• IELTS on computer can be booked most days of the year. In India, IDP offers computer-based tests up to 7 days a week, with up to 3 sessions a day, and results usually arrive within 1 to 2 days.
• Paper-based IELTS is ending. From mid-2026, IELTS is no longer offered as a paper test (exact timing varies by country). IDP’s official 2026 paper schedule ends on Saturday, 29 August 2026, and IDP India has already discontinued IELTS on Paper. A new “Writing on Paper” option lets you handwrite only the Writing section of the computer test in selected countries, including India.
• Popular test dates and Speaking slots still fill up early, so register for the IELTS as soon as you know your target date.

Of course, finding the right IELTS date isn’t always that simple. Keep reading for how to look up and choose the IELTS test dates that work for you, plus answers to your frequently asked questions about IELTS registration, fees, and results.

How to Look up IELTS Exam Dates for 2026

Not sure where to start with your IELTS date? That’s okay! Because IELTS on computer runs on different days at different test centres, the only reliable way to see real dates is to search by location. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Visit the official IELTS test centre finder. If you are in India, you can go straight to the IDP IELTS India test dates page, since IDP runs every IELTS test centre in India.
2. Select your country or territory, then your city. You can also filter for centres that offer One Skill Retake or IELTS for UKVI if you need either of those.
3. Choose a test centre from the results and click Book now. You’ll be taken to the booking site of the IELTS partner that runs that centre (IDP or the British Council).
4. Select the test you need: IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, or IELTS for UKVI.
5. Select the format. In most locations this is IELTS on computer; in selected countries you can also choose IELTS on computer (Writing on Paper), and a few countries still list paper tests until they are withdrawn. (IELTS for UKVI is computer only, and Writing on Paper is not offered for UKVI tests.)
6. You’ll see a calendar of available dates at that centre. Click on individual dates to see the sessions and start times available, then choose your Speaking slot.
7. For the registration steps (plus helpful information to know), check out our guide to IELTS registration!

Pro tip: If your booking site shows very few dates, try a different city or test centre before you assume there is nothing available. Availability is set centre by centre, and a nearby city often has open sessions the same week.

IELTS Test Date Availability by Location

As you can see, knowing the test centre where you’ll take your exam is vital to finding out IELTS test dates. But how do you know where the IELTS is available?

According to IELTS, there are more than 4,500 test locations in over 160 countries, and in some countries you can also take IELTS Online (Academic only) from home. The test centre finder lists every official location. To use it:

• Choose your country or territory from the first drop-down list, then your city from the second.
• Tick One Skill Retake or UKVI Approved if you only want centres that offer those options.
• Click on a centre to see its formats, dates, and booking link.

IELTS Exam Dates: India Availability

If you’re taking the exam in India, one thing is simpler than in most countries: since 2021, every IELTS test in India is delivered by IDP. The British Council announced the sale of its India IELTS business to IDP in July 2021 and completed the handover that August, so you no longer need to compare two providers. (The British Council still offers IELTS preparation courses in India, but it does not run the test there.)

IDP’s 2026 India schedule lists test centres in the following cities and locations (use the next button to click through the list):

At all IDP test centres in India, the IELTS fee is INR 19,000 (as of September 2026) for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, whether you type your Writing test or choose Writing on Paper. IELTS for UKVI costs INR 19,250, and a One Skill Retake costs INR 12,650. IDP India reviews its fees periodically, so confirm the amount on the booking page before you pay.

You can find IELTS exam dates for India locations by searching the dates at the centre closest to you. Keep in mind that not every centre offers every session or every format. Computer-based dates in India are released on a rolling basis, so if the month you want looks empty, check back or try another centre.

IDP IELTS Test Dates

IDP is one of the two organisations that deliver IELTS worldwide, and it is the only one in India. You can book through the IDP website (global or India), or start from the official IELTS test centre finder as described in the steps above.

