IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is the most popular high-stakes English language test for study, work, and migration. IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. The test conforms to the highest international standards of language assessment. IELTS test covers the four language skills – listening, reading, writing, and speaking. IELTS is recognized by more than 11,000 universities and employers in many countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is also recognized by professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government agencies. Respected and accepted world-wide, IELTS helps you boost your score and prepares you for success in the real world.
Where you want to study, work, or migrate to will affect which test you need to take:
Make sure you visit the relevant government or institutional websites to confirm which test you need to take.
CD IELTS Test Fee – OMR 99.900 only.
PB IELTS Test Fee – OMR 99.500 only.
IELTS is a test of all four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. You will take the Listening, Reading and Writing tests all on the same day one after the other, with no breaks in between. Depending on your test centre, your Speaking test may be on the same day as the other three tests or up to seven days before or after that. The total test time is under three hours.
You can choose to take IELTS on a computer or paper for both the General Training and Academic tests.
The test format, question types, time allocated to each test part and content is the same for both IELTS on computer and IELTS on paper test. The only difference is in your test day experience.
If you choose to complete your IELTS test on a computer, you will do the Reading, Listening, and Writing parts of the test using a computer. The IELTS Speaking test remains the same, with a face-to-face interview with an examiner.
If you take IELTS on paper, you will complete the Reading, Listening and Writing parts on paper. The Speaking test is completed in a face-to-face interview with an IELTS examiner, and this can be done one week before or after your test date. In the IELTS on paper test, the Writing, Reading, and Listening tests are all completed on the same day with no breaks between each test.
We'll share some free sample questions to help you decide whether you want to take IELTS on paper or computer. But first, let's take a quick look at the difference between IELTS on paper and IELTS on computer.
| IELTS on computer | IELTS on paper | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery format | Complete the Reading, Listening and Writing parts of the test using a computer and the Speaking test face-to-face with an IELTS examiner | Complete the Reading, Listening and Writing parts of the test on paper and the Speaking part face-to-face with an IELTS examiner |
| Results | Results will be available 3 to 5 days after taking your test | Results will be available 13 days after taking your test |
| Booking | Look for the computer icon when you book your test | Look for the paper icon when you book your test |
| Test availability | Testing up to 7 days a week and 3 times a day | Testing up to 48 days per year (Thursday and Saturday) |
CD IELTS Test Fee – OMR 99.900 only.
PB IELTS Test Fee – OMR 99.500 only.
You have to submit your application online here
In order to ensure that the language ability of all test takers is assessed fairly and objectively, IELTS provides a comprehensive service for test takers who have special requirements, including specific learning difficulties, hearing difficulties and visual difficulties, medical conditions or infant feeding.
If you require a modified version of IELTS, you must give the test centre three months’ notice. If your circumstances require special arrangements to be made, e.g. extra time, you must give the test centre six weeks’ notice.
Special arrangements include the following:
Please contact us at Info.IELTS@mti.om as soon as possible if you have special needs that may require a modified IELTS test version.
Do you have a disability or special requirements?
We have a number of ways to help IELTS test takers who have special requirements, such as:
Visual difficulties
If you cannot see, partially sighted or have problems seeing, we may be able to help you take your IELTS test.
Hearing or speaking difficulties
The IELTS test includes a Listening and a Speaking test. If you have hearing or speaking difficulties, we may be able to help you take your exam.
Before you head into your test you should understand the IELTS test format by learning about each part of the test, question types and how IELTS examiners assess your Speaking and Writing tests.
To Improve your skills in all four parts of the IELTS test, check the below:
Make sure you arrive early and have all the necessary documents with you as the check-in process may vary between test venues. After you have checked-in, your personal belongings will be collected by the Test Day staff and stored securely. You’ll then be guided to your seat by a test invigilator. After this point you won’t be able to talk to fellow test takers.
Once the test begins, keep track of time so you have enough time to complete each part of the test. If you have any questions, you can raise your hand to get the attention of an invigilator. Once the test concludes, you can leave the test room and collect your belongings.
Paper-based IELTS →Your test results and your Test Report Form (TRF) will be available 13 days after you complete the test.
Computer-delivered IELTS → You can view your test results 3 to 5 days after you complete the test.
NOTE: Test Centers are NOT permitted to give test results over the telephone, via fax or e-mail to the candidate.
You will receive one original Test Report Form, unless you are applying to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), or United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA). In these cases, you can receive two. Proof of application to CIC and UKBA must be provided.
You can collect your TRF at IDP IELTS offices when your results are released. You need to bring the form of identity you used to register for the test to pick up your TRF.
We will always ensure that you get the best possible experience when taking your IELTS test with us and we will help you with any questions that you have.
