Terms and Conditions

IELTS
  1. General Acknowledgements

    I acknowledge that:
    1. The IELTS test is jointly owned by British Council, IELTS Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 84 008 664 766), which is wholly owned by IDP Education Ltd (‘IDP: IELTS Australia’) and Cambridge English, part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment), collectively referred to as the IELTS TEST PARTNERS or IELTS PARTNERS.
    2. I will abide by these terms and conditions for the IELTS On Paper test.
    3. I understand that there may be local terms and conditions that I must comply with and that the test centre will provide details of these on request.
    4. I certify that the information in my application is complete, true and accurate.
    5. I acknowledge that I am responsible for taking my test well in advance of any submission deadlines to Recognising Organisations. The IELTS PARTNERS cannot be held responsible if the issuance of test taker results exceeds the normal period given in these terms and conditions.
    6. I understand that my IELTS test session may be cancelled or postponed on short notice if technical issues impact on the running of the test. If a session is cancelled for technical reasons, I may choose to transfer to the next available test at the same Test Centre or receive a full refund of the test fee.
    7. I understand that my test result cannot be used for United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) application purposes and that I will not be eligible for a refund if I subsequently find that I require an IELTS for UKVI test result.
    8. I have read and understand IELTS Partner privacy policy and provisions at https://ielts.org/legal/privacy-policy
    9. I understand that these Terms and Conditions apply to the Test Taker taking the IELTS test, and in the case of minors, it must be read and agreed to by the parent or legal guardian responsible for the Test Taker's registration.
  1. Personal Information

    I understand that:
    1. It is necessary for my personal information to be collected and processed in order for me to take the IELTS test, to verify my identity and to receive my results. This personal information is collected and securely stored when I register for and when I take the IELTS test and is used by the IELTS Test Partners for the purpose of the IELTS test.
    2. My personal information, including, without limitation, test performance or score data and my test result may be disclosed by the IELTS Test Partners to Recognising Organisations to which I apply and to governments (including visa processing authorities) for the purpose of allowing these organisations to verify my test result.
    3. My personal information may be processed in an anonymous form by the IELTS Test Partners for statistical and research purposes for Cambridge English, part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment).
    4. My photograph will be taken by the test centre on test day and will appear on my Test Report Form. This photograph will be provided to any Recognising Organisations or government authorities to which I apply, to allow these organisations to verify my test result.
    5. I will be required to verify my identity on test day by providing the identity document specified by the test centre. I may also be requested to confirm my identity on test day by having a finger scan taken. The finger scan is taken as a Binary Large Object (BLOB), and no image of my fingerprint will be held. This biometric data will be held for 60 days after my test and will not be disclosed to any entity except the IELTS Test Partners. This is provided that this procedure is permissible under the local legislation.
    6. My Speaking test will be recorded: audio and/or video application. In the event the test does not record I will be required to re-take the Speaking test or a full resit. An observer may attend my Speaking test as part of the examiner monitoring process.
    7. I may be filmed for security and quality assurance purposes on test day, before and during the test. The video footage will be for held for 60 days after my test and may be used for audit or investigation purposes. This period may be different in line with local legislation in a limited number of jurisdictions.
    8. I will be required to verify my identity on test day by providing the identity document specified by the test centre. I may also be requested to confirm my identity on test day by having a finger scan taken. The finger scan is taken as a Binary Large Object (BLOB), and no image of my fingerprint will be held. This biometric data will be held for 60 days after my test and will not be disclosed to any entity except the IELTS Test Partners.
    9. I can access further details on how the IELTS Test Partners use my personal information (including how long it is retained in different circumstances and how I can exercise my rights) at www.ielts.org/policy/privacy-policy
  1. Cancellation, refunds, and transfers

    Detailed policy terms vary according to test centre location. I understand that I should contact my local test centre as relevant for further information.
    If local consumer protection law in the country in which I have registered to take the IELTS test provides for cancellation and transfer rights which are more favourable than the terms set out in this document, then local consumer protection law will apply.
    Different policy terms apply to IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills.

    1. Cancellations

      I can cancel my IELTS test booking at any time and taking the test by notifying the test centre. Refund policy and any other applicable charges depend upon when I cancel and whether exceptional circumstances apply.

    2. Transfers
      I may select a new test date at any time before the test, and that…
      1. My transfer request may be treated as a cancellation depending on how near to test day I make the request.
      2. I must select a new test date, where available, within three months of original test date.
      3. If my preferred test date is more than three months after original test date, the transfer will be treated as a cancellation.
      4. I can only transfer the same booking once.
      5. Administration charges may apply.

