LanguageCert General SELT exam-day guide
LanguageCert General SELT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Original valid ID used for booking
Bring the same original document you used when you booked (for example passport or biometric residence permit, if accepted for your route). It must be current, not a photocopy, and the name must match your booking exactly. Accepted ID types can vary by centre and visa route, so confirm with LanguageCert/the test centre before test day.
Booking confirmation and appointment details
Have your confirmation email or booking reference available, showing the test centre address, date, arrival time and modules booked. Check whether the centre requires a printed copy or accepts a phone display; confirm with the provider.
Travel plan to the test centre
Check the exact address and entrance, plan your route, and allow extra time for security checks, traffic or public transport delays. Do not rely on arriving just at the appointment time.
Confirmed arrival and late-arrival policy
Ask the centre how early you should arrive and what happens if you are late. Late arrival may lead to refusal or cancellation, but the exact grace period is centre-specific; confirm with the provider.
Glasses, hearing aid or other usual aid
If you normally use glasses, a hearing aid or another aid, bring it and make sure it is working. If you need a special arrangement, contact the provider well before test day; arrangements are usually not guaranteed if requested only on the day.
Clear water bottle, if permitted
Some centres allow a clear bottle with the label removed; others restrict drinks in the test room. Confirm the centre's policy rather than assuming.
Stationery only if the centre allows it
Do not assume you may use your own pen or pencil. Ask whether stationery is provided or whether you should bring a black pen/pencil. Follow the invigilator's instructions on the day.
No phone, smart watch, notes or unauthorised materials
Leave electronic devices and study notes at home or use any secure storage the centre provides. A phone or smart watch in the test room can lead to misconduct procedures even if you do not use it.
Know the test format and section order
Review the four skills and the likely order of the written and speaking parts. Check your booking for whether speaking is on the same day or a separate appointment; confirm with LanguageCert if your confirmation is unclear.
Speaking appointment details
For the speaking test, know your appointment time, bring the same ID, and expect an identity check. Do not bring prepared notes into the test room; answer naturally and ask the interlocutor to repeat a question if needed.
Plan the day
Re-read your booking confirmation: test centre address, arrival time, modules, and whether speaking is separate. Check that your ID is valid and matches your booking name. Confirm any special arrangements with the provider. Do short timed practice on each skill rather than only reading about the test.
Plan the journey and a backup route. Check local transport disruptions and note the centre's entrance and nearby landmarks. If you are travelling far, confirm accommodation and keep your ID and confirmation separate from luggage that could be delayed.
Protect your sleep and avoid last-minute cramming that leaves you tired. Practise speaking aloud for a few minutes daily, and review common task instructions for listening, reading and writing so you recognise them quickly on the day.
Pack your bag: original ID, booking confirmation if required, glasses/hearing aid, and any permitted clear water bottle. Put phones and smart watches away; decide whether you will leave them at home or use centre storage.
Confirm the centre is open and your appointment is unchanged by checking your booking or any message from the provider. Do not rely on social media or unofficial sources for test-day rules.
Eat normally, avoid heavy alcohol, and go to bed early. A final light review of test format is fine; do not start a new intensive study session the night before.
Eat breakfast and take any medication you normally need. Arrive with enough time for ID checks and security; do not arrive just at the appointment time. Use the toilet before entering the test room.
Keep your ID in your hand or an accessible pocket. Turn off your phone and smart watch and store them as instructed. Do not bring notes, books or unauthorised materials into the test room.
Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions on ID, seating, stationery, breaks and timing. If you do not understand an instruction, ask before the test begins.
For listening, read questions ahead where the format allows, keep pace with the recording and do not stop to perfect one answer. For reading and writing, watch the clock and leave time to check spelling, grammar and task completion.
If you need the toilet or feel unwell, raise your hand and follow the invigilator. You may not get extra time, and movement may be restricted during timed sections; confirm the centre's break policy beforehand.
In the speaking test, speak clearly at a natural pace. It is acceptable to ask for repetition or clarification. If you make a mistake, keep going; fluency and communication matter more than perfect self-correction.
Do not communicate with other candidates, do not look at others' screens or papers, and do not use any unauthorised device or note. Follow every instruction from the invigilator or interlocutor.
Rules to check
Bring original valid ID that matches your booking exactly. A photocopy, expired document or different ID can result in refusal; if you are unsure which ID is accepted for your visa route, confirm with LanguageCert/the test centre before test day.
Arrive at the time advised by the centre and allow for security checks. Late arrival may lead to refusal or cancellation, but the exact late-arrival rule is centre-specific; confirm with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
Phones, smart watches, notes and unauthorised materials must not be used or kept accessible in the test room. Follow storage instructions; misuse can lead to misconduct procedures, cancellation of results and reporting to the relevant authority.
Follow all invigilator instructions and do not communicate with other candidates during the test. Any attempt to copy, share answers, use unauthorised aids or disrupt the test can lead to removal and cancellation.
Breaks are limited and controlled by the centre. Use the toilet before the test; if you leave during a timed section, you may not receive extra time and may be escorted. Confirm the centre's break policy before test day.
Results are reported by skill and show a CEFR level. For a SELT, you must meet the level required by your visa route; confirm with UKVI and LanguageCert that your test, level and centre are accepted before booking.
If you need special arrangements, request them well before test day and follow the provider's deadline and evidence requirements. Arrangements are not guaranteed if requested only on the day; confirm what has been approved.