IELTS English Language Testing: What happens on test day?

• Original of your valid personal identification document that you registered in your application at the time of registration. 

- National citizens: Original machine-readable or chip-readable passport or ID card.  

- Foreign citizens: Original machine-readable or chip-readable passport. 

• Color photocopy of both sides of your ID card. If you registered with your passport, you must photocopy the document open book, making sure that the image shows two pages (the personal information page and the next page). This is only for candidates taking the IELTS computer-based test or IELTS for UKVI.
• Passwords, foreign ID cards, driver's licenses, student ID cards or notifications of documents in process will not be accepted. Candidates who do not bring the identification document with which they registered online will not be allowed to take the English test.
• Pencil and pencil (you will need a pencil for listening comprehension and written expression).
• Eraser and scissors

• Clear water bottle without labels (except for computer-based IELTS)
• Mask
• Hand sanitizer gel (the container should be clear without labels).
• Plastic bag to store your personal belongings.

You will not be able to bring anything else with you into the English test room. Turn off your cell phone and any other electronic devices. You will be asked to place these devices with any other belongings outside the test room.

All watches of any kind are prohibited in the English test room. You must leave your watch, along with your belongings, in the locker area. There will be a clock at the test site.

There will be a secure area where you must leave all your belongings. The British Council cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to your belongings at the exam venue. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you leave valuables such as cell phones and computers at home.  

Please note that on the day of the English test you will need to bring a plastic bag to store your personal belongings; we will take care of disinfecting it. Once you have stored all your belongings, you can close the bag and label it without touching the contents directly. At the end of the test, you must dispose of your bag in the garbage cans.

Staff at the IELTS English test venue will check your identity when you arrive.

Please remember to bring the same valid personal identification document (national identity card or passport) that you used when you registered for the English test. 

Invalid or expired personal identification documents will not be accepted. If you cannot provide a valid personal identification document, you will not be able to take the English test.

Your photograph will be taken on the day of the English test as an additional security measure and will appear on your IELTS transcript.

The Listening, Reading and Writing tests last two hours and 40 minutes, and there are no breaks between sections of the English test.

Your IELTS Speaking test can be taken on the same day as the other sections of the English test or up to one week before or after the test day. 

The IELTS Speaking test can be taken:

a) By video call at one of our official IELTS centers with the same high standard of identity verification. The English test will maintain the format of a face-to-face interview with an official IELTS examiner and will be exactly the same as the face-to-face test in terms of content, scoring, timing, level of difficulty, question format and security arrangements.

 b) Face-to-face with an assigned interviewer; this will be as arranged.

Between seven and three business days prior to the date you have selected for your written English test, you will receive an email notification with the dates, location and time of both your interview and the other components of the test.

Please note:

• Before the start of each part of the listening test, you will have time to read the questions.
• After the end of each part of the Listening test, you will have time to review your answers.
• At the end of the Listening test, you will have two minutes to check your answers.
• The response times for the Listening test are slightly different when you take the computer-based test. This is because the paper-based test requires users to transfer their answers to a sheet of paper. This step is omitted when answering directly from a computer.
• The time it takes to complete the listening comprehension test is 30 to 34 minutes.

If you have any questions during the test, raise your hand and ask for help.

When you take the listening comprehension test, check that you can hear the sound properly. Raise your hand immediately and let the proctor know if you cannot hear the recording.

Remember that you will have ten minutes after the listening section to fill in your answer sheet. You will not have ten minutes after the reading comprehension section, so be sure to write your answers on your answer sheet as you complete each section.

If you need to go to the bathroom during the English test, raise your hand to get the proctor's attention. Do not disturb other candidates.

Remain in your seat until the supervisor gives you permission to leave the room.

If you believe there has been a problem that may affect your performance, report it immediately to the proctor.

If you want to raise a problem or file a complaint, ask your proctor for an "Exam Day Incident Form" to complete. This form must be completed and returned before you leave the room where you are taking your English test; otherwise, your incident will not be considered.

Yes, any candidate between 11 - 17 years of age must submit the following forms signed by their parent/guardian:

• Consent to take the IELTS test
• Consent to leave the premises unaccompanied