How to move to the UK with a Skilled Worker visa

PTE Author
PTE Author
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Reading time: 5 minutes

Would you like to live and work in the UK? You’re not alone. The number of people who apply to work in the UK rises year after year. But if you’re planning to move to the UK, you’ll need a visa. There are lots of different types of visas available – and one of the most popular is the Skilled Worker visa.

Let’s take a look at the details of who can apply, the English language requirements, and the test you have to take in order to show you have the right level of English for the Skilled Worker visa.

1. What are the latest UK work immigration trends?

Apart from a pandemic-related dip in 2020, immigration to the UK has been steadily rising for the last decade. In 2021, there were 239,987 work-related visas granted – a 110% increase on the previous year, and a 25% increase on 2019. 

Of these 239,987 visas, 63% were Skilled Worker visas. This type of visa saw the largest growth from 2019 at an increase of 33%. That means that, of all the people moving to the UK to work, the majority of them (almost two thirds, in fact) apply for the Skilled Worker visa. 

India, the Philippines, Nigeria, the United States and Pakistan were the top five countries of origin for people who were granted Skilled Worker visas in 2021. 

2. What is the UK Skilled Worker visa?

The UK Skilled Worker visa is a visa that allows you to come to the UK and work for an approved company. You can live in the UK for up to five years before you need to renew your visa. You can apply for the visa up to three months from your starting date of work, and you should receive a decision in around three weeks if you’re outside the UK. The visa application fee is between £610 and £1,408, depending on your personal circumstances. 

If you work in healthcare – for example as a doctor or a nurse – you can apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, which is cheaper to apply for, and doesn’t require you to pay an annual immigration health surcharge. 

3. What kinds of workers can apply?

An extensive number of careers and professions are covered by the Skilled Worker visa, from architects to bakers, and hairdressers to chefs. You can see if your profession is eligible by checking the full list of occupations. 

In order to meet the requirements to be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to make sure not only that your job is eligible for the visa, but also that your employer has been approved by the Home Office. 

You also need to ensure that you’ll be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing in the UK. You’ll be expected to earn:

  • £25,600 per year

  • £10.10 per hour

  • the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Whichever of these three options is the highest, that’s the information you’ll use for your visa form. 

However, if your job is on the list of Skilled Worker visa shortage occupations, you will only have to be paid 80% of the job’s usual going rate. 

4. What are the English requirements for the UK Skilled Worker visa?

In order to apply for the Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to show that you have recently passed a secure English language test at the right level to be able to live and work in the UK. There is a list of countries that are exempt, but everyone else will need to show that they speak English to at least a B1 level on the CEFR scale. It’s a key requirement when it comes to a successful visa application! 

The only exemption is if you have a qualification at degree level in English (either a Bachelors, Masters or PhD); if you have a degree, you don’t need to sit an English test. 

5. What is PTE Academic UKVI?

PTE Academic UKVI is an English test which is approved by the UK Home Office for visa applications. It tests you on all four language skills: writing, speaking, reading, and listening. 

To sit the test, you will attend an official test center, where you will take PTE Academic UKVI on a computer. The entire test is computer-based, and takes around two hours. After sitting the test, you will typically receive your results within 48 hours. 

6. How can you get the score you need in PTE Academic UKVI?

In order to meet the requirements of the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to score a minimum of 43 on your PTE Academic UKVI test. The best way to make sure you get the score you need is to prepare as thoroughly as possible for the test: 

Get to know the test format

It’s really important to get to know the test format very well before you sit PTE Academic UKVI. The test content is exactly the same as PTE Academic. The test is split into three sections: Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening. There are 20 different types of questions across the three different sections. Each question type follows a specific structure. It’s important to learn about the different question types. You will need to use specific techniques for each question to make sure you get the highest possible score.  

Learn how the questions are scored

In the test, different questions are scored in different ways. On some questions, you’ll be marked on whether you’ve given a correct answer. But in others, your score will be affected by how closely you followed the instructions (i.e. did you go over the word limit) and the quality of your response, which is affected by things like pronunciation and oral fluency. You can find out how we score each question in our test format guide.

Study with official preparation materials

There are lots of different preparation materials for PTE Academic UKVI. You will be able to prepare using Scored Practice Tests which will allow you to sit a mock test and see what score you would receive. This will tell you what questions and skills you need to work on.

