IDP: IELTS offers over 200 test locations in 50 countries. Find a test center near you and view a list of available test dates.
The Academic and General Training tests are the same cost. To find out the test fee for your country in your local currency, contact your nearest test center.
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here for information about booking your test
Please contact the test centre where you booked your
test.
If you postpone or cancel your application more
than five (5) weeks before the test date, you will
receive a refund minus an administration charge. If you postpone or cancel
within five (5) weeks of the test date, you
will be charged the full fee unless you have a serious medical reason. If
you provide a medical certificate within five (5) days of
the test date, you will receive a refund minus the local administrative cost.
If you are away on the test day with no prior notice,
you will lose your full fee. However, if you are unable to attend due to a
serious medical condition and provide a medical certificate within 5 days of
the test date, you will receive a refund minus the local administrative cost.
Test rules and guidelines can be found on the Notice to Candidates provided in the IELTS Application Form You are also advised to read the Information for Candidates booklet carefully so that you understand the test format and know what to expect on test day.
The Listening, Reading, and Writing section of the test
are always completed immediately after each other and with no break. Depending
on the test center, you may also sit the Speaking test on the same day, or it
may be scheduled up to 7 days either before or after the test date. If you
take computer-delivered IELTS, the Speaking test will be
taken on the same day.
The test centre may offer you a test on the next
available test date.
You must bring the valid passport/national identity
card you used on the IELTS Application Form with you to the test.
Only pens, pencils and erasers can be taken if you take
the paper-based IELTS.
Pencils and paper will be provided if you take
the computer-delivered IELTS, therefore you will not need
to bring your own.
The Listening, Reading and Writing tests must be
completed on the same day. The order in which these tests are taken may vary.
Depending on the test centre, the Speaking test may be taken up to 7 days
either before or after the test date. If you take computer-delivered
IELTS, the Speaking test will be taken on the same day.
The Speaking test is a discussion with a certified and
highly qualified IELTS Examiner. The Speaking test is made up of three parts
and is recorded.
You must bring the same identification documents (ID)
you supplied on your IELTS Application Form and continue to use the same ID for
each part of the test. Your ID will be checked before you enter the interview
room.
As IELTS is an international test, a variety of English
accents are used in both of these tests.
Typically the pencil has always been recommended for the
IELTS Listening and Reading of the test.
In many test centres, we now also require the Writing test to be completed in
pencil. This is because gradually, all of our test centres are upgrading to new
scanners. These particular scanners work best with a pencil as there is no risk
of your answers smudging (whereas there is with pen/ink). These test centres
are also using answers sheets with a slightly updated design.
We would like to emphasise that no changes have been
made to the test format, content, or marking standards. This is simply an
operational change. It is also important to note that if you forget to bring a
pencil, the test centre staff can provide a pencil for you.
Yes. The IELTS Examiner will not see your question
paper.
Yes,
the computer-delivered IELTS provides a note-taking and highlight function. You
can try these functions and familiarise yourself with IELTS on computer
Yes, you can use all capital letters in the IELTS
Reading and Listening section and also in the Writing section of the IELTS
test.
It is vital to fulfill the Writing task, especially Task
2, in order to demonstrate your skills.
Writing Task 2 is worth twice as many marks as Task 1.
25 percent of the Writing score for Task 2 (GT and Academic) is based on the
completeness of the response. Make sure you respond to all parts of the task.
This criterion is referred to as “Task Responseâ€. If all parts of the Writing
Task 2 are addressed, a person will score band 6 or higher for this quarter of
their Task 2 score. If the task is not fully addressed, an examiner must award
less than band 6 for this criterion. So responding to every individual part of
a Writing task is very important.
IELTS
uses a 9-band scoring system to measure and report test scores in a consistent
manner. You receive individual band scores for Listening, Reading, Writing and
Speaking and an Overall Band Score on a band scale from one to nine. Find out more about how IELTS is marked
For most people, there is a different band score
achieved for each skill and it is both common and completely normal to have a
difference of up to two bands between skills. This occurs regardless of the
language being tested and the type of language test taken. Listening and
Speaking are the strongest skills for the majority of people.
There is no pass or fail in IELTS. Scores are graded on
the 9-band system. Each educational institution or organization sets its own
level of IELTS scores to meet its individual requirements.
