General guidance for IELTS test takers on paper and computer
The guidance below is a summary of what all IELTS test takers can expect when registering for an IELTS test (on paper or computer) anywhere in the world (except European Union and Americas region - Canada, Mexico, USA and South America). Detailed policy terms vary according to test centre location so please contact your local test centre as relevant for further information.
If local consumer protection law in the country in which you have registered to take the IELTS test provides for cancellation and transfer rights which are more favourable than the terms set out in this document or in more detailed local test centre guidance, then local consumer protection law will apply.
Different policy terms apply to IELTS for UKVI and IELTS for UKVI Life Skills. IELTS for UKVI has a standard and globally applicable set of terms and conditions.
A. Cancellations
You can cancel your IELTS test registration at any time before taking your test by notifying your test centre. Refund policy is dependent upon when you cancel and whether exceptional circumstances apply.
B. Transfers
You may change your test date at any time before the test. However, your transfer request may be treated as a cancellation dependent on how near to the test day it is made.
You must select a new test date, where available, within three months of your original test date. If your preferred test date is more than three months after your original test date, your transfer will be treated as a cancellation.
You can only transfer the same booking once.
Exceptional Circumstances and Special Consideration
On rare occasions, there may be instances where you are unable to attend your test or are disadvantaged on the test day owing to illness, injury, or another exceptional event outside your control and you no longer qualify for a standard cancellation, refund or transfer close to the test date. In these cases, including instances such as bereavement, civil unrest or domestic crisis, you may make an application to your test centre for special consideration due to exceptional circumstances. You can find more information on this process here.
Under certain circumstances outside of test centre control, we may have to cancel your test and transfer it to a future date. These circumstances include, but may not be limited to, extreme weather conditions, natural disaster, civil unrest, industrial action, global pandemic or for reasons of force majeure.
In these circumstances, your test centre will provide you with as much notice as possible and give you the choice of either a full refund, or a transfer to a future test date – whichever you prefer.
If your test is cancelled or postponed due to other circumstances such as technical failure, venue or environmental factors, your test centre will provide you with as much notice as possible and give you the choice of a refund or a transfer to a future test.