You are thinking about taking the IELTS but not sure about the process of exam booking? We’re here to help!
In this post, you are going to learn more about :
– the IELTS websites where you can register
– the choice of your preferred version of registration
– the choice of your IELTS exam
– your nearest centre
– the documents you need
– the reception of your results
– how GlobalExam can help you
The IELTS process will hold no secrets for you!
IELTS Registration: On Which Websites Is It Possible To Do It?
You have the possibility to register on several websites to take the IELTS test.
British Council
When registering on the British Council website, you will have exclusive access to their “Road to IELTS Last Minute Course” as well as 5 free Test Report Forms. You can book online and choose how you want to take the test : on paper, on computer or for UVKI.
You will need a valid ID card, a legal authorization from your parents if you are under 18 years old. Then you will have to read the information they provide to candidates, proceed to the payment and you will receive the confirmation by email.
IELTS org
On the IELTS org website, you can choose for the Academic (for undergraduate, postgraduate levels and professional registration) or General Training (for those wishing to migrate to an English-speaking country).
Select the country you want to take your IELTS test in, check the test you need, register, pay online and fill the application form before submitting to your local centre.
You will receive your results online 13 days after your test.
IELTS essentials
On the IELTS essentials website, it is the same process : you choose your country, the type of test you want to take and your preferred venue.
The advantage is that you receive your results in 3-5 days if you book the computer-delivered IELTS.

Select Your Preferred Version To Proceed To Your IELTS Registration
There are several versions of the IELTS that you can take depending on your needs.
Computer-delivered IELTS
If you choose this option, you will take the oral comprehension, written comprehension and written expression tests on a computer at one of the official IELTS examination centers. The speaking test will be conducted face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner, as this is the best way to assess your speaking skills.
Paper-based IELTS
If you choose this option, you will write the answer for the oral comprehension, written comprehension and written expression tests. The oral expression test will be conducted face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner.
IELTS
You can choose between the IELTS Academic (made for undergraduate and postgraduate levels and professional registrations) and the IELTS General Training (if you wish to migrate to an English-speaking country).
IELTS for UKVI
If you are applying to study or live in the UK or in Canada, you may be required to take IELTS for UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration) or need to check requirements for the IELTS test in Canadian universities and the IELTS score for Canada Immigration which includes the IELTS General and Academic exams.
IELTS Life Skills
If you are applying for a family, spouse or partner visa, or if you are applying for citizenship as a nurse to immigrate to Canada or a settlement visa, you will take the IELTS Life Skills exam. This exam is tested at three levels (Beginner, Elementary and Lower Intermediate, CEFR A1-B1) and includes only the speaking and listening components.
Choose The IELTS Exam That Best Fits Your Requirements
It is essential that you register for the appropriate version of the test according to your goals and needs. There are two types of IELTS exam, these are:
IELTS Academic
This is for candidates applying for higher education (undergraduate and postgraduate degrees) or professional registration.
IELTS General Training
This is for candidates who wish to migrate to the US, Australia, HK, the UK or Canada, or who are applying for secondary education (for example in Ireland, or even in countries such as India, China, Nigeria, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands or Switzerland).
Both IELTS Academic and IELTS General test reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. The speaking and listening tests are the same for IELTS Academic and General, however the reading and writing tests are different.
Find The Nearest Test Centre and The IELTS Exam Dates
You can take IELTS at one of over 1,200 test centres in 140 countries. The first step is to find your test location near you by going to ielts.org and searching by country.
The exam is jointly owned and administered by the British Council, Cambridge Assessment English and IDP IELTS Australia. These organizations operate in different countries, but it does not matter which one you register with, the test will be the same and equally valid.
If you are in Pakistan and wish to apply to an Australian university, AEO Pakistan operates as the official test centre for IDP IELTS Australia.
IELTS Dates: How does it work?
It is possible to find more or less sessions depending on the month you choose to take the exam. Some months, you can choose from several days of the week, while others you can only take the exam on Thursday or Saturday, for example.
In any case, since the number of sessions is limited and each session also has a limited number of places, it is advisable to register for IELTS in advance in order to be sure to have an IELTS test date that’s convenient for you. You could choose specific IELTS General test dates or IELTS Academic.
All The Documents You Need For Your IELTS Test Booking
For the IELTS sign in procedure, you will need :
- 2 recent and approved identity photos
- a photocopy of your passport or identity card
- a photocopy of your visa or your residence permit if you are non-European
- online registration confirmation email
- a check (only if you have not paid online)
Last Steps To Complete Your IELTS Exam Registration Process
To summarize what we said up to now, you can register for IELTS online or download the application form and submit it to your local exam centre. You will need a document with photo proof of identity to register, such as a passport or identity card. You must bring the same proof of identity with you on the day of the test.
Payment will also be required at the registration stage and registration fees vary between test centres. The fee also depends on the type of test you are taking. Test centres accept various payment methods, including credit or debit cards, as well as bank transfers, but check with your local centre for details.
Receive confirmation of your IELTS exam booking
You will receive written confirmation of the date and time of your IELTS exam after you have paid. Exam centres try to schedule all four of the exam components for the same day. However, your speaking test might be on a different day, although it will always be seven days before or after the other tests.
Cancellations, transfers and refunds
The British Council IELTS login allows candidates to cancel an exam, or transfer the exam to another date, five weeks in advance of the exam date. If you cancel five or more weeks before the exam date, you will receive a refund, minus an administration fee. You will need to simply enter your ielts reference number.
If the cancellation is due to serious illness, it is possible to cancel the exam less than five weeks before. For this, an original medical certificate is required and a copy will not be accepted. If you are taking the exam with a different provider or test centre, the rules may be different.
For more information on the prices: the cost of the IELTS test
When And How Can You Receive Your IELTS Test Results?
If you take the paper test, you will be given the opportunity to have your results within 13 days after the test. You can access directly on the website you registered on.
If you take the test on a computer, you will be able to have your results within 3 to 5 days after the test. You can access directly on the website you registered on.
But some websites also offer quick results.
How GlobalExam can Help you Pass Your IELTS with a Good Score
The structure of the IELTS exam is always the same and an IELTS examiner will always look for the same skills and abilities in candidates. The examiner will award you an IELTS grade or “band” from 1 to 9 for your listening, speaking, reading and writing. Band 9 is the highest level you can achieve and it demonstrates complete mastery of English.
As the structure of the exam is always the same, you can first learn the IELTS scoring to improve your score by practising the format of the exam and improving specific skills. Many resources are available for your IELTS preparation, and GlobalExam has many tests with the same types of questions as used in the exam, and practising these will help you to reach a higher band and get a better result.
If you sign up, you can get access to full mock exams, with corrections, and work on the gaps in your knowledge through access to online exercises. You will also find vocabulary and grammar study sheets, along with many IELTS tips and tricks for your training.
With the help of GlobalExam, you can be confident on exam day, impress the examiner, and get the IELTS result you are looking for.