    3. Exceptional circumstances and special consideration
      1. If I am unable to attend my test or I am disadvantaged on the test day owing to illness, injury, or another exceptional event outside my control, then I may apply to the test centre for special consideration citing exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances include bereavement, civil unrest, or a domestic crisis. I can find more information on this process here.
      2. Under certain circumstances outside IELTS’ control, the test centre may need to cancel my test and transfer my booking to a future date. These circumstances include, but may not be limited to, extreme weather conditions, natural disaster, civil unrest, industrial action, global pandemic, or for reasons of force majeure. In these circumstances, my test centre will provide me with as much notice as possible and give me the choice of either a full refund, or a transfer to a future test date, whichever I prefer.
      3. If my test is cancelled or postponed due to other circumstances such as technical failure, venue or environmental factors, the test centre will provide me with as much notice as possible and give me the choice of a refund or a transfer to a future test.

    4. Chargeback Prohibition

      I agree that I will not dispute or otherwise seek a “chargeback” from the company whose credit card or other method of payment I use to book and pay for the IELTS test or otherwise attempt to reverse payment. If I do so, my IELTS test and/or results may be cancelled, and the IELTS Partners may, at their discretion, refuse to accept future purchases made from accounts on which such chargebacks have been made. The IELTS Partners may prohibit future purchases from the account holder, and from any person who booked an IELTS test and reversed payment.

  2. Test Integrity, Security, and Malpractice

    I understand that…
    1. I must attend all four test skills in order to receive a test result and any exception to this must be approved in advance by the test centre.
    2. The IELTS Test Partners have a responsibility to all test takers and Recognising Organisations to ensure the highest confidence in IELTS test results. The IELTS Test Partners may therefore be required to withhold test results temporarily or permanently, or to cancel test results which have been issued, if they consider those results to be unreliable for any reason.
    3. My test result may not be issued 13 days after the test if any of the IELTS Test Partners consider it necessary to review any matter associated with my test or the administration of my test, including making enquiries as to whether I, other test takers or other parties have breached test rules or regulations. I may be required to provide additional samples of my writing and speaking for the purposes of assisting any investigation before or after the test. In exceptional circumstances I may be required to re-take one or more IELTS skills.
    4. If I am suspected of engaging in any form of malpractice or do anything that might damage the integrity and security of IELTS, I may not receive a test result, my test fee will not be refunded, and I may be banned from taking the IELTS tests for a five-year period in the future. If I am banned, I will receive a notification stating the length of the ban.
    5. Details of any proven or suspected malpractice may be provided to Recognising Organisations, including governments (including visa processing authorities) and appropriate regulatory authorities centrally malpractice has been proven and I may be also liable to prosecution.
    6. The work I produce in the IELTS test remains the property of the IELTS Test Partners and will not be released to me. In cases of proven or suspected malpractice my work may be provided to relevant authorities.

  3. Test Day Arrangements and Behaviour

    I understand and acknowledge that on the day of the test, I must…
    1. Provide valid and original proof of my identity (passport or National Identity Card) at registration. I understand that in some countries other forms of ID are accepted. If in doubt, I should contact the test centre in advance to confirm which type of identity document is accepted. If I am taking the test outside my own country, I must use a passport for identity purposes.
    2. Inform the centre of any changes to my identity document before the test date. If I do not do this, I will not be allowed to take the test and I will not be eligible for a refund or transfer.
    3. Bring the same valid identity document on test day, to both the Listening, Reading and Writing and Speaking Tests, as the one I used to book my test. If I do not do this, I will not be allowed to take the test and I will not be eligible for a refund or transfer.
    4. Arrive at the centre before the scheduled test arrival time. If I arrive late, I will not be allowed to take the test and will not be eligible for a refund or transfer.
    5. Allow for my identity to be verified both at test booking and on test day. This may include:
      1. Having my photograph. I will be required to temporarily remove any covering from my face. Any test takers who refuse to have a photograph taken will not be permitted to sit the test and will not be entitled to a refund and transfer. The photograph taken by the centre will appear on my Test Report Form.
        Providing a sample of my signature.
      2. In certain markets, having my finger scan taken to create a unique digital Identifier stored as a binary large object if this procedure is permissible under the local legislation.

    6. Leave all personal belonging in the designated area. The only items I may bring into the test room are my approved identity document and a bottle of water (transparent and label free). No personal items including stationery should be taken into the test room. All electronic devices and watches must be left in the belongings area and must be switched off. I may be electronically scanned for devices at any time on the test day. Any test takers who breach these conditions and take any unauthorised items into the test room will not receive an IELTS test results or be eligible for a refund or transfer. While the centre will take all reasonable measure to secure my items in the belonging's areas, they cannot be held responsible for any loss.

