IELTS Booking in the UK (2026): How to Book Your IELTS Exam Step by Step
For IELTS booking in the UK, first choose the right test: IELTS Academic or General Training for study and work, IELTS for UKVI for most visas, or IELTS Life Skills for family visas, ILR and citizenship. Then book online with the British Council or another official centre, pick computer or paper, upload your passport details and pay. UK fees run from £182 to £313.
Written by Sahil Sayed, CELTA-certified IELTS trainer · Fees and rules checked against ielts.org, British Council UK and GOV.UK on 5 October 2026
Key facts at a glance
- Where to book
- Online with an official IELTS test centre (British Council or IDP)
- IELTS Academic / General (UK)
- £215 to £250
- IELTS for UKVI (UK)
- £257 to £313
- IELTS Life Skills (UK)
- £182 to £209
- Results
- 1 to 2 days on computer, 13 days on paper
- Changing your date
- One transfer per booking, to a date within 3 months
How do you book the IELTS exam in the UK?
To book the IELTS exam in the UK, decide which test you need, then go to the British Council UK booking site or find another official centre on ielts.org. Choose your city, computer or paper, and a date. Create an account, enter your details exactly as they appear on your passport, upload your ID and pay by card. You get a confirmation email.
- 1
Choose the test
Academic, General Training, IELTS for UKVI or Life Skills. Booking the wrong one is the most expensive mistake, so check what your university, employer or visa route asks for first.
- 2
Find an official centre
Use the British Council UK booking site or the IELTS test centre finder. For visas, the centre must be an approved UKVI SELT centre.
- 3
Pick format and date
Choose IELTS on computer or on paper, then a date and session. Computer sessions usually run on more days.
- 4
Enter your details
Create an account and type your name, date of birth and passport number exactly as they appear on your ID.
- 5
Upload ID and pay
Upload a copy of the passport or ID you will bring on test day, then pay the fee by card.
- 6
Check the confirmation
Read the confirmation email for the venue, arrival time and speaking test slot, which can be on a different day.
Which IELTS test should you book?
Book IELTS Academic for university or professional registration, General Training for work or migration to countries like Canada and Australia, and IELTS for UKVI for most UK visas, such as Student or Skilled Worker. For UK family visas, ILR and citizenship, book IELTS Life Skills at A1, A2 or B1, which tests only speaking and listening.
| Test | Book it for | Skills tested | UK fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | University study, nursing or medical registration | Listening, reading, writing, speaking | £215 to £250 |
| IELTS General Training | Work, training, migration (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) | Listening, reading, writing, speaking | £215 to £250 |
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General) | UK visas that need a 4-skill SELT, such as Student or Skilled Worker | Listening, reading, writing, speaking | £257 to £313 |
| IELTS Life Skills A1, A2, B1 | UK family visa (A1, A2), ILR and citizenship (B1) | Speaking and listening | £182 to £209 |
Not sure between Academic and General? Read Academic vs General Training.
How to book IELTS for UKVI
To book IELTS for UKVI, choose 'IELTS for UKVI' (Academic or General Training) when you book, at an approved UKVI SELT test centre. The questions are the same as standard IELTS, but the test is run under extra security so the Home Office accepts it. A standard IELTS booking, even at the same venue, will not count for a UK visa.
At-home IELTS is not accepted for UK visas
IELTS Online taken at home is not a SELT. For a UK visa, you must sit IELTS for UKVI or Life Skills in person at an approved centre. Results are valid for visa applications for 2 years.
Our IELTS for UKVI guide explains which visas need which score, and IELTS requirements for UK visas lists the bands for each route.
How to book IELTS Life Skills A1, A2 or B1
Book IELTS Life Skills through an approved UKVI centre and choose the level your route needs: A1 for a first spouse or partner visa, A2 for the extension, and B1 for ILR or British citizenship. The test takes about 16 to 22 minutes, is taken with another candidate, and is graded Pass or Fail. It costs £182 to £209 in the UK.
See the A1 English test for a spouse visa and the English test for British citizenship for what each level involves.
IELTS exam fees in the UK (2026)
At British Council centres in the UK, IELTS Academic and General Training cost £215 to £250, IELTS for UKVI costs £257 to £313, and IELTS Life Skills costs £182 to £209. Prices vary by city and centre, and you see the exact fee when you choose a venue. The fee is paid in full when you book.
| Test | Fee |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | £215 to £250 |
| IELTS for UKVI Academic or General Training | £257 to £313 |
| IELTS Life Skills A1, A2 or B1 | £182 to £209 |
| IELTS for UKVI One Skill Retake | £162 to £183 |
Booking from India? IELTS is booked only through IDP there, at ₹19,000 for Academic or General Training. See IELTS exam booking in India and IELTS exam fees in India.
