Home > Examinations > IELTS > On the day of the test
Please read on to find out more about what happens on the day of the test.
Before you leave home
Please make sure you:
- Have your passport.
- Have pencils and an eraser.
- Leave any valuables at home.
* Please refrain from bringing valuables with you. The British Council will not be responsible for any loss or damage of your belongings.
When you arrive at the venue
We recommend that you arrive at the exam venue around 8:00am.
- Deposit all your belongings and cell phones in the baggage area. You are only allowed to take your passport (without cover), pencil(s), uncovered eraser and water in a transparent bottle (with no label) into the test room.
- Register at the reception. Your passport will be checked and you will be taken a photo.
- Look for your candidate number and seat location on the seating plan at the reception or in front of the test room. Remember your candidate number.
- Visit the toilet before you enter the exam room. No extra time will be allowed for a toilet break.
- Go inside the exam room and find the desk label with your name and candidate number on it. Once you enter the exam room, you are not allowed to go out until the reading test starts(up to one hour).
- Your passport will be checked once again.
IELTS exam personal belongings, image (c) British Council * Pencil sharpener and tissue paper are available at the test venue.
Candidates must present the same passport used in the application for registration on the day of the test.
If you are applying for a visa, please check the dates carefully to ensure you will receive your passport back in time for your test.
Candidates who do not present the same passport will not be allowed to take the test.
Candidates who do not arrive at the test venue before the registration desk closes will not be allowed to take the listening test.
No refund or change of test date will be permitted in those cases.
At the beginning of the test
- Listen carefully to the Test Supervisor and follow all the instructions given. All instructions are given in English.
- Check your desk label carefully. You must tell the invigilator if there is any discrepancy (spelling mistakes, wrong date of birth, passport number etc) as this information will appear on your Test Report Form.
- If you need any clarifications, raise your hand and an invigilator will come to help you.
During the test
Time table (approx)
Instructions (15 min): 8:45-9:00
Listening (40 min): 9:00-9:40
Reading (60 min): 9:45-10:45
Writing (60 min): 10:55-11:55
* This may be slightly changed depending on the test venue.
- No extra time is given for a toilet break. Candidates cannot go to the toilet when instructions are being given, in the last 5 minutes of any test or when the papers are being counted after each test. Nor can candidates go whilst the CD is playing.
- Please stop writing and put your pencils down when you are instructed to do so. Candidates who fail to do so may be disqualified.
During the speaking test
- Arrive at the speaking test venue 20 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time.
- Bring your passport. Candidates who do not present the same passport will not be not allowed to take the test. No refund or change of test date will be permitted.
- Register with the invigilator when you arrive and then wait in the waiting area. The examiner will then call you for your interview.
- You are not allowed to take belongings inside the interview room. Deposit your baggage and mobile phone at the assigned luggage space.
- The speaking interview lasts between 11 to 14 minutes. The examiner is responsible for the timing of the interview.
- When you finish your speaking test, you should leave the test venue immediately. Under no circumstances are you allowed to talk to waiting candidates.
During the test you must not
- Attempt to cheat, copy the work of another candidate or disrupt the test.
- Use or attempt to use, a dictionary, pager, spell-checker, electronic recorder or mobile phone for the duration of the test.
- Talk to or disturb other candidates once the examination has started.
- Remove any materials used during the examination. This includes, but is not limited to, examination papers, answer papers and working paper.
- Take wallets, invitation letters, cases for glasses, propelling pencils, caps, hats, blankets, food, handkerchiefs and medicine which has not been given pre-approval by the British Council IELTS test centre into the test room.
Any candidate doing any of these will be disqualified and will not receive a test report form.
If you would like to give us any feedback, please complete the feedback form, which is available at the speaking test venue.
Ielts post apply, image © British Council Japan
