IELTS Test Dates 2026

If you’re planning on taking the IELTS in 2026, one of the first questions you need answered is: when are the upcoming IELTS exam dates? The answer changed this year. Paper-based IELTS is being withdrawn around the world, and almost every test is now taken on computer. Here’s what you need to know about IELTS dates in 2026:

• 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you can also choose IELTS on computer (Writing on Paper), and a few countries still list paper tests until they are withdrawn.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.