Mujer joven rinde el test de nivel de inglés en el centro de examen IELTS Lima

If you are taking IELTS remotely at home or elsewhere, you can find out more about the setup and requirements in our IELTS Online section.

The information below only applies if you take your IELTS tests at a test centre.

Information and tips for your IELTS English test day

You may be a little nervous about the day of your IELTS English level test. To make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible, we have put together some information to help you know what to expect on test day. We also invite you to learn about our biosafety protocols that we have in place to ensure your peace of mind on the day of your IELTS test.

You should arrive on time for your IELTS English test session. You will receive an email at least three days before the English test so you will know what time it will start. The email will provide you with information about the procedures and times on the day of the English test. If you arrive late, you may not be able to take the test and will need to re-register and pay for the test.

If you have requested special arrangements for your IELTS English test as a result of incapacity or illness, arrangements will be made so that you can take your test on the agreed test day. Please contact our staff at the test venue six weeks in advance.

Some of our IELTS test centers are now delivering the IELTS Speaking test via video call. This means greater flexibility in the delivery of IELTS Speaking tests, along with greater availability.

You will take the Speaking test by video call at an official IELTS test center with the same high standard of identity verification. The test will be exactly the same as the in-person speaking test in terms of content, scoring, timing, question format and security arrangements. 

Taught by an IELTS Speaking Examiner, the Video Call Speaking test will maintain the face-to-face features of the in-person speaking test.  

For more information, contact your local test center.

Make sure you are prepared and have something to eat and drink before your IELTS English test.

What should I bring on the day of the English test?

  • 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.
You must use a black ink pen to complete your paper-based IELTS test, supplied by the test centre. Personal stationery, including pencils, are not permitted in the test room. Only water in a transparent bottle without any label is allowed in the test room.
  
You must leave everything else outside the examination room. Mobile phones and other electronic devices must be switched off and placed with personal belongings in the area designated by the supervisor.  
 
If you do not switch off your electronic devices or keep them on you, you will be disqualified from the exam. All watches are also banned from the test rooms for all test components. 
 

What should I do with my belongings on the day of the IELTS English test?

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.

When is my identity verified?

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.

When will I be photographed for the IELTS English test day?

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

How long is the IELTS test?

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.

What if I need help during the IELTS English test?

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.

What happens at the end of the English test?

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.

I am a minor, do I need an authorization?

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

The British Council takes your safety very seriously

  • Security in the IELTS English exams is very important to us, so our staff will take the photograph and verify the fingerprint of each participant on the day of the exam. This procedure is mandatory.
  • All watches of any kind are forbidden in the test room. You must leave your watch, along with your belongings, in the secure baggage area. There will be a watch at the test site.
Share this