Hi

[anadyomene]

Hello and welcome!
Last year, I came to the UK on a spouse visa.
I did not take an English proficiency test. On my husband's letter, he said that I should be exempt from taking/submitting that test. To prove my English proficiency, I submitted my university diploma and employment contracts with UK & US call centres that I've worked for. It was a big gamble. If UKBA hadn't considered myself as exempt from taking the test, my husband and I would have said goodbye to PHP50,000 something visa application fee.
Amazingly, my visa got approved in 5days.

[Terpe]

Hello and welcome!
Last year, I came to the UK on a spouse visa.
I did not take an English proficiency test. On my husband's letter, he said that I should be exempt from taking/submitting that test. To prove my English proficiency, I submitted my university diploma and employment contracts with UK & US call centres that I've worked for. It was a big gamble. If UKBA hadn't considered myself as exempt from taking the test, my husband and I would have said goodbye to PHP50,000 something visa application fee.
Amazingly, my visa got approved in 5days.

Hi there, yes it was surely a big risk if you did not comply with UKBA requirements for exceptions.
May I ask, why did you take such a huge risk? compared to the small cost in complying with either the English Test or the exceptions.

Well done anyway