    7. I understand that I should…
    8. Inform the invigilator on the day of the test if I believe my performance is affected by ill health, or owing to the way the test is delivered, or in relation to the contract or for any other reason. If I have any issues, concerns or complaints relating to the delivery of the test I can submit a complaint.
    9. Leave all test materials in the test room at the end of the test. The test materials include question papers, Speaking booklets, answer sheets and rough paper. Any test taker who attempts to remove test materials from the test room will not receive an IELTS test result.

    10. I undertake not to…
      1. Talk to or disturb other test takers once the test has started.
      2. Lend anything to, or borrow anything from, another test taker during the test.
      3. Eat or smoke in the test room.
      4. Leave the test room without the permission of the invigilator.
      5. Leave my seat until all test materials have been collected and I have been told I can leave.
      6. Engage in any form of malpractice which may damage the integrity and security of the IELTS test. Malpractice includes, but is not limited to attempting to cheat, including using notes of any kind from any source; helping another test taker to cheat; impersonating another test taker or having another test taker impersonate me; copying the work of another test taker; disrupting the test in any way; reproducing any part of the test in any medium; attempting to alter the data on the Test Report Form.

  4. Test Results

    I understand that…
    1. Results are issued by centres, usually 13 days after the test. The release of my results may be affected by Public Holidays, in which case the results will usually be released on the next working day after the holiday.
    2. I will receive a single Test Report Form. Replacement copies are not issued in the event of loss or damage.
    3. All personal details provided during the registration must match the Test Taker’s identification document used for registration and presented at the test location, as these will appear on the Test Taker’s Test Report Form (TRF). Once registration is complete, I may be charged a fee if I ask you to modify any of this information before we issue the TRF. No modifications can be made after the TRF has been issued.
    4. The IELTS Partners may not issue my result within 13 days after the test should they decide it is necessary to review any matter associated with my test or the administration of my test. To assist any investigation, I may be required to provide writing and speaking samples. In exceptional circumstances, I may be required to retake one or more IELTS skills.
    5. My result may be cancelled after it has been issued if any irregularity is identified. I may be required to re-take one or more IELTS skills.
    6. My result will be disclosed to the Recognising Organisations I nominate at time of booking or to whom I send my Test Report Form. This is done for the purpose of allowing these organisations to verify my test result or to carry out any enquiries in relation to suspected malpractice.
    7. If any of the data on the Test Report Form provided by me or my agent to Recognising Organisations has been altered in any way, that test result will be cancelled, and I may be banned from taking any IELTS test for a five-year period.
    8. I understand that there may be video recording and CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) in the test centre. I agree to be videoed while I am in the test centre on the test day, including during check-in procedures and in each of the test rooms used for each part of the test. I understand that video recordings will be used for monitoring purposes, investigations into suspected malpractice and enquiries on results. I understand if I do not agree to be video recorded, I will not be able to take the test.
    9. My result may be adjusted or cancelled after release if the IELTS PARTNERS identify any anomalies affecting the reliability of my test score.
    10. Violent, threatening, or abusive behaviour including shouting and swearing towards staff or other test takers will not be tolerated. Test-takers who act in such a manner on test day will be asked to leave the exam; the Police may be called, and I could receive a ban from taking IELTS.

  5. Disclaimers


    1. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to be one of many means and factors used by academic institutions, government agencies, professional bodies and employers in determining whether a test taker can be admitted as a student or be considered for employment or for citizenship purposes. IELTS is not designed to be the sole method of determining admission or employment. IELTS tests are made available to all persons, regardless of gender, race, nationality or religion. The IELTS and One Skill Retake (OSR) is not recommended to persons under 16 years of age. OSR is accessible to test takers including those with Special Requirements or Access Arrangement registrations.
    2. The IELTS PARTNERS and any other party involved in creating, producing, or delivering IELTS shall not be liable for any direct, incidental, consequential, indirect, special, punitive, or similar damages arising out of access to, use of, acceptance by, or interpretation of the results by any third party, or any errors or omissions in the content therein.

Acknowledgement

I understand and acknowledge that completion of this Application & Payment Form does not guarantee that I will be enrolled in a test.

I understand the test result gained from this test registration cannot be used for application to UKVI for visa purposes.

I understand I must register for IELTS for UKVI to apply for a visa for the UK.

I have read and understand IELTS Australia's Privacy Policy