Outside India, it doesn’t make a difference whether you register with IDP or the British Council. The test, the fee structure, and the scoring are the same. The main difference is which test centres each partner runs, so find the location and date that suit you.

British Council IELTS Test Dates

The British Council is the second organisation that delivers IELTS around the world, and in many countries you’ll see both British Council and IDP centres in the finder. You can book through the British Council booking site or through the official IELTS test centre finder.

One important exception: the British Council does not deliver IELTS in India. If you’re in India, book with IDP.

IELTS Test Dates: India and Worldwide

For years, paper-based IELTS ran on a fixed global calendar: up to four dates a month, usually on Thursdays and Saturdays, with the Academic test on every date and General Training on about half of them. That calendar ended in 2026. IDP’s official schedule of 2026 paper-based test dates runs from January through Saturday, 29 August 2026 and lists nothing after that, because IELTS is withdrawing the paper test from mid-2026. IDP India has already discontinued IELTS on Paper.

The tables below show the official 2026 paper dates for the record (all of them have now passed). For any date from September 2026 onward, use the test centre finder: IELTS on computer, including the Writing on Paper option, is available on many days each month rather than on a fixed list.

Not every test centre offered every date on this calendar, so some cities skipped a few of the dates below.

January 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

February 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

March 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

April 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

May 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

June 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

July 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

August 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

September 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

There are no paper-based IELTS dates scheduled for September 2026 on IDP’s official calendar, and IDP India no longer offers paper tests. IELTS on computer (and Writing on Paper, where offered) is available on many days in September. Search your city in the test centre finder to see the exact September sessions near you.

October 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

There are no paper-based IELTS dates scheduled for October 2026. Computer-based sessions for October are released centre by centre, so check the finder for your city. If you need a result before a university or visa deadline, remember that computer-based results usually arrive within 1 to 5 days.

November 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

There are no paper-based IELTS dates scheduled for November 2026. Book your computer-based session early: November and December are busy months for students applying to January intakes, and Speaking slots at popular centres go first.

December 2026 IELTS Global Test Dates

There are no paper-based IELTS dates scheduled for December 2026. Check the finder for computer-based sessions, and keep in mind that some centres close for public holidays at the end of the month. As of September 2026, IELTS has not published a 2027 schedule; we’ll update this page when it does.

Pro tip: Taking IELTS on computer has a bonus beyond the flexible dates. If one section lets you down, you can book a One Skill Retake within 60 days and retake only that section instead of the whole test.

Note that these dates are for the IELTS given in test centres, not IELTS Online (the at-home Academic test).

IELTS Exam Dates: FAQ

How long are IELTS scores valid?

IELTS recommends that a Test Report Form be accepted for two years from your test date. Some organisations may accept older scores if you can show that you’ve kept up your English, but most universities and immigration authorities apply the two-year limit strictly, so check before scheduling an IELTS retake.

Is IDP or British Council better?

Both organisations offer IELTS in exactly the same way, so neither IDP nor the British Council is better (or worse!) than the other. Find the centre that is most convenient for you and choose that one. In India there is no choice to make: all IELTS tests are delivered by IDP.

How much does the IELTS cost?

It depends on where you take it, because each country sets its own fee. In India, the 2026 fee is INR 19,000 for IELTS Academic and General Training (INR 19,250 for IELTS for UKVI). Elsewhere, check the fee on your local IDP or British Council booking site before you register. There is no discount for taking the test on computer versus Writing on Paper.

Can I change my IELTS test date?

Yes, but the deadlines and fees depend on your test centre, so read your centre’s policy before you book. The general IELTS rules are:

• You can transfer your booking once, and your new date must be within three months of your original date.
• A transfer requested close to test day is treated as a cancellation, and refunds shrink the closer you get.
• British Council centres ask for at least 14 days’ notice and may charge an administration fee of up to 25% of the test fee.
• IDP India accepts transfer or cancellation requests at least 9 days before your test date (14 days for IELTS for UKVI and Life Skills), with an administrative charge of INR 4,750 for a transfer.

