2 Skill Courses for A1, A2 and B1 visas
SELT Central offer four courses to help you gain confidence and learn the necessary language, exam skills and techniques to pass the SELT at A1, A2 or B1 levels. No two candidates are the same and each person has different language needs, so all courses are customised with you, the candidate, to address your needs
Course options
Required Skills (for 2-skill SELT)
The Secure English Language Test (SELT) assesses two main skills: speaking and listening.
Below is a breakdown of what each skill typically involves:
Skill 1: Speaking
Whether you are taking 2 skills test or a 4 skills SELT exam, there will be a speaking section
in your test. It is, therefore, important that you are able to express yourself in a number of
ways when you are:
- Giving information about yourself:
Example: “My name is Carlos, and I am 28 years old. I work as a graphic designer for amarketing firm in London. In my free time, I enjoy painting and hiking.”
- Speaking and responding to general questions:
Example: Examiner: “What do you like to do in your free ?” Candidate: “I enjoy reading novels, especially mystery and science fiction. I also like to go for walks in the park and spend time with my friends.
- Giving simple instructions such as directions:
Example: “To get to the nearest post office, go straight down this road for about 200 metres, then turn left at the traffic lights. The post office will be on your right, next to the bank.”
- Describing someone:
Example: “My best friend, Sarah, is very friendly and outgoing. She has curly brown hair, green eyes, and always wears colourful clothes. She works as a teacher and loves helpingothers.”
Although not directly tested other areas of English will be assessed such as:
- Pronunciation: Clarity and accuracy of pronunciation.
- Fluency: Ability to speak smoothly without excessive pausing.
- Grammar and Vocabulary: Use of correct grammar and appropriate vocabulary.
- Coherence: Ability to organise thoughts and present ideas logically.
- Interaction: Ability to engage in a conversation, respond to questions, and initiate
topics
Skill 2: Listening
Whether you are taking 2 skills test or a 4 skills SELT exam, there will be a listening section
in your test. It is, therefore, important that you are able to listen for a variety of information
such as:
- Specific detail (i.e., someone’s age)
Audio Example: “During the interview, Maria mentioned that she recently celebrated her 35th birthday.”
Question: “How old is Maria?” Answer: “35 years old.”
- An opinion
Audio Example: “I think the new policy at work will really help improve our productivity. It’s a great idea to have flexible working hours.”
Question: “What is the speaker’s opinion about the new policy at work?” Answer: “The
speaker thinks the new policy will improve productivity and is a great idea.”
- The topic
Audio Example: “Today, we’re going to discuss the impact of social media on mental health. We’ll look at both positive and negative effects and consider some recent studies on the subject.”
Question: “What is the topic of the discussion?” Answer: “The impact of social media on
mental health.”
- The relationship between people (i.e., work colleague or husband)
Audio Example: “David and I have been working on this project for months. He’s the best partner I could ask for, always supportive and hardworking.”
Question: “What is the relationship between David and the speaker?” Answer: “They work
together.”
- Gist
Audio Example: “The speaker explained that the new software update would bring several improvements, including a faster interface, better security features, and more customisation options for users.
Question: “What is the general idea of the speaker’s message?” Answer: “The new software
update will have several improvements.”
Although not directly tested, your response will indicate your abilities in the following
areas:
- Comprehension: Understanding spoken English, including main ideas and details.
- Following Instructions: Ability to follow spoken instructions or directions
- Identifying Information: Recognising key information and specific details in conversations or monologues.
- Interpreting Tone and Intent: Understanding the speaker’s tone, mood, and intent.
Further information on 2 Skill Courses for A1, A2 and B1 visas
Whether you are taking 2 skills test or a 4 skills SELT exam, there will be a speaking section
in your test. It is, therefore, important that you are able to express yourself in a number of
ways when you are:
- giving information about yourself
- speaking and responding to general questions
- giving simple instructions such as directions
- describing someone
Pronunciation Boost
Although not tested directly, your pronunciation will be considered in the speaking sections of the SELT exam. If your pronunciation makes it difficult for the listener to understand or follow what you are saying, we may include some extra pronunciation practice in your course. This usually includes:
- understanding how sounds are produced
- emphasising vowel sounds and consonant sounds
- stressing the right syllable in verbs, adjectives, adverbs and nouns
- word stress in sentences
- stress patterns
- stress patterns in speech units
- intonation
Grammar Boost
Although not tested directly, your grammar will be considered in the speaking sections of the SELT exam. If your grammar level is below the required level for your SELT exam, we may include some extra grammar practice in your course. This usually includes:
- review of grammar tenses: past, present and future forms
- nouns and articles
- prepositions: of movement, of time, of place and common prepositional phrases
- common adjectives and adverbs
- simple conditionals
Vocabulary Boost
Although not tested directly, your vocabulary will be considered in the speaking section of
the SELT exam. If your vocabulary is below the required level for your SELT exam, we may
include some extra vocabulary exercises in your course. This usually includes common
everyday vocabulary covering:
- the world around us
- people
- daily life
- leisure and entertainment
- social issues
- functional language such as ordering a meal in a restaurant
- academic vocabulary (IELTS UKVI)