It is quite normal for people to score higher on their
second sitting because they are more familiar with the time allowed for each
section, the Reading answer sheet and the number of words required for the
Writing tasks. These are small factors that can lead to score improvement from
the first time an IELTS test is taken to the second time the test is taken.
Computer-delivered IELTS: Your Test
Report Form (TRF) will be posted 5-7 days after your test date.
Paper-based IELTS: Your Test
Report Form will be available to you 13 calendar days after your test
date.
You will only receive one copy of your Test Report
Form, unless you are applying to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Canada (IRCC), or United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) – in this
case, you can receive two.
You will only receive one copy of your Test Report
Form – unless you are applying to Immigration, Refugees and
Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – in this case, you can receive two.
Up to five (5) copies of your TRF will be posted to the
relevant institution(s) you have listed on your IELTS application form. Regular
postage is free of charge. Charges for courier services and/or overseas postage
will be passed onto you.
At any time within two years of sitting the test, you
can apply to your test centre for up to five additional copies of your original
test report form. These copies will NOT be sent to you, but can be sent to
universities, embassies, consulates etc. on your behalf. You will only ever
receive ONE personal copy of your Test Report Form.
There
is no limit on sitting the test. However, IELTS recommends you undertake
additional study and careful preparation before taking the test again. Some
test centers offer preparatory courses and language classes. Contact your
local test center for
more information.
You
can apply for a remark (called an Enquiry on Results) at your test center within six weeks
of the test date. You must pay an inquiry fee, which is fully refunded if your
band score changes. Note that IELTS Examiners and markers follow strict
assessment guidelines and are regularly monitored. The IELTS testing process
has the highest quality control procedures.
If you are taking the IELTS test and have special
requirements - due to hearing, visual, learning difficulties, medical
conditions or infant feeding - we can provide a variety of arrangements to
support you during the test.
These include:
·
modified and enlarged print papers
·
Braille papers
·
Braille and enlarged print versions of the
Speaking test
·
lip reading version of the Listening test
·
extra time for the Reading and Writing test or
use of a computer (e.g. for candidates with dyslexia)
·
a scribe to write answers on your behalf
·
special Listening test (e.g. using amplification
equipment and/or lip-reading version of the Listening test for those with
hearing difficulties).
Test centers deal with all applications for special
arrangements individually. You will be asked for full details of your
particular circumstances. They will make every effort to make all the necessary
special arrangements for you to complete an IELTS test.
If you are taking the IELTS test and have special
requirements - due to hearing, visual, learning difficulties, medical
conditions or infant feeding - we can provide a variety of arrangements to
support you during the test.
These include:
Test centers deal with all applications for special
arrangements individually. You will be asked for full details of your
particular circumstances. They will make every effort to make all the necessary
special arrangements for you to complete an IELTS test.
Whatever
your special needs, it is best to contact your local test center as
early as possible. Giving adequate notice is necessary for the modified test
versions to be prepared and/or special administrative arrangements to be made.
You might hear all sorts of claims about the IELTS
test. Be wary about accepting them all as true – there are a lot of myths being
said about the test.
You must also be aware of scams offering IELTS
information. One recent scam asks you to phone China on +86 950 xxxx xxx xxxx.
When you phone this number, AUD$100 may be billed to your phone account and
your SIM card may also be erased. Please share this warning with your friends.
Instead of listening to these false claims about the
test, the best thing you could do is to concentrate on improving your English
proficiency and follow the preparation advice we provide on this website.
IELTS is no more difficult than any other exam. The
questions are straightforward and designed to assess how well you can use your
English – not to trick you or test your opinions. As with any exam, IELTS
requires thorough preparation.
Also, remember that there is no pass or fail in IELTS.
The results are reported on a 9-band scale (1 being the lowest, 9 being the
highest). This scale has remained consistent for over 20 years.
The score you need is determined by the requirements of
your visa or the institution/organization to which you are applying. Always
remember to check what score you need before you take the test.
This is a common myth. However it is important to
understand that the IELTS test will be the same level of difficulty wherever
you sit the test. Think about where you will feel most confident taking the
test.
It is important to recognise that good meals and good
sleep in the lead-up to your test will help you perform your best. Also
consider how early you need to travel on test day to reach the test centre.
