Test format and modules

IELTS covers all four language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking and is offered in two test formats - Academic and General Training. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules and there is an option of either Academic or General Training Reading and Writing Modules.
Academic version is suitable for candidates planning to undertake higher education study or who are seeking professional registration.  General Training is suitable for candidates planning to undertake non-academic training or work experience, or for immigration purposes.

Registration

You can register quickly and easily through our online registration service. After the registration, you will receive a confirmation e-mail that you have registered.

In period of 5 days after the registration, you will have to make a payment of 8300 denars. The fee is payable by bank transfer (British Council bank account: 300000001838574 at Komercijalna Banka), in our office by payment card (Visa, Master or Maestro) or online with Master and Visa cards.

If you pay from outside Macedonia, the fee is 145 euros net plus local bank charges payable at Komercijalna Banka AD Skopje, Kej "Dimitar Vlahov" 4, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia, KOBSMK2X, Britanski sovet; IBAN: MK07300701001041165.

After the payment, you will have to submit the following documents:

- print out of the last page of the registration (or print out of the e-mail you have received after the registration)

- two recent photos. Photos must be passport sized, with clear background. Candidate must not wear glasses in the photos.

- a copy of the fee payment slip

- photocopy of the personal documents stated in the online registration process (passport or an ID card).

Required documents can be brought in our office every Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 2pm to 4pm, can be left in the drop box next to our front door at any time or can be sent by post (if you leave from outside Skopje).  

If there are available places, you can register for the exam up until five days before the test.

After we receive all required documents, you will be granted with access to "Road to IELTS" sofware, for IELTS preparation, which is free of charge for our candidates.

You will be informed about the time and place of the test, by e-mail one week before the test date.

Entries cannot be transferred from one examination session to a future one. If you can’t attend the test, you can transfer your entry to a next session or claim refund of only 80% of the total sum on medical/condolence grounds only, and relevant documents need to be submitted within 5 working days from the test date.

2012 IELTS exam dates and locations

14 January 2012 - Skopje
21 January 2012 - Skopje
18 February 2012 - Skopje
10 March 2012 - Bitola
31 March 2012 - Skopje
21 April 2012 - Skopje
12 May 2012 - Skopje
26 May 2012 - Skopje
30 June 2012 - Skopje
12 July 2012 - Skopje
22 September 2012 - Skopje
27 October 2012 - Skopje
17 November 2012 - Skopje
1 December 2012 - Skopje
8 December 2012 - Bitola

All dates are valid for both versions of the test except test date 26 May which is only General Training version.

How to prepare for the test

With the online registration for the IELTS exam, you will be granted with access to "Road to IELTS" software free of charge. You will have access to this software up to one week after your test date.

We also offer "IELTS Tips & Hints" workshops for candidates once per month in Skopje, Bitola and Strumica.

It is not necessary to attend an IELTS preparation course though it is, of course, a good idea to prepare thoroughly for the test at one of the language schools.

You can prepare yourself by using official IELTS practice materials with CD. They have been produced according to Cambridge ESOL's Question Paper Production cycle and are the only preparation resources that are endorsed by all three IELTS partners. They include a full practice test with answer key so you can gain experience in the format of the test and get an idea of your level. You can purchase these materials for 750 denars, payable to our bank account: 300000001838574 at Komercijalna banka.

Other preparation materials (course books with CDs or audio tapes) can also be borrowed from our Resource centre by becoming a member.

You can try some free sample questions online. These sample questions will give you an idea of what to expect in the Reading, Writing and Speaking modules.

You may also access helpful IELTS practice section on British council websites Learn English Professionals and Learn English and IELTS test information classroom activities on the Cambridge ESOL Teaching Resources website.

On the day of the test

The test starts at 9 a.m. on the date you registered for. You need to be present at the venue no later than 8:30. You must bring your passport and identity card and you will also need a pencil, a pen and an eraser.

Registration 08:30 – 08:50
Instructions and Questions 08:50 - 09:00
Listening 09:00 – 09:40
Reading 09:45 – 10:45
Writing 11:00 – 12:00
Speaking 13–15 minute interviews
Same day from 12:30 onwards (for candidates who live outside Skopje) and for candidates who live in Skopje, day before or the day after the exam.

For security reasons, candidates must stay in the test room until the end of the Writing exam.

Results

Results are issued on the 13th day after the test date. Scores are issued on a Test Report Form (TRF), showing overall ability as well as performance in each sub-test. Only one TRF will be issued per candidate: this can be collected personally or sent by registered mail to your address as stated on your application form. Results cannot be given by phone or e-mail.
Candidates can check their result online on the 13th day after the test date, after 18:00hrs. The system will not display results older than 28 days.
Up to 5 additional copies of the test report form can be sent to institutions listed in your application form free of charge. The British Council reserves the right not to send additional copies to recipients who are private contacts.

If you ask for additional Test Report Forms (TRF) to be sent to an institution in the period of 2 years after the test date, you will need to fill in a form and pay 400 denars to our bank account no.:300000001838574 at Komercijalna banka.

You can compare your IELTS results to the Common European Framework levels issued by the Council of Europe and to the Cambridge ESOL exams:

Council of Europe Level Cambridge ESOL exams IELTS bands
C2 Good User CPE 8.5 - 9
C1 Competent User CAE 7 - 8
B2 Independent User FCE 5.5 - 6.5
B1 Threshold User PET 4 - 5

Candidates may apply for an Enquiry on Results within six weeks of the test date. The fee for this service is 5,500 denars which will be refunded should the score on any module is increased. Enquiry on Results can take 6 - 8 weeks to complete.

IELTS recognition

IELTS is specified as fulfilling English language requirements for entry to academic courses by the majority of institutions of Further and Higher Education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom and currently by over 380 universities and colleges in the USA.  It is also used by a number of professional bodies and governments world-wide, including the Ministry of Defence and the General Medical Council in the UK, the Australian Medical Council and the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, the Medical Council of Ireland, the New Zealand Immigration Service, the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools in the USA and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

In addition it is used for screening and recruitment purposes in-country by universities, business schools and professional bodies in the private sector in a number of overseas countries, including Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Columbia, Cyprus, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, Malaysia, Myanmar, Poland, Turkey and Vietnam.

You can also search the IELTS website to check if some specific organisation recognises this test.

CONTACTS

If you would like to receive additional information about the IELTS exam, please contact our Exams Coordinator on:

Telephone: 02/3135 035 ext.2110
Fax: 02/3135 036
E-mail: exams@britishcouncil.org.mk

You can also visit us in our premises every Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 2pm to 4pm and get detailed information on IELTS exam.