Documents and other items needed by candidates at the IELTS test
Allow plenty of time to get to the test. You will be required to register and to show your passport or National ID Card before you enter the examination room. Make sure you have enough time to check-in and move through all necessary security procedures. If you are early, go for a walk or get a cup of coffee. If you are late, you will not be allowed to enter. Avoid the added tension of having to rush.
No personal items to be taken into the test room. Test day staff will collect and safely store your personal belongings. Items which are forbidden from the test room include: mobile phones, hand-held computers, cameras, hats, scarves, wallets, books or notes.
Your current valid passport is the only identification document that is accepted at the examination centre. Your identity will be checked when you arrive at the IELTS test location. It is compulsory for the entire examination i.e. listening/reading, writing and speaking sections. It is also the only identification document accepted at the registration process of IELTS examination candidates.
The identification document you produce at the examination should be the same as the one you submitted when you made the application for the examination. Remember to take one colour photocopy of the front and back pages of the passport. Candidates without a valid ID will not be allowed in the examination centre for ILETS.
Items needed at the examination centre include
– 2 recent identical passport-sized photographs of yourself:
– These photographs are needed in case the photograph that was uploaded in your registration form is not clear. If this happens, you will have to submit a fresh photograph at the initial ID check on the day of the examination.
– Printout of the confirmation e-mail received from the British Council to your registered email address after the registration for the IELTS examination. This printout is stamped at the entrance to the listening, reading, writing and speaking examinations.
– A few stationary items such as a black or blue ballpoint pen, a few pencils, a sharpener and an eraser.
– A small water bottle that should be transparent and without any labels. However, this may not be necessary at some centres because arrangements will have been made to provide the exam candidates with drinking water/refreshments, and other essential requirements.
– Apart from the above mentioned items nothing else needs be taken to the examination centres.
During the test, test takers will only be allowed to have a pen or pencil, an eraser and your ID on your desk. If you have any questions during the test, put your hand up to ask for help. If you need to go to the bathroom during the test, you need to raise your hand to attract the attention of the invigilator. Try to do this without disturbing the other candidates.
When you take the Listening test, make sure you can hear the recording. If you cannot, then raise your hand and tell the invigilator about this. Try not to forget that you will have 10 minutes after the Listening section to transfer the answers on your answer sheet but you will not have 10 minutes after the Reading section, so please ensure that you write your answers on your Reading answer sheet as you complete each section.
You are NOT allowed to remove from the examination room any question papers, answer scripts, working papers or any other materials you are given. If you contravene any of the above rules your test result will be withheld and the institution or professional body you may have nominated to receive your results will be notified.
