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We've collected the most frequently asked questions from our IELTS test takers, covering every stage of your IELTS journey. Our IELTS experts have provided answers and shared their unique insights.

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iconJun 17, 2025

Last answered by Rocco

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Rocco Nigro
IELTS Expert
When speaking naturally, we stress throughout the sentence. Rhythm is the timing between the stressed syllables. If you hesitate a lot, your rhythm can be affected.
Jun 17, 2025
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iconJun 26, 2025

Last answered by Jess

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Jess Christie
IELTS Expert
If you need to use the bathroom during the test, please just raise your hand and ask the test day staff. They will hold on to your passport and show you to the bathrooms. There are certain times during the test when you are not allowed to go to the bathroom. These are during the Listening test, during instructions, or in the final minutes of the test. It is important to remember as well that your test is not paused when you go to the bathroom, so try to plan accordingly. Also be aware that there is a limit to how many people can use the bathroom at the same time, so don't be surprised if you are asked to wait a few minutes.

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Jun 26, 2025
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iconFeb 5, 2025

Last answered by Jess

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Jess Christie
IELTS Expert
It's important to try and get to your test venue 30 minutes before your test. This will give you enough time to get comfortable, use the bathroom if you need to, and relax before your test starts. However, sometimes unexpected things happen that mean you might be late for the exam. If the test has already started you will not be allowed to enter the test room and you will not be able to sit the test that day. If you provide the test centre with evidence as to why you were not able to make it on time (eg. A car accident, public transport breakdown), then the test centre may offer you a transfer or a refund. It is important that you contact your test centre as soon as possible.

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Feb 5, 2025
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iconJun 30, 2025

Last answered by Jess

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Jess Christie
IELTS Expert
If you wake up on the morning of your test date feeling unwell, please contact our customer support team. They may ask you to obtain a medical certificate and will then work to reschedule your test date. If you are in the middle of your test and you begin to feel unwell, please tell the test day invigilation staff immediately. It is best that you head home and rest rather than continue with the test. You won't be able to perform your best if you are feeling sick! Contact our customer support team within 5 days of your test to request a rescheduling of your test. They may ask you to obtain a medical note from a doctor.

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Jun 30, 2025
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iconAug 4, 2025

Last answered by Fahad

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Fahad Rafique
IELTS Expert
Speaking test tends to examine your ability to effectively communicate and converse with a live person. If you are not able to gather thoughts on the topic given, it would still be highly recommended to talk about something rather than staying silent. You may create phrases and talk about you being unfamiliar with the topic given. You can use general knowledge and speculate on the topic which will award you a score for the speaking ability. I would recommend you review IELTS speaking resources and brush up on how to achieve a good score in the speaking test here .

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Aug 4, 2025
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iconFeb 7, 2025

Last answered by Reza

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Reza Tasviri
IELTS Expert
I can assure you this is a very rare thing to happen, and if it happens it may just be nerves. All IELTS Speaking questions and topics are carefully constructed so the topics are not too specialized or obscure. If you can’t think of anything to say, it is fine to tell the examiner things like “Well, it’s a tough one. I am trying to remember”. It’s best not to stop and stay silent. In the end, if nothing comes to mind, be creative and make up stories. You do not get or lose points for telling the truth. It’s OK to make up stories. The Speaking Examiner only looks at how well you speak.

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Feb 7, 2025
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iconJun 30, 2025

Last answered by Reza

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Reza Tasviri
IELTS Expert
I’d like to refer you to the information on the global description of IELTS band scores IELTS Scoring . At band 4, a candidate’s ability is “limited” to familiar situations, and they frequently have problems communicating. At band 5, the test taker is a “modest” user of English and they are usually able to communicate in their own field but tend to make many mistakes.

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Jul 1, 2025
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iconJun 17, 2025

Last answered by Rocco

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Rocco Nigro
IELTS Expert
At band 6, a speaker can develop their ideas more deeply with fewer hesitations. The range of vocabulary enables them to talk more deeply on topics. Grammar includes more complex sentences with better accuracy. As for pronunciation, the speaker has more chunking and can use intonation.
Jun 17, 2025
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iconJun 16, 2025

Last answered by Vincent

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Vincent Blokker
IELTS Expert
Some IELTS test centres offer for your Speaking test to take place via video-call. In this case, your Speaking test examiner will not be in the same test room as you, but instead, you’ll speak with them via a video call in a private test room at your centre. You get a noise-cancelling headset and do your Speaking test on a high-definition video call with a human examiner. All aspects of the Speaking test will remain the same, including the question types, timing and marking. So, doing a video-call Speaking test is not easier or more difficult.