Keep in mind that all IELTS examiners in each country
receive the same high level of training and are closely monitored to ensure
they rate your responses consistently wherever you sit the test.
Smiling can help you feel relaxed which in turn might
help you perform better.
Every examiner is trained and monitored closely to be
fair to every candidate and assess your level of English only. The examiners
will not give you more or fewer marks if you are smiling and laughing.
You are not expected to change your accent for the
IELTS test. Instead, focus on speaking clearly and at a natural pace so that
the examiner can understand you. Practicing your English every day and
listening to different native-speaker accents will help you to more clearly
pronounce difficult words.
The minimum word limit is important. You must write at
least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. If you write less
than this, you will lose marks. However if you write more, this does not mean
you will gain marks. Rather it is more important that you use correct English,
appropriate grammar, a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
In your Writing and Speaking test, there are no right
or wrong opinions. The examiner is assessing how well you can use your English
to report information and express ideas.
Practicing sample tests will help you learn what is
expected in each part of the test. This is a good test preparation in order to
maximize the English skills you have. However, remember that to improve your
English you need to use English in everyday contexts – speak it with your
friends, write notes and email in English, read English newspapers, listen to
English radio.
If you feel you need help with your English, you should
also consider taking an English course.
IELTS is protected by sophisticated and multi-layered
security measures to prevent cheating in order to protect you and the organisations
that accept your results. At registration the following identity checks are
taken:
·
Your photograph is taken and your finger is
scanned when you register or arrive for the test. This photograph and
fingerscan is used to ensure that the same person sits every part of the test.
·
Identity checks are also undertaken during the
Reading and Writing test and again on check-in for the Speaking test.
·
All test materials are collected, checked
against registration and seat details and double-counted before test takers are
released from their test session.
·
All test centres are regularly monitored and
audited.
·
Test papers are printed on high-security paper
and distributed automatically to test centres without human intervention.
·
Every test paper includes a unique combination
of questions – no two tests are the same.
·
Systems are in place to automatically and
routinely scrutinise test results. In the event that any anomaly is identified,
the candidate, Test Centre and any organisation that has been sent the result are
notified and appropriate action is taken which may include cancellation of an
individual’s result.
·
IELTS makes it easy for universities, employers
and government to check the validity of results at any time, using a secure
verification system.
·
Any malpractice, which includes getting somebody
else to sit the test on your behalf, will result in being disqualified from the
test. Details of the malpractice will also be passed on to any organisations to
which you have applied, including relevant visa processing authorities.
IELTS is protected by sophisticated and multi-layered
security measures to prevent cheating in order to protect you and the organizations
that accept your results. At registration the following identity checks are
taken:
Thousands of educational institutions, employers, and
professional registration bodies accept IELTS because it is high quality and
fair test. This is why IELTS is also accepted by more governments for migration
purposes than any other test.
The institution/organization to which you are applying
will determine the level of English you need.
English level A1 is the first level of English in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a definition of different language levels written by the Council of Europe. In everyday speech, this level would be called “beginner”, and indeed, that is the official level descriptor in the CEFR, also used by EF SET. In practice it is possible to be at a pre-A1 level of English. A student who is just beginning to learn English, or who has no prior knowledge of English, is at a pre-A1 level.
According to the official CEFR guidelines, someone at the A1 level in English:
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
Can introduce herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where she lives, people she knows, and things she has.
Can interact with other people in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
The official can-do statements are broken down into smaller chunks for teaching purposes. This more detailed skill breakdown can help you assess your own English level, or help a teacher assess a student’s level. For example, a student at the A1 level in English will be able to:
introduce himself simply and use basic greetings.
tell where he and others are from and give a basic description of his city.
talk simply about family and colleagues, describing their appearance and personalities.
discuss clothing at a basic level and ask salesclerks simple questions about it.
talk about favorite foods and make simple orders for take-out food.
talk about daily activities and arrange meetings with friends and colleagues.
describe current weather conditions and suggest activities according to the weather forecast.
talk in general terms about his health and describe common medical symptoms to a doctor.
describe the location of his home and give simple directions.
talk about his hobbies and interests and makes plans for fun activities with friends or colleagues.
complete basic transactions at a hotel, including checking in and checking out.
discuss common products, make basic purchases, and return faulty items.