There’s also the Official Guide to PTE Academic, a textbook which offers an in-depth guide to the test and gives you detailed advice on the techniques and strategies you will need to get the right score. The PTE Academic Question Bank has over 300 questions for you to practice with. Explore our preparation materials in our preparation guide.

Take a preparation course

Lots of people prepare for PTE Academic UKVI on their own, but others find it helpful to do a preparation course. You could also do the six hour online speaking course run by Pearson partner Macquarie University. Or, look for a preparation course near you.

With the right preparation, you’ll be sure to get the score you need to apply for your UK Skilled Worker visa and achieve your dream of living and working in the UK!

Learn more about PTE Academic UKVI

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    How to study in Singapore
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Asian students have long been drawn to Western universities. In fact, in 2018 and 2019, China sent more students to study in the UK than any other country. But now as Asian countries seek to attract more international students themselves, many learners are choosing to study closer to home instead.  

    After all, studying within the region offers plenty of benefits. Not only do Asian universities provide a world-class education at a more affordable price. But they are also “among the world’s best at enhancing their alumni’s job market prospects,” states the QS Graduate Employability Rankings. This is a big draw, considering a recent report found that 81% of respondents from eight Asian countries wanted to study at a foreign university to improve employment. 

    So, what are some of the top study abroad locations for Asian students? And what do learners need to keep in mind when choosing a destination? In this guide, we’ll focus on Singapore: 

    Singapore at a glance 

    Singapore is modern, sustainable, and multicultural. This makes it an attractive place to study for students from around the region. Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English are all recognized as official languages, although English is most commonly spoken. In fact, almost 40% of the population in Singapore speaks English at home.  

    Singapore invests heavily in human capital. For example, it spends more than 20% of its budget on education each year. It comes as no surprise, then, that Singapore’s education system is listed as one of the best in the world by OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). 

    Universities in Singapore 

    There are dozens of universities and colleges in Singapore. The two most popular universities are the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Both universities are ranked among the top 20 in the world. According to QS World University Rankings 2021, NUS holds the spot for 11. NTU is ranked number 13. About a quarter of learners at both universities are international students.  

    Even more, according to QS, NUS ranks number 24 for graduate employability.  

    To study at a Singaporean institution, you must apply directly through the admissions office. This is usually done at the beginning of the year. 

    If you’re a second language speaker or haven’t studied full-time at an English institution, you will also need to prove your English proficiency. PTE Academic is a computer-based language test that provides unbiased and secure results and can help you qualify for studying and migrating abroad.  

    Students wanting to attend a college in Singapore – including the Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), the East Asia Institute of Management, and LASALLE College of the Arts – will need a PTE Academic score of 42. In general, universities look for a minimum PTE Academic score between 55 and 62. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what some popular universities require: 

    • National University of Singapore–62 

    • Nanyang Technological University– 55 

    • Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) – 62 

    However, students are strongly advised to always check with their own university or college to see exactly what PTE Academic score is needed.  

    Getting your visa 

    If you want to study in Singapore, you will need to have a Student Pass. To apply, you must already be accepted as a full-time student at an academic institution. With a Student Pass, you’ll be able to work up to 16 hours a week during the school term. However, you can only do this if you go to an approved institution.  

    Find out exactly how to apply for a Student Pass here.  

    Cost of living 

    Singapore is considered one of the best student cities in the world; it has great weather, a vibrant mix of cultures, and an excellent food scene. However, compared to other Asian countries, it is on the expensive side. International student tuition fees sit at about $18,700 USD a year. To get an idea about how much it costs to live in Singapore, check out the government’s cost of living calculator.  

    Financial aid 

    It’s important to keep in mind that Singapore does offer financial aid for citizens, permanent residents, and international students. The Ministry of Education provides these grants under The Tuition Grant Scheme.  

    The amount of money offered depends on the area of study and the status of each student in Singapore. This table is a good resource, showing what was available to students studying at NTU in 2020. You can see that for international students, the grants start at about $7,700 USD.   

    To accept a Tuition Grant, students who aren’t citizens must sign a Tuition Grant Agreement. This states that they will work in Singapore for a minimum of three years after graduation.  

    For more grant information, visit the Ministry of Education website.  

    Want to study in Singapore?

    With PTE Academic you can achieve your dreams.  

