IELTS Exam Day:
What You Need to Know
Link Education will gathered information about the IELTS Exam days and some practical tips — such as the IELTS exam process and what to bring to the test — to help you stay relaxed and complete your exam smoothly.
Remember to arrive at the official IELTS test venue on time. Pay attention to the start time, exam procedures, and schedule. Latecomers may not be allowed to enter the test room.
If you require special arrangements for the exam due to a disability or other reasons, our team will make a adjustments on the test day according to your needs. Please contact us at least three months in advance.
The IELTS Speaking Test may be held on the same day as the written tests, or up to one week before or after them. If your Speaking Test is scheduled on a different day, you will receive prior notification.
Never take the test on an empty stomach! Please note that eating is not allowed inside the test room. If you need to drink water, it must be in a transparent bottle.
IELTS Exam Day Tips
The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections together last 2 hours and 40 minutes, with no breaks in between. The order of these papers may vary.
The Speaking test may be held on the same day as the written tests, or up to one week before or after. If it’s on a separate day, you’ll receive prior notification.
Must Bring
-
ID card / other identification documents
Recommend to bring:
-
A bottle of drinking water in a transparent bottle
- No other items are allowed into the test room. Please turn off mobile phones and other electronic devices. You must store them with your other personal belongings outside the test room.
- Candidates may not bring any stationery (including pencils) into the test room; Candidates are only permitted to use the black ballpoint pens provided by the test centre to complete the IELTS exam; answers must be written with the centre-provided black ballpoint pens. After the exam ends, candidates may not take the black ballpoint pens out of the test room.
- Candidates are not allowed to wear watches into the test room. You must store your watch with other personal belongings in the designated storage area. A large clock is provided inside the test room.
The test venue has a storage area for candidates’ personal belongings. However, we do not recommend bringing valuable items such as mobile phones or laptops.
IELTS test centre staff will verify your identity upon arrival. Candidates must present the valid ID/other identification document (such as a passport) used during registration. Expired or invalid ID documents will not be accepted. If you cannot present a valid ID, you will not be allowed to take the exam.
Your photograph will be taken on test day as an additional security measure and will appear on your Test Report Form.
- Raise your hand to request assistance from staff if you have any issues during the test.
- During the Listening test, check that the recording is clear. If you can’t hear properly, immediately raise your hand to notify the invigilator.
After the Listening recording ends, you have 10 minutes to organize/transfer your answers; the - Reading section has no such time, so write answers directly on the answer sheet after finishing each passage.
- If you need to use the restroom during the exam, raise your hand to inform the invigilator. Do not disturb other candidates.
IELTS paper-based test results are available online after 13 days via your test provider’s portal (British Council or IDP). Computer-based results appear in 1-5 days, with paper Test Report Forms (TRF) mailed shortly after—log in with your registration details to view/download.