What documents do you need for IELTS registration?
To register for IELTS you need a valid passport or national ID card, an email address and a debit or credit card. For IELTS for UKVI and Life Skills, a passport is the safest choice. You upload a copy when you book and must bring the same original document on test day. If the ID differs, you may not be allowed to sit the test.
- Your name must match your ID exactly, including middle names.
- The ID must be valid on test day, so check the expiry date before you book.
- If you are under 18, the centre may ask for a parent or guardian's consent.
- If you need access arrangements, such as extra time or a modified paper, request them when you book, usually several weeks ahead.
Should you book IELTS on computer or on paper?
Book IELTS on computer if you type faster than you write by hand or need results quickly: results usually arrive in 1 to 2 days, and sessions run more often. Book paper if you prefer handwriting and can wait about 13 days for results. The questions, timing and scoring are the same, and the speaking test is face to face in both.
Paper IELTS is being phased out
In March 2026 IELTS announced that paper-based tests will end from mid-2026, with timing set market by market, and that IELTS for UKVI is computer-only. Some markets get a 'Writing on Paper' option instead: you take the test on computer but handwrite the Writing section. Check what your centre offers when you book.
How far in advance should you book IELTS?
Book IELTS at least 4 to 6 weeks before you need your result. That gives you time to get a date in your city, sit the test, receive results and still retake once if you miss your score. Popular centres and Saturday sessions fill first, especially before university deadlines and visa application dates.
Work back from your deadline
Deadline minus 13 days for paper results, or 2 days for computer, minus a buffer for a retake. If that date is too close, book computer-delivered.
Can you change or cancel your IELTS booking?
Yes. IELTS says you can cancel or change your test date at any time before the test by contacting your test centre. You can transfer the same booking only once, to a new date within 3 months of the original. Requests made close to test day may be treated as a cancellation, and the refund depends on how early you cancel.
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| You want a new date | One transfer per booking, to a date within 3 months, if available |
| You cancel well before the test | Refund depends on your centre's policy and how early you cancel |
| You change or cancel close to test day | May be treated as a cancellation, usually with no refund |
| Illness, injury or an emergency | Ask your centre for special consideration with evidence |
| You miss the test without notice | Treated as absent, usually with no refund |
Check your centre's terms in your booking confirmation for its exact notice period and admin fee before you request a change.
Common IELTS booking mistakes to avoid
- Booking standard IELTS when your visa needs IELTS for UKVI. The result will not be accepted.
- Booking IELTS Online at home for a UK visa. Only in-person SELTs count.
- Typing your name differently from your passport.
- Booking too close to a deadline, with no time for a retake.
- Booking before you are ready. A failed attempt costs another £215 to £313.
Are you ready to book? Check before you pay
Before paying £215 to £313, take a timed mock test and compare your scores with the band you need. If you are half a band or more below in any skill, especially writing or speaking, a few weeks of targeted feedback usually costs less than a second test fee.
Take our free IELTS mock test under exam timing, then compare your result with your target.
Not sure you will hit your score?
Book a free consultation. Sahil, a CELTA-qualified trainer, will check your level, tell you which IELTS test to book and how long to prepare.
Book a free consultationFrequently asked questions
Choose your test, go to the British Council UK booking site or an official centre on ielts.org, pick computer or paper and a date, enter your passport details, upload your ID and pay by card.
IELTS Academic and General Training cost £215 to £250, IELTS for UKVI £257 to £313 and IELTS Life Skills £182 to £209 at British Council centres.
Yes, once. You can transfer a booking to a new date within 3 months of the original, but late requests may be treated as a cancellation.
Yes, at any time before the test by contacting your centre. Whether you get a refund depends on how early you cancel and your centre's policy.
You book online, but you must take IELTS for UKVI in person at an approved UKVI test centre. At-home IELTS Online is not accepted for UK visas.
A valid passport or national ID card. For IELTS for UKVI and Life Skills, use your passport, and bring the same original document on test day.
Usually 1 to 2 days for IELTS on computer and 13 days for IELTS on paper.
No. In India, IELTS is booked only through IDP, and Academic or General Training costs ₹19,000.
Book the test once, pass it once
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Sources and how we checked this page
Every fee, rule and deadline on this page was checked against the official sources below on 7 October 2026. Immigration rules and fees change, so confirm the current position on GOV.UK before you apply or pay for anything.