IELTS Test Policies
Everything you need to know about transfers, cancellations, refunds and special requirements.
Transfer and Cancellation Policy
Requests to transfer or cancel your IELTS test must be made via email or in person at our centre. Requests made by telephone will not be accepted.
Transferring your test date
| When you request it |
What happens |
| 15 days or more before your test date |
Free transfer
|
| 5 – 14 days before your test date |
Allowed
An administrative fee of up to 25% of the test fee is charged
|
| Within 4 days of your test date |
Not allowed
Treated as a cancellation
|
Cancelling your test
| When you request it |
Refund |
| 15 days or more before your test date |
75% refund
of the test fee paid
|
| Within 14 days of your test date |
No refund
|
Absent without notice? If you do not attend your test without notifying us, you will lose the full test fee and must register and pay again to take the test on another date.
* This policy applies to IELTS on computer tests. Different terms apply to IELTS for UKVI – please contact us for details.
Exceptional Circumstances
If you are unable to attend your test, or your performance on test day is affected by illness, injury or another exceptional circumstance beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration at our centre. Examples include:
- Serious medical conditions – that prevent you from attending or performing normally on the test day
- Bereavement or other forms of significant hardship
- A traumatic experience or a domestic crisis
- Civil unrest or extreme weather
- You can apply for special consideration before the test and up to two calendar days after the test date. Applications will not be accepted after your results are released.
- If you miss your test due to a serious medical condition, provide a medical certificate within 5 days of your test date to receive a refund, minus the administrative cost.
- Special consideration does not change your IELTS band scores.
Please attach appropriate evidence to your request, such as a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner, a death notice or certificate, or a police report. Read more about the process
here.
If the test centre has to cancel or postpone a test (for example due to extreme weather, a technical failure or reasons of force majeure), you will be offered the choice of a full refund or a transfer to a future test date, subject to availability.
IELTS Test Takers with Special Requirements
IDP IELTS test centres make every effort to cater for test takers with special requirements. To ensure the language ability of all test takers is assessed fairly and objectively, IELTS provides a comprehensive service for test takers with specific learning difficulties, hearing or visual difficulties, medical conditions or infant feeding needs.
| What you need |
Notice required |
| A modified version of the test (e.g. Large Print or Braille) |
3 months |
| Special administrative arrangements (e.g. extra time, or access technology such as a screen reader) |
6 weeks |
Please contact us to discuss your requirements. Any special arrangements agreed are in accordance with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).