Skills for English is a suite of English language assessments developed in partnership between the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and PSI. The tests are accepted by colleges and universities across the world and approved by the UK Home Office as a Secure English Language Test (SELT). Skills for English supports test takers and institutions worldwide to benchmark their English language proficiency for study, work, and settlement purposes.
Our team of recognition consultants are available to talk you through the tests, including mapping to the CEFR and your institution’s needs, security, and results verification. For more information, or to arrange a consultation, please contact our recognition team [email protected]
Skills for English B1 and B2 Four Facet tests are also approved by the Irish Government for study visa purposes.
As an accepting institution, you can verify any Skills for English result securely online, using our results portal. To receive access, please reach out to [email protected].
Download the Skills for English Test Specifications for in-depth explanations about how the tests are structured, delivered and assessed.
Benefits of recognizing Skills for English tests:
Skills for English combines the expertise of two of the leading names in qualification and certification. Tests are delivered by PSI, a global leader in workforce solutions for over 70 years and assured by SQA: The Scottish Qualifications Authority, executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for accrediting educational awards.
“SQA Assured” means that SQA have undertaken an audit of Skills for English test content and PSI’s assessment development processes and are satisfied that the tests and the processes are aligned to SQA’s principles set out in the SQA Awarding Body Code of Practice (published March 2017).
UK ENIC ‘approved’: Skills for English assessments were evaluated and approved by UK ENIC in 2020. Approval covers all aspects of test development, administrations and results including alignment with CEFR.
Skills for English: SELT is mapped to the ‘Common European Framework of Reference for Languages’ (CEFR) for UKVI purposes, but you can also see how it maps to other international English language qualifications.
* All Skills for English tests are mapped to CEFR levels. The information showing mapping of IELTS, TOEFL and PTE Academic is taken from their respective websites and is correct at the time of publication
PSI works with a number of international assessment bodies and organisations, including ALTE, EALTA, LTRC, IATEFL, EnglishUK, EAQUALS, Edvoy, IHWO, Australia IEAA and BELTA.
Complementary services materials are available on the teaching Skills for English page.
Reading and listening are automatically marked during the test session itself
Speaking and writing are recorded digitally during the test session and marked by trained and qualified assessors (who have no visibility of your candidate’s personal details) after the test is finished.
See the test specification for more details.
Skills for English is a partnership between PSI Services LLC, a global leader in workforce solutions for over 70 years and the SQA: Scottish Qualifications Authority, the executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for accrediting educational awards.
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