IELTS Exam Dates

IELTS Exam Dates and Planning

IELTS, which stands for International English Language Testing System, conducts tests all around the year for those aspiring to go abroad for study, employment, or settle down. If you are among these aspiring candidates, it’s time you started looking for the IELTS registration procedure, exam dates, fee, and IELTS exam syllabus. IDP currently conducts the IELTS test in India. You can register for the tests by visiting their official website.

You can book your desired IELTS test online by paying the designated fee via Netbanking, Debit/Credit cards, and UPI. You can also apply offline by filling out the registration form at your nearest IDP center. The IELTS exam fee for both remains INR 17000.

The test assesses four key skills – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. It comes in two versions:

• Academic
• General Training

While the pen-and-paper-delivered academic module offers all 48 test dates for the entire year, the General Training tests are offered on only 24 fixed dates. Candidates can choose the date of the exam at their convenience. The computer-delivered tests can be taken almost every day. However, the dates may vary between the centers. This article provides a thorough guide on IELTS exam dates and when you can take them.

IELTS Exam Dates 2024: Computer Delivered

The computer-delivered IELTS is a digital version of the paper-based test that provides candidates with a more convenient and faster opportunity to prove their language skills. This new format offers several benefits for candidates.

Key Benefits:

• Results in just 2-3 days of taking the exam
• Available almost every day of the month in 3 slots.
  1. 1st Slot: 09:00 am to 12:00 noon
  2. 2nd Slot 2: 01:00 pm to 04:00 pm
  3. 3rd Slot: 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm
• Candidates have the flexibility to choose the test session: morning, afternoon, or evening. Centers are usually closed on national holidays.
• Test-taking improvements with features like text highlighting and note-taking.
• A machine-generated score of word count for related activities.

Test Format & Environment

The technology-enhanced form of the test has the same format and scaling as the paper-based assessment. All the Listening, Reading, and Writing rounds are conducted on a computer while a certified examiner administers the Speaking test. The Speaking test, along with the rest of the tests, is conducted in an IELTS test center. The test centers are equipped with:

• High-quality noise-canceling headphones
• Modern computer systems
• Private testing chambers
• CCTV monitoring for security

IELTS Exam Dates 2024: Paper-Delivered

IELTS is regarded worldwide as the most popular English language proficiency test, with more than 4 million tests conducted every year. Hence, IELTS is accepted as a gold standard for English language assessment in more than 140 countries through more than 12000 organizations.

Test Format:

• Students have the option of taking all the exams on the same day, taking the written exams on the same day, and choosing a date for the speaking exam 7 days before or after the day of the exam.
• The Speaking test is conducted face-to-face by a qualified examiner at the IDP center.
• The Listening, Writing, and Reading tests are to be answered on an answer sheet provided by the center.
• Answers must be written or marked only using a pen or an HB pencil.

Note: All the tests are conducted in official IELTS test centers.

IELTS Test Format 2024

Here is a comprehensive table explaining the IELTS exam syllabus for 2024 for both types of exams conducted.

Test Availability:

• Weekly tests are planned four times a month, totaling 48 tests all around the year.
• These are usually conducted on Thursday and Saturday
• There are different variants of scheduling tests for candidates
• Results are available within 13 calendar days from the date of the exam

IELTS Exam Dates: October 2024

IELTS Exam Dates: November 2024

IELTS Exam Dates: December 2024

IELTS Exam Dates in India for Top Cities

It is important to know that you can take the computer-based IELTS test throughout the year on any day of your choice in your closest IELTS center. Some IELTS centers do not allow the test on certain days of the week, so be sure to check the IDP website to learn more.

British Council IELTS Exam Dates 2024

The British Council does not take the IELTS exam in India anymore. The right to undertake the IELTS exam in India lies solely with IDP. They are the sole distributor of this test and all of its types in India.

IELTS Test Type IELTS Exam Fees

Here is a comprehensive list of the types of tests available for IELTS and their respective exam fees.

IELTS Exam Dates 2024: Cancellations & Refunds

If you want to change your IELTS test date by less than five weeks, your situation can be categorized under two sections.

For Candidates with Compelling Reasons:

If you face an unexpected situation like illness, the loss of a family member, or any other urgent issue, you must submit the proper documents. These could be a doctor’s note, a death certificate, or a police report. Make sure to send them within five days of the test date. If the request is approved, you can obtain a refund of 75% of the test fee or transfer it to another date within one month without any extra charges.

For Candidates without Compelling Reasons:

You may also change the test date even if you have no urgent reason. For instance, you feel like you haven’t covered all sections of the IELTS exam syllabus and want to take the test at a later date. In that case, you will have to pay an additional fee of 1250 TL. This enables you to reschedule your test 3 months away from the initial date set for the test.

Key Points to Remember:

• Your chosen center handles all cancellation and refund requests. Candidates must send the Transfer & Cancellation/Refund Application Form attached with the original IELTS exam fee receipt for both paper-based and computer-based tests to the center.
• Requests have to be made via email no later than 5 days after the test date
• Any transfer or cancellation request is allowed once only
• Submissions past the due time cannot be accepted
• The same rules also apply to people who fail to show up
• All changes are also required to follow the registration process requirements
• Refunds will be processed only for cancellation applications made 9 days before the date of the exam. If the application for cancellation is sent to the center less than 9 days before the exam date, no amount will be refunded.
• All refund amounts will be processed within 10 to 12 working days from the date of the cancellation application.

IELTS Rescheduling Fee

IELTS Registration: How to Book IELTS Exam Dates?

Here are the simple steps to book your slot for the IELTS test 2024.

Step 1: Go to the IDP IELTS Website

• Visit the official IDP IELTS website
• Look for the “Book Now” button on the home page

Step 2:  Select Test Type

• Click on “Select Test Type”
• Choose the type of exam based on your needs

Step 3:  Choose Your City

• Click on “Select City”
• Pick the city where you want to take the test
• You can choose any city, not just your home city

Step 4:  Book Your Test

• Click the “Book Now” button to move forward
• This starts your booking process

Step 5: Enter Your Details

• Fill in all your personal information
• Upload the required documents
• Make sure everything is correct

Step 6: Add RO Information

• Fill in your Recognised Organizations (RO) details
• These are the places that will require your scores

Step 7: Final Review

• Check all your information one more time
• Make sure everything is correct

Step 8: Complete Payment

• Move to the payment section
• Pay for your exam

IELTS Exam Dates for UKVI Test 2024

Here are some dates for taking the pen and paper-based IELTS UKVI exam in some popular cities.

The computer-delivered UKVI test is conducted almost every day at the IELTS centers across India except on major holidays. The days on which the test is not available depend on center to center. Check the IDP website for more information about when to take the exam in your city.