If you are ill on test day, contact your centre right away: with a medical certificate submitted within two calendar days of the test, you can usually get a refund minus an administrative fee.

When will I get my IELTS results?

Results timing depends on how you took the test:

• IELTS on computer: 1 to 5 days, and most test takers get their results within 2 days.
• IELTS on computer (Writing on Paper): within 5 days, and typically within 1 to 2 days in India.
• IELTS on paper: up to 13 days (7 days in India).
• IELTS Online: 6 to 8 days.
• One Skill Retake: 3 to 5 days.

If a deadline is close, IELTS on computer is the safest choice.

Can I retake just one section of the IELTS?

Yes. If you took IELTS on computer, you can book a One Skill Retake for Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking within 60 days of your original test. You’ll get a new Test Report Form with the updated score plus your original scores for the other three sections, and you choose which form to send. Our guide to IELTS One Skill Retake covers eligibility, fees, and who accepts it.

Can I take the IELTS at home?

The at-home option is now IELTS Online, which is available for IELTS Academic only in selected countries. It uses the same format and human examiners as the test centre version, with Speaking done by video call, and results arrive in 6 to 8 days. It is not accepted for visa or immigration purposes, so verify that the schools to which you’re applying will accept it before registering. (The pandemic-era IELTS Indicator test has been discontinued.)

Is 2 weeks enough time to prepare for IELTS?

Generally, a month or more is ideal to prepare for the IELTS. But can you prepare in 2 weeks and raise your score? Definitely! Take a free IELTS practice test first to find your weakest section, then check out Magoosh’s IELTS study plans ranging from a week to a month!

What can I expect on test day?

Arrive early, following the reporting time in your booking confirmation, and bring the same ID document you used to register. You will not be allowed to test with a different ID. The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are taken in one session of about 2 hours and 40 minutes with no breaks. Speaking is a face-to-face interview with an examiner. For IELTS on computer it is usually on the same day, before or after the other sections, but some centres schedule it up to 7 days before or after, so check your confirmation for both dates.

Now that you know how IELTS dates work in 2026, pick your target date, book early, and give yourself time to prepare. And of course, consider Magoosh for your IELTS prep.

Once you’ve decided to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam, whether for undergraduate studies, postgraduate work, career, or immigration reasons, your next step is registering. But how do you register for the IELTS? In this post, we’ll walk through IELTS registration step-by-step, so you understand everything you need to know about how to apply for IELTS registration and secure your spot for the test day you want!

How do I register for the IELTS?

First, you’ll need to find the IELTS test date that you want. You should also have a basic understanding of whether you will be taking the computer-based IELTS or the paper exam–both choices aren’t always available at every test center. The same thing goes for the Academic IELTS and the IELTS General Training tests.

Finally, have your payment method (debit card or credit card) ready. The IELTS test price can vary, but costs around $250 in the U.S.A. The test fee in Canada is similar: usually around $319 (CAD), while it runs slightly higher in Australia, at $375 (AUD). In the UK, the price ranges from £170 to £195.

Once you have the information and payment method you need, the next step is registering for your preferred IELTS test date! Here’s how to do that.

1. Go to the official international booking site for IELTS.
2. Under the “Book a Test” heading, click “Select” for “IELTS.” (This is the black “Select” button on the left.)
3. Follow the instructions to select your test location.
4. Click “Book a Test.”
5. Follow final instructions to select a test time, log in, and finalize your booking. (You will need to register for your regional IELTS website to finalize.)

Who can apply for the IELTS exam?

There are technically no limits on who can take the IELTS exam. In other words, there are no IELTS eligibility criteria. The test is offered around the world to people of all ages, genders, religions, and nationalities. While the makers of the test don’t recommend that you take the IELTS if you’re under 16 years old, that age limitation is just a recommendation; you can still choose to take it.