    Our unbiased English tests are trusted as proof of English proficiency by universities in Singapore –  and results are typically ready within 2 days. 

    Find out where you can take PTE Academic now. 

  • Image- listening to podcast 800px x 451px
    5 podcasts to help you learn English
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 6 minutes

    Podcasts are a great way to practice your English skills. You can listen to them while studying from your desk at home. Or you can listen to them on the go – like while you’re driving, cooking, cleaning, or working out.  

    We especially love podcasts because, since many are conversational, they give you the chance to hear how English speakers interact in real life and expose you to lots of interesting new languages.  

    If you’re planning to take PTE Academic this year, podcasts are great practice for the listening section of the exam – for which you’ll have to answer questions based on audio or video clips.   

    So, are you ready to immerse yourself in the world of English language podcasts? In this blog, we’ll explore some of the best podcasts to learn English:

    1. 6 Minute English 

    6 Minute English is a podcast by BBC Learning English. Each week, the BBC hosts chat about everyday situations – and it makes for a really interesting listen. Ever wonder if trees are intelligent? Or if humans could live in cities underwater? Well, this could be the podcast for you. 

    Overall, 6 Minute English is great for people with an intermediate level of English. It’s short (you guessed it, just 6 minutes) and each episode includes a vocabulary list and transcript. 

    2. But Why

    But Why is another fun podcast for intermediate-level English learners. Kids record questions for the show, and host Jane Lindholm brings in an expert to answer them on air.  

    But Why is produced by Vermont Public Radio in the U.S. And while the podcast is made for kids – it answers questions like ‘why do dogs have tails’ or ‘why are whales so big’ – Lindholm speaks slowly and charismatically, making it easy to understand. Of course, if you have kids, But Why is also a good show to listen to as a family.   

    Each episode is about 30 minutes long and includes a transcript. Even more, the episodes come with free learning worksheets (like this one), which you can use to practice your English writing and listening comprehension skills.  

    3. Luke’s English Podcast 

    Luke’s English Podcast is hosted by Luke Thompson, an English teacher, and comedian from the U.K. The podcast covers a big range of topics; one episode may cover pronunciation tips, and the next may simply feature a conversation between Thompson and his wife. 

    The show is often touted as one of the best podcasts to learn English (it’s been downloaded more than 60 million times) and overall, is a good way to practice your British English skills. The episodes are on the longer side, and some are up to two hours long. 

    While the podcasts are free, Thompson also produces paid content for listeners to subscribe to – giving them access to things like extra podcast episodes, worksheets, tests, and pronunciation drills.  

    4. Criminal

    Many podcast consumers enjoy listening to true crime stories. And, Criminal is one of the most popular crime podcasts out there.  

    Criminal releases two new episodes every month, and each episode explores the story of a different crime. The host, Phoebe Judge, tells how the crime occurred and interviews the people involved – usually a witness, victim, police officer, historian, or the person charged.  

    Since Criminal brings on lots of interview subjects – with different accents and ways of speaking – the podcast is not only thought-provoking. It’s also great for practicing your listening skills, particularly if you’re an upper-intermediate or advanced English learner.  

     5. This American Life

    This American Life is one of the most popular English speaking radio programs and podcasts today. In fact, 3.1 million people download each podcast episode! The 1-hour show is hosted by Ira Glass. Each episode delves into a different theme and includes different stories about the theme.  

    Sometimes the show features long-form pieces about U.S. politics or tells about how one family has been impacted by American immigration policies. Other episodes talk about break-ups or peculiar family traditions.  

    Overall, it’s an excellent show to improve your English comprehension – and learn about American culture, politics, and stories while you’re at it. So if you plan to move to the U.S., listening to This American Life is a must.  

    How to learn English with podcasts  

    We know podcasts help to improve your listening skills. But you can use them to improve your speaking, reading and writing skills, too. Here are a few tips:  

    Listen with the transcript 

    As we mentioned above, many podcasts publish transcripts of their episodes. If you’re studying English at home, it’s a great idea to listen to your favorite podcast with the transcript in front of you. This will help to improve your reading, as well as understand everything the host is saying.  

    You might even want to pause the podcast every few seconds and repeat after the host to practice speaking and pronunciation.  

