SWELT

SWELT is ideal if you:

• already know that you want to study at Swansea University and are looking for an alternative to IELTS as fulfilment of your English language entry requirement, or
• are interested in studying for a bachelor or postgraduate degree in the UK, and you are interested in studying at Swansea and would like an alternative to IELTS.
• Please note, SWELT can only be used for entry to Swansea University.

• Your test will take place online. You will be invigilated via video link and a secure browser, which locks down your computer during the test so you are unable to navigate away from your exam.
• You will need the following computer requirements:
  • A computer with 4GB of RAM (no Chromebooks, tablets or phones)
  • A Windows v7.0+ or Mac 10.8+ operating system
  • Intel Core i3 (or equivalent) and 4GB RAM
  • A working webcam that can be used to scan the room, microphone and speakers
  • Internet connectivity with continuous internet speed of a minimum of 516 kbps 

Tests usually run on Thursdays. Check the registration page to book.

Speaking tests take place on the days following the test.

• £100 or ONE free test to Swansea University offer holders
• Cancellation: If you are unable to attend the test, please email elts@swansea.ac.uk at least 48 hours before your test. Please note late cancellation will incur the full £100 fee, including for those eligible for a free test.
• Resits: All resits will be charged at the full fee of £100. Only one resit is permitted within a 3 month period. If you sign up for more than two SWELT dates, you will be allocated a place on the earliest two tests only. The second test will be considered a resit. Places for resits are limited, at busy times you may be asked to provide reasons for your resit request, so that we are able to prioritise those with the greatest need. Please read the terms and conditions for further details.

• As SWELT is used as part of your visa application process, our testing arrangements are very secure.
• You will be invigilated via video link and a secure browser, which locks down your computer during the test so you are unable to navigate away from your exam.
• Just like in a real life exam your invigilator will check your ID and monitor your test by reviewing the resulting Respondus videos and Canvas log. Support staff in the Zoom room will also be monitoring your test live.
• You will need to show a valid identification document (passport) before accessing each of the written papers (via Respondus) and during the spoken interview.
• Please see the Identification Requirements document attached to the registration event for further details and other acceptable forms of ID.
• Usual exam regulations apply even though you will be taking the test at home. You will need to make sure you are able to take the test in a quiet space with nobody else in the room.
• Results will not be issued until all recordings of a test have been reviewed and we are satisfied that these conditions have been met.
• Details of security arrangements will be sent to you in the week before the test. You must read these carefully before attending.

The online SWELT consists of the following papers:

• READING : 1 hour
• WRITING : 1 hour
• LISTENING: 45 minutes
• SPEAKING: 10 minutes

Please allow 3 hours to sit the online test.

Your SPEAKING test will usually happen on a separate day.

These arrangements are subject to change.

Each component is scored in a banding system, equivalent to the IELTS banding, and an overall band is obtained by averaging performance across the four components.

The table below shows which SWELT scores are normally required for entry to various Swansea University courses. Students should check with individual departments for specific courses, whose requirements may vary. 

*Please note this is an approximate guide only. Language requirements are set by academic departments NOT English Language Training Services and may, therefore, vary.

• Before exam attendance is confirmed, candidates must:
1. register for the test.
2. make payment in full (where applicable).
3. undertake a pre-SWELT test to ensure your computer and network meet the minimum technical requirements for the online SWELT test.
• Payment is via the PayPal website. You do not need a PayPal account. If you do not have a PayPal account please select guest checkout out and card type to see which payment methods are available in your country. Please contact elts@swansea.ac.uk if this is not possible.
• You should receive a confirmation of payment email / invoice from PayPal.
• You may be refused entry to the test if you have not completed the booking steps outlined on the website.
• It is your responsibility to check your personal details are correct on the SWELT exam registration form. If there are any errors, please e-mail elts@swansea.ac.uk
• All correspondence will take place through the e-mail address you register with.
• Provision of hardware is made directly by you (the registered candidate) and is NOT the responsibility of English Language Training Services (ELTS) or Swansea University.
• You (the registered candidate) should ensure that you have appropriate insurance cover in place to cover such incidental expenses prior to making a booking.
• You (the registered candidate) should ensure you have appropriate insurance in place to cover any costs in the event of cancellation.
• Cancellation Policy: In the event of the exam being cancelled, English Language Training Services (ELTS) and Swansea University will not be liable for reimbursing any incidental expenses incurred by you (the registered candidate) in connection with your exam attendance.
• If you cannot make the test for any reason, please email elts@swansea.ac.uk as soon as possible, so that someone else can take your place. Please note cancellation within 48 hours of the test date will incur the full £100 fee, including for those eligible for a free test.
• Security & ID: You must show one of the following forms of ID during the Respondus pre-test checks when sitting each paper:
  1. a valid passport
  2. a UK biometric residence permit (if you, the candidate, do not possess a valid passport)

  If you do not possess any of these forms of ID, please contact elts@swansea.ac.uk BEFORE your test. If we are unable to verify your identity, your result will initially be withheld. If you do not present to us clear ID that we are able to clearly cross reference against the recordings of your test, your exam will be cancelled.

• Resit policy: Please note that candidates are not allowed to re-take the SWELT test more than once within three calendar months. If you sign up for more than two SWELT dates, you will be allocated a place on the earliest two tests only. The second test will be considered a resit. Priority for test places is always given to first time test candidates. Resits will be prioritised in the following order:
  1. Those who have experienced technical issues.
  2. Those within half a band of their target score.
  3. Those with an imminent admissions or visa deadline (proof may be requested).

  All other candidates, including those who have exceeded the two tests within three months limit, will not be allowed to take a further SWELT for three months.

• Appeals: If you wish to appeal your score, please apply to elts@swansea.ac.uk with your SWELT number, the paper you wish to be reviewed and reason. You must do this within one week of receiving your result.
• Current ELTS students are not eligible for a SWELT test as STEAP and portfolio assessment are deemed equivalent, unless you receive a referral from your course coordinator.
• Exam staff reserve the right to refuse entry to any candidate. The decision made by exam staff is final.
• Please note Swansea English Language Test scores are valid for a maximum of two years.

Support Requirements

• If you have any support requirements, please contact elts@swansea.ac.uk as soon as possible and at least 2 weeks before the test date so that we are able to make any necessary arrangements.
• Please note, all requests to claim alternative arrangements must be supported by current acceptable evidence of disability, specific need, mental health difficulty, or specific learning difficulty. They type of evidence required will vary according to the individual's specific circumstances. However, it will usually come from an external agency with detailed knowledge of the student's condition, e.g. GP, consultant, Educational Psychologist. The cost of providing such evidence must be met by the student and will be held on file for 2 years (the test validity period).

Privacy Notice

SWELT is administered by English Language Training Services at Swansea University. Swansea University is the data controller and is committed to protecting the rights of students in line with the UK Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Swansea University’s full Student Privacy Statement can be viewed here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/about-us/compliance/data-protection/
For the purposes of verifying your identity to accurately assign exam scores, we need to collect the following details. Your full name, date of birth, e-mail address, nationality, a copy of valid ID and a recording of both the test and the spoken interview. Your details will be deleted from our records after two years (the length of time for which the test score is valid). If you sat the test in a country outside the EEA, we will transfer your test scores and resulting personal data only to the e-mail address you register with or any other contact details held by Swansea University’s admissions department. Your data will be shared only within Swansea University (unless you have given express written permission for your data to be shared with other persons) for purposes of verifying your English Language Score. If you wish to withdraw your consent, please e-mail elts@swansea.ac.uk at any time. However, please be aware that this will result in us being unable to verify or share any exam results with the relevant departments within the University.