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Jun 16, 2025
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iconJun 30, 2025

Last answered by Reza

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Reza Tasviri
IELTS Expert
No. IELTS examiners are trained to focus on the language you produce and are not to judge your opinions. If you refer to the IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors you will find out that the rating criteria focuses on how well, you logically organise and sequence your ideas and use appropriate vocabulary and grammar to express them.
Jun 30, 2025
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iconJun 30, 2025

Last answered by Reza

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Reza Tasviri
IELTS Expert
You do not get a lower or higher score just because of your accent. If you look at the descriptors for the IELTS speaking test and the rating criteria you will find out that things like speech rate, word and sentence stress, correctly pronouncing sounds and things like this are all looked at and accent only matters when it affects intelligibility (that is how easily you are understood by other people when you speak).

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Jun 30, 2025
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iconJun 17, 2025

Last answered by Rocco

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Rocco Nigro
IELTS Expert
Nobody is going to check if you are telling the truth or not - you will just be measured on your English language skills.
Jun 17, 2025
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Fahad Rafique

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Canada

16 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hello! I'm Fahad, and I've been a part of IELTS since April 2010. Having been born and raised in the UAE and then migrating to Canada, I can truly say that IELTS takes you places. I firmly believe that success belongs to those who actively seek it. I'm here to help answer any questions you may have about IELTS and guide you on how to take that crucial first step toward achieving your international dreams – whether it's study, migration or work. I look forward to supporting you!!

Last online Aug 2, 2025

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Jess Christie

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Australia

8 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hi, I'm Jess and I’m an IELTS Expert who has worked in the world of IELTS for 7 years. I help test takers do the best they can in the IELTS test by providing them with helpful tips to ensure they have a smooth test day. I am originally from regional Victoria in Australia, but I was an international student when I went to Ireland for University. I came back and decided to work in the world of international education, which led me to IELTS.

Last online Jun 25, 2025

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Lewis Crannitch

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New Zealand

2 years

Experience

role

IELTS Expert

Hi, I’m Lewis. I’ve worked with IELTS in New Zealand since 2017 and taught English in Japan, China, and NZ. Having also learned a language myself in China, I understand the challenges test takers face. I track English proficiency requirements in NZ and deliver IELTS Masterclasses and familiarisation sessions to support preparation, share resources, and make test day easier. I look forward to connecting with you on your IELTS journey.

Last online Sep 15, 2025

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Linda Alley

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Australia

11 years

Experience

role

IELTS Expert

Hi! I’m Linda. I’m here to help you reach your IELTS goals by answering any questions you might have about the test and how to prepare. You may have seen me on our video podcast, IELTS Prepare by IDP. I also create learning materials and blog posts for IELTS test takers. Over the past 10 years, I’ve taught English as a Second Language to students from all over the world, so please get in touch if you have any questions on how to improve your language skills.

Last online Sep 16, 2025

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Reza Tasviri

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Australia

18 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hi, I’m Reza. I’m here to help you with advice on how to effectively use your knowledge of English to get the best outcome in your IELTS test. I can answer questions on what the test asks you to do, how it assesses your performance, and how you can show you have what it takes. I’ve been involved with IELTS for 17 years now. I’ve been an English Language teacher for 27 years and a lifelong learner (English is not my first language. I started when I was 17 and haven’t stopped since).

Last online Jul 9, 2025

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Rocco Nigro

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Australia

26 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hello, my name is Rocco and I am one of the IELTS Experts here at IDP. Since 1995, I've been involved in English language teaching, teacher training, assessment and academic management, which has helped me develop a wealth of knowledge about the IELTS test. I enjoy meeting students and test takers from all over the world. If you have any questions about how to do your best in the IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking tests, I can give you some good approaches to help you on test day.

Last online Jun 18, 2025

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Vincent Blokker

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Australia

11 years

Experience

role

IELTS Expert

Hi! I’m Vincent, and I'm here to help you succeed in your IELTS journey. I live in the beautiful city of Melbourne, Australia, but I work with students from all over the world. I can help with advice and resources and answer your questions about IELTS. I also write blogs with tips for the test and have created study materials for IELTS. I’m an expert on any questions about the organisations, universities, and governments that accept IELTS for work, study, or your visa. Feel free to contact me!

Last online Jul 1, 2025

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Vishal Ramesh

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India

1 year

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Your friendly neighbourhood community manager

Last online Mar 4, 2025

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