    Take note of interesting vocab 

    To expand your vocabulary, write down 15 new words from each podcast episode. Take a few minutes at the end of each show to look up the words and define them. If you listen to two podcast episodes each week, you’ll learn 120 new words a month.  

    Write a summary of each episode  

    It’s also a great idea to write a few words about each podcast episode. You might want to challenge and write a 200-word podcast summary. Or, you could simply write a sentence about something new you learned from the show.  

    These writing exercises are great practice for PTE Academic because writing a one-sentence summary of a text or audio file is something you’ll be tested on.  

    Join a listening club 

    A podcast listening club is just like a book club – you get together with a group of friends to discuss and reflect on what you’ve learned.  

    So, if you’re a fan of a particular podcast, why not ask a few friends to meet to chat about some recent episodes? It’s a great way to practice your speaking skills, and it will also help you gain more confidence in expressing opinions in English.  

    Want more prep ideas?

    Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.

    • Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

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  • Female-student-reading-and-studying-at-laptop-in-library 800px x 451px
    Listening: Core English skills part 2
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    During Part 3: Listening in PTE Academic, you will need to know pronunciation in order to understand what the speakers are saying.

    Pronunciation

    When completing PTE Academic, you will hear a variety of accents from both fluent English speakers and second language speakers, as you would in the real world. Don’t worry, the accents will be clear and regular users of English do not have trouble understanding them. To prepare you should choose texts from around the world and practice listening to a wide range of accents.

    The recordings in PTE Academic use authentic examples of speech, so there will be connected speech present. Connected speech includes: assimilation, elision, twinning, catenation, linking vowel sounds, intrusive sounds, the schwa /ə/, weak forms, and contractions. These words are not used in English when you pronounce each word separately. They are only used in connected speech.

    Assimilation

    In connected speech in English, the sound at the end of a word can change to sound the same as the beginning of the first word.

    Watch these videos from BBC Learning English to better understand assimilation:

    Elision

    Elision occurs when a sound is not pronounced at all by the speaker.

    For example, we say pos card, but we write postcard.

    This Pronunciation: The sound /s/ video shows how it works.

    Twinning

    When you finish a word with the same sound as the start of the next word, it’s called twinning.

    Watch the video below to learn more:

    Catenation

    Catenation is when one word ends in a consonant sound and the next one starts with a vowel and we say the two words as one.

    The below video will help you learn more about catenation:

    Linking vowel sounds

    When we speak, we use the /j/ (the first sound in yellow) and /w/ (the first sound in wet) to link words that end with a vowel to the next word that starts with a vowel.

    For example, we would say he yordered, but we write he ordered and you say go won, but write go on.

    To learn more about linking /j/ and linking /w/ you can view this video:

    Intrusive sounds

    When we speak, we add a /r/ (first sound in the word red) when the first word ends in some vowel sounds and the next word also starts with a vowel sound.

    For example, we say sawrants but we write saw ants.

    This video on intrusive sounds will help you understand better:

    The schwa /ə/

    The most common vowel sound in English is the schwa /ə/. It is used in connected speech and is when you pronounce a vowel, which is not stressed in a word.

    This video will better explain what it means and how it’s used:

    Weak forms

    In addition to the above, the schwa /ə/ is used to pronounce the vowel in weak forms of grammar words in connected speech. It can be a little confusing so we recommend watching all of the below videos to learn more:

    Contractions

    In connected speech, when we are not stressing the subject, verb, or not, we do not use the full form of the subject and verb with verbs be and have. These are contractions.

    Contractions are also used with be, have and do in the negative, as well as some modal verbs in the negative.

    For example:

    • I am =>I’m

    • You are =>you’re

    • We have =>we’ve

    • They have =>they’ve

    • You are not => you aren’t

    • They are not => they aren’t

    • He/she/it is not =>he/she/it isn’t (you can also use he’s/she’s/it’s not)

    We also use I’m not and we’re not and do not => don’t, did not => didn’t, cannot => can’t, will not => won’t, might not => mightn’t. They are used very often in connected spoken English so make sure to listen carefully to pick these up.

    The below video will take you through this type of connected speech:

    All of the above types of connected speech are important in the Fill in the Blanks, Highlight Incorrect Words and Write from Dictation question types.

    As part of Part 3: Listening in your test, you will need to review your vocabulary and grammar skills, as well as learn cohesive devices and signal language. You can read more about these core English skills in part 3.