What documents are needed to register for the IELTS?

Because IELTS registration occurs primarily online, you’ll only need your identity document to register. Be careful, though–you will need to ensure that this is the exact same identity document you plan on bringing to the official test. As you register, double-check that you’ve spelled your name, including any middle names, the same way on the forms as it appears on this document.

What constitutes a valid identity document for the IELTS? Your options are limited to a national ID card or passport. However, note that this varies by country. In India, for example, the IDP Education India IELTS test centers accept only the passport as a valid form of ID.

How do I register for the IELTS exam in India?

If you’re planning on taking the IELTS in India, you can use the steps above to complete your registration. However, there is also a specific site dedicated to the Indian IELTS, where you can also complete your registration. Here’s what you need to know about how to register for IELTS exam in India.

1. Visit the IELTS India webpage.
2. Click on “Register for IELTS”/”Book Now.”
3. Enter the test type you need from the different types of IELTS exams: Computer, Paper-Based, UKVI, or Life Skills.
4. Select your preferred test: IELTS Academic Test or General IELTS.
5. Pick your preferred city from the drop-down list.
6. Look at the availability calendar to choose the best date and time for you.
7. Fill out the application form online.
8. Pay the registration fee using your Visa or Mastercard.
9. If you selected the paper-based test, you will need to register for the Speaking section separately.

You will then need to send a copy of your passport and observation pages to an IDP India office.

Alternately, candidates taking the exam in India can also visit IDP branches in person and get guidance on how to apply for IELTS. There, you can either use available computers to complete your registration, then present a photocopy of your passport, or fill out a paper application form. the main difference here is that you have a choice of payment methods if you fill out the paper form, including Demand Drafts, cash deposits, and credit/debit/ATM cards.

Finally, you have the choice to complete your registration by courier with a paper application form. You can find instructions on this option here.

As of the writing of this post, the IELTS exam fee in India ranges from ₹14,600 to 15,750.

What’s next after the IELTS registration process?

Once you’ve completed your IELTS registration, you should receive almost immediate confirmation of your seat by email, as well as on the registration screen. (If you register in person, like at an IDP center in India, staff can help get you this confirmation by entering your information right away). Congratulations! That’s how to apply for IELTS. If you don’t need special accommodations, your IELTS registration is complete! Remember that cancellation or rescheduling the exam is usually possible if something comes up; contact your test center for details.

If you do need special accommodations for the IELTS, contact your local test center as soon as possible. IELTS recommends that you get in touch no later than six weeks before your test date, but keep in mind that it can take up to 12 weeks to make arrangements. In other words, the sooner, the better.

As you make arrangements or wait for your test day to arrive, make the most of your time by starting your IELTS prep! These free IELTS study guides will help guide your preparation, whether you have a week or a month to get ready! And check out Magoosh’s IELTS prep–we guarantee you’ll reach your target band score or get your money back!

The IELTS offers a number of different testing accommodations, depending on the test-taker’s documented disability or learning difficulties. The full range of commonly-offered accommodations are listed in brief on the official IELTS Special Arrangements page. For an even more detailed description of these IELTS special arrangements, go to the IELTS.org Special Requirements portal.

What do I need to apply for IELTS accommodations?

If you plan to apply for accommodations, make sure to apply early. It takes up to 12 weeks for the IELTS to review your request, make a decision, and arrange for accommodations. To apply for accommodations, you’ll need an official medical report that is less than two years old and includes the following:

• The opinion of a fully qualified physician or other appropriate medical professional
• Details on the nature of the disability
• Details about the degree of the disability
• An accounting of the type of medical testing or screening used to document the disability

(These details are also listed on this official IELTS web page.)

Possible IELTS Special Arrangements

Possible accommodations for learning difficulties include:

• Large print test booklets, answer sheets, etc.
• Braille
• A human assistant to help write answers
• Hearing aid equipment
• Lip-reading visuals to accompany the IELTS Listening section
• A word processor
• Extended testing time (IELTS Reading and IELTS Writing sections only)

Where do I apply for IELTS special arrangements?

