As your test day approaches, it’s important to know what to expect before, during and after you take your IELTS test.
Make sure you arrive early and have all the necessary documents with you as the check-in process may vary between test venues. After you have checked-in, you will be able to lock away your personal belongings before you will be guided to your seat by a test invigilator. After this point you won’t be able to talk to fellow test takers.
Once the test begins, keep track of time so you have enough time to complete each part of the test. If you have any questions, you can raise your hand to get the attention of an invigilator. Once the test concludes, you can leave the test room and collect your belongings.
Your provisional test results will be available online 3 to 5 days after taking IELTS on a computer or 13 days after sitting a paper-based test. Your official Test Report Form (TRF) can be picked up from the test venue or mailed to you.
Ask IELTS
The Listening, Reading, and Writing parts of the test are completed immediately after each other on the same day. In some test centres, you will sit the Speaking test on the same day, or up to 7 days before or after your test date.
If you take computer-delivered IELTS, the Speaking test will be taken on the same day, either before, or after the other three parts of the test.
If you experience difficulty on a test day, please inform the test centre immediately. The test centre may offer you a test on the next available test date.
For both paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS, you will do the tests in the following order on the same day: Listening, Reading and Writing, with the Speaking test before or after this test session.
Depending on the test centre, the Speaking test can be done on the same day, or up to 7 days either before or after the test date.
Safety measures on test day
Take a closer look at some of the safety measures we have introduced to help keep you safe on test day during COVID-19.