Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for the IELTS? Registration for the IELTS are done centrally by two authorities: British Council, Mumbai, and IDP Education Australia Limited. If you want to apply to British Council, completed application forms along with relevant enclosures should be couriered to : British Council Division, British Deputy High Commission, Mittal Towers, C-Wing, 2nd Floor , Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021. If you want to apply to IDP Australia, completed application forms along with relevant enclosures should be couriered to : The IELTS Department IDP Australia Limited. Express Building, 1st Floor, Churchgate, Opp Churchgate Railway Station, Mumbai 400020, India. What is the last date of registration? Seats are filled on first come first served basis. Hence we do not have a last date for registration. Can I book my seat over the phone? No, your seat will be confirmed on receipt of your application. What are the fees for registration? Registration fees are Rs. 7200/- . The fees has to be paid in form of a Demand Draft, drawn in favor of “ British Council Division", payable at Mumbai if you are applying to British Council. OR The fees has to be paid in form of a Demand Draft, drawn in favor of “ IELTSIndiaProject", payable at New Delhi if you are applying to IDP Australia. What is the Test Format? Candidates are tested in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. Which Module should I sit, Academic or General Training? Candidates must select either the Academic or General Training Reading and Writing Modules depending on their stated requirement of their sponsor or receiving institution. The Academic Reading and Writing Modules assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses should be based on the results of Academic Modules. The General Training Reading and Writing Modules are not designed to test the full range of formal language skills required for academic purposes. The emphasis of General Training is on basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context. It is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their Secondary education, to undertake work experience or training programs not at degree level, or for immigration purposes to Australia and New Zealand. How is IELTS test assessed? Candidates receive scores on a Band Scale from 1 to 9. A score is reported for each module of the test. The individual module scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score. Click here for, the 9 Bands and their descriptive statements. When are results out? The results are out in 1 week and will be couriered to you directly. What happens if a candidate is delayed by circumstances beyond their control because, for example, of a transportation strike? The test centre offers the candidate an alternative test date as soon as possible. What happens if a candidate wants to postpone or cancel their entry? The test centre may retain part of the fee for local administrative costs. This may vary from centre to centre. What happens if a candidate is absent on the day of the test without giving prior notice? The candidate will normally lose their full test fee. However, if a medical certificate is provided then the full fee is refunded minus a local administrative deduction. How should a candidate prepare for the test? Well. It depends upon your current level of English and the purpose for which you want to give the IELTS Exam. As you must be aware that Canada Immigration process demands 7 bandscore in each module, Australia Immigration process 6.0 in each module and NZ immigration 6.5 (overall) band score. Also for Acadamic purpose you need to score more than 6 band score in academic module. All these band requirements are minimum level requirements. If you get a proper coaching you can definitely improve your Band Score and also improve your chances for success. Doing self study for preparing IELTS is also possible but one has to seriously prepare for it. There is also a wide range of published preparation materials. How soon can a candidate repeat the test? Candidates are not allowed to repeat the test within three months at any centre. For how long is a test score valid? There are a number of variables affecting the length of time over which an IELTS score remains valid. As a general rule it is recommended that a Test Report Form that is more than two years old should only be accepted as evidence of present level of ability if accompanied by proof that a candidate has actively maintained or tried to improve their English language proficiency. What happens if a candidate loses their Test Report Form or requires further copies? At any time within two years of the test administration a candidate can apply to the centre where they took the test for further copies of the Test Report Form. There may be a small administrative charge. What can a candidate do if they are unhappy with their results? Candidates may apply for an enquiry on results procedure at the centre at which they took their test within four weeks of receipt of results. All the candidate's test material is re-marked. There is a £40 (or local currency equivalent) fee for this which is refunded should the band score be increased. Is there an age limit for IELTS? IELTS is not recommended for candidates under the age of 16. What if a candidate becomes ill during the test? If a candidate is genuinely ill during the test it should be brought to the attention of the test supervisor. It is not possible to give special consideration to candidates who do not report their illness on the day of the test.