how effectively you can express yourself and interact with others. These are the topic areas you should be ready to talk about:
- Personal information: your name, age and where you are from; your family, including family members and relationships.
- Daily life: your daily routine and activities; your job or studies.
- Past experiences: narrating past events, such as memorable holidays; your educational background.
- Future plans: your aspirations, and potential career or study goals. At B1 you are expected to use future forms confidently (“I’m going to…”, “I hope to…”, “I plan to…”).
- Likes and dislikes: expressing preferences about food, hobbies and leisure activities — and, importantly, giving reasons for them.
- Weather: the weather in your own country, your favourite season and why, and how you feel about the British weather.
For the Trinity GESE Grade 5 conversation phase specifically, the examiner picks two subject areas from Trinity’s published list, which includes festivals, means of transport, special occasions, entertainment, music, and recent personal experiences. Prepare some vocabulary and a few personal examples for each of these before your exam.
Example questions to practise
- How do you usually travel to work, and why?
- Tell me about a festival that is important in your culture. How do you celebrate it?
- What kind of music do you enjoy? Has your taste changed over the years?
- What did you do last weekend?
- What are your plans for the next few years?
Practise answering in two or three full sentences, adding a reason or an example each time — single-word answers will not show the examiner your B1 ability.
Tips for success on exam day
- Practise speaking every day: regular conversations — with classmates, colleagues, neighbours or a language exchange partner — build the confidence the exam rewards.
- Expand your topic vocabulary: learn key words and phrases for each subject area above so you always have something to say.
- Use your tenses: at B1, examiners listen for past, present and future forms. Practise moving between “I went…”, “I usually go…” and “I’m going to go…” naturally.
- Ask questions back: the exam is a conversation, not an interview. Asking the examiner (or, in IELTS Life Skills, your partner) a relevant question shows real communicative ability.
- Fluency over complexity: clear, natural communication beats over-complicated language. Focus on conveying your thoughts smoothly.
How Eurospeak can help you prepare
Our General English classes in Reading and Southampton build exactly the everyday speaking and listening skills the B1 test assesses, with qualified, passionate teachers and small, friendly classes. Because our centres are accredited by both the British Council and ISI, you can be confident in the quality of the teaching.
Not sure of your English level? Take our free English level placement test — you will get your result within 30 minutes — or contact us to talk about preparing for your citizenship or ILR English test.