There is no central contact for requesting IELTS accommodations. Instead, your point of contact will be the test center where you plan to take the test. To locate your test center, use IELTS.org’s test center location service. Your test center will give you any additional info you need about requesting accommodations for learning difficulties.

How to use Magoosh to simulate IELTS accommodations

You can add extra time to your practice tests on Magoosh. First go to the Account tab on the upper right and choose Profile:

Then select the green Edit Account Information button on the bottom left:

And then select the time change you want:

For more registration information, check out our post on registering for the IELTS.

NOTE: Special thanks to Matt Slayton in Magoosh Student Help for doing the initial research and assisting with the writing.

We seem to live in a golden age of computer-based testing. With so many standardized tests onscreen, is it possible to take the IELTS on computer?

The answer, for more and more test-takers worldwide, is yes. The British Council is opening and sponsoring an increasing number of IELTS computer-based test locations around the world.

The IELTS Computer-Delivered Test: Who Can Take it, and Where?

Most of of the computer-based IELTS test sites serve all test-takers. The computer-based testing sites are available to anyone who needs to either take the IELTS Academic exam or the IELTS General Training exam for any reason. At the time that I’m writing this, you can take this general IELTS Computer-delivered test in over 70 countries. For a complete list of countries where anyone can take the IELTS CDT, go to this page from the official IELTS website and scroll down to the bottom.

And for more information on the IELTS CDT, check out Rachel’s article on it!

At certain other locations, you can take the IELTS on computer only if you are specifically applying for a UK work, school, or residency visa. This special computer-based IELTS is called the UKVI. Read on to learn more.

Taking the IELTS UKVI on Computer

Some of test centers for the IELTS Computer-Delivered tests are specifically for IELTS UKVI exams. These are the same format as regular IELTS exams, but are administered at dedicated test centers specifically for people who are actively applying for a visa to the United Kingdom.

However, these UKVI-only computer-based IELTS locations really are quite restricted. Not only are the locations listed below available only to UKVI applicants, they are also limited only to IELTS Academic testing. IELTS Academic, as you may know, is used by UKVI only for international student visas or medical professional certification. IELTS General Training, used for all other UKVI visas, are not available at the UKVI-only testing locations. With that in mind, this web page from the official IELTS website contains a list of all the countries that offer the IELTS UKVI.

How is the IELTS Computer-Based Test Different from the Paper IELTS?

The computer-based IELTS isn’t different from the paper one in terms of questions and content. In either form of the IELTS exam, you have the same sections (Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking). The only difference is that on the computer-based exam, three of the four sections are completed on computer rather than on paper. On both exams, the Speaking section is an interview, conducted by a real person.

Still, testing on a computer feels a lot different than taking the IELTS on paper. So if you are eligible for the computer-based IELTS and are thinking of taking it, practice accordingly.

As part of your practice for the computer-based IELTS test, be sure to check out the official sample test questions for IELTS on computer. This practice website includes practice passages and questions for IELTS Listening, IELTS Reading, and IELTS Writing. The question pages mimic the software from the real computer-based IELTS too, of course!

Speaking of the IELTS test software, the computer-based IELTS has many really neat features. You can go back to review and change your answers. You can also highlight text, take onscreen notes, and more. Be sure to check out the instructional videos for computer-based IELTS on the official IELTS YouTube channel. Here is the computer-delivered IELTS video playlist.

Admittedly, there isn’t much material available specifically for computer-based IELTS practice right now. To supplement the questions I linked above, use practice questions from IELTS websites and software, rather than practicing with printed materials. And type your answers into a digital document or onto a web page.

How widely available will the IELTS Computer-Based test be in the future?

The British Council has been steadily adding IELTS computer-based testing stations worldwide since 2016. However, they haven’t specified which countries will get the computerized IELTS next.

Still, it seems safe to assume that the computer-based IELTS will continue to become more and more common in the years to come. Nearly all standardized testing is moving from paper-based to computer-based. The IELTS is likely to follow this trend in the next decade.

Many people pay their IELTS fees so that they can enter the USA on a student visa. But what if you’re already in America? What do the fees cost then?

IELTS Exam Fees Vary from Test Centre to Test Centre

In the USA (and in most other countries), the exam fees for IELTS are not exactly the same in every test centre. IELTS.org (one of the official IELTS websites), states that “The cost to take IELTS in the USA ranges between $245–255 USD.”

Finding the IELTS Exam Fee at Your Test Centre

So how can you find the price of the IELTS exam fee at your test centre? The network of official IELTS websites can help you there as well. Just go to IELTSregistration.org, the official website for IELTS registry in the United States. Specifically, go to the page on that website where you can check for test place availability.

From there, select your module: the Academic or General Training Version of the IELTS. Then select a country. (The United States shares IELTSregistration.org with three other countries: Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Oman.) Next, select the city where you’ll take the IELTS. After that, select the date range that you might take the test. You can skip the “available test formats” dropdown menu. All IELTS examinations in America are paper-based.

Finally, hit the “Search” button. (For the steps up to this point, see the Screenshot 1, immediately below.)

Once you’ve hit the “Search” button, all of your test centre options for your city and date will come up. In smaller cities, there may be only one test centre option for your location and day. When your option or options come up, click the “Register” link on the far right of the screen. (See Screenshot 2 below.)

Once you’ve clicked “Register,” you’ll get to the candidate registration page for the test site option you selected. This page includes fee information, as highlighted below in Screenshot 3:

“Shopping Around” for the Best IELTS Exam Fee Price in the USA

Since IELTS exam prices vary, you may be in a position to look for the best price in your area. As you do this, remember that only location affects price. Price isn’t different by test module or date.

If your city has multiple test sites, you can look separately at the “Register” link for each site. However, IELTS exam fees are usually the same within one city.

Searching neighboring cities is more likely to get you some differences in price. So do some side-by-side searches for nearby cities that have the exam. You just might be able to save some USD on your fees, with smart shopping and a bit of luck.

The IELTS Exam Usually Costs About $250

Unfortunately, each test center sets its own fee, so there is no one single answer to how much the IELTS costs. However, most IELTS testing centers now charge around $250 to sit for the exam. This has increased steadily over the past decade.

While a $250 fee is the normal amount that gets charged, though, some testing centers may be lower or higher. For example, on the day that this article was written, the testing center in Kansas City, Kansas, was charging $255 to take the IELTS. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, however, the fee was $250.
 

How to See What Centers Are Charging

The best way to see how much each testing center charges to take the IELTS is to start your registration online. Once you go to this website, here’s how to see what the fee will be to take the IELTS:

1. Choose whether you want to take the Academic or the General Module of the IELTS exam (what’s the difference?),
2. Choose the Country where you want to take the test,
3. Select the City you want to take the test in,
4. Choose a Test Date,
5. Click the Enter button,
6. On the next screen, find the link that says Register on the right side and click it.

The fee for that particular exam in that testing center is listed on the next screen.
 

Some Countries Will Pay for Your IELTS Fee

Depending on your home country, however, you may be reimbursed for your IELTS fee. For example, if you are from Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) may be able to reimburse you for the cost of the exam.
 

If You Will Struggle to Pay for the Exam, Give Yourself More Time to Study

Unfortunately, many IELTS takers will have to pay for the exam without help. If this is the case for you, and paying the full price for the exam will be difficult, choose a test date that is some time away. By giving yourself a couple of months to study for the exam, rather than just a couple of weeks, you’ll be even more prepared. All of that extra study time will make it more likely that you will get the scores you need, and prevent you from having to retake the exam and pay the fee, again.