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This section provides answers
to a lot of frequently asked candidate questions. Please
check this section before contacting the IELTS enquiries
service.
See also: Computer Based IELTS frequently
asked questions
1. What can the candidate bring into
the examination room?
2. Is the IELTS test completed in one day?
3. What kind of accents can be heard in the Listening
and Speaking tests?
4. Does the listening tape provide the candidate with
necessary instructions and pauses?
5. Is there a similar period of ten minutes at the end
of the Reading test for the transfer of answers?
6. Can I complete the Listening and Reading answer sheet
in pen?
7. Can I make some notes on the Listening and Reading
question paper?
8. What is the Speaking test?
9. What should the candidate bring for the Speaking
test?
10. What happens if a candidate loses their Test Report
Form?
11. When will the candidate receive their results?
12. How soon can candidates repeat the test?
13. What help is available for disabled candidates?
14. What happens if a candidate is delayed by circumstances
beyond their control (e.g. a transportation strike)?
15. What happens if a candidate wants to postpone or
cancel their application?
16. What happens if a candidate is absent on the day
of the test without giving prior notice?
17. What can candidates do if they are unhappy with
their results?
18. When can candidates receive copies of their test
results?
Answers
1. What can the candidate bring into the examination
room?
Only pens, pencils and erasers. Correction
fluid must not be used. You must leave anything which
you do not need, or which is not allowed, either outside
the examination room, or as instructed by the supervisor.
Mobile phones and pagers must be switched off and placed
with personal belongings in the area designated by the
supervisor. Any candidate who does not switch off their
phone/pager, or who retains one in their possession,
will be disqualified.
2. Is the IELTS test completed
in one day?
The Listening, Reading and Writing
components of the test are always completed immediately
after each other and in this same order. The Speaking
test can be taken up to 7 days either before or after
the test date.
3. What kind of accents can
be heard in the Listening and Speaking tests?
As IELTS is an international test,
a variety of English accents are used in both of these
examinations.
4. Does the listening tape
provide the candidate with necessary instructions and
pauses?
Yes. At the beginning of the test,
candidates receive instructions and hear a sample question.
Next, candidates read Section One questions and then
listen to Section One and answer the questions on the
question paper as they listen. The same procedure follows
for Sections Two, Three and Four. This takes approximately
30 minutes to complete. In the following final ten minutes,
candidates transfer their answers onto the answer sheet.
5. Is there a similar period
of ten minutes at the end of the Reading test for the
transfer of answers?
No. The Reading test is one hour, and
you must write all your answers on the answer sheet
in this time.
6. Can I complete the Listening
and Reading answer sheet in pen?
No. The answer sheet is scanned by
a computer which cannot read pen.
7. Can I make some notes on
the Listening and Reading question paper?
Yes. The examiner will not see your
question paper.
8. What is the Speaking test?
The Speaking test is conducted with
a one-to-one interview with a certified examiner, which
is recorded on an audiocassette.
9. What should the candidate
bring for the Speaking test?
The candidate needs to bring the same
identification documents they supplied on registration,
as these must be checked again against the information
on the application form. These documents will be checked
by the administrator and the Speaking examiner prior
to the candidate entering the interview room.
10. What happens if a candidate
loses their Test Report Form?
At any time within two years of the
date of the examination, a candidate can apply to the
centre which administered the test to be sent 5 copies
of the original Test Report Form free of charge. These
Test Report Forms will not be sent to the candidates
themselves, but the universities abroad, Embassy and
Consulate. For any further copies, there is an administration
charge per copy. Please contact your test centre for
further details.
11. When will the candidate
receive their results?
Under usual test circumstances, the
candidates will receive their IELTS results 13 calendar
days after the test.
12. How soon can candidates
repeat the test?
There is no limitation on how frequently
candidates can sit IELTS. It should be noted however
that IELTS scores are not substantially improved merely
by taking the test on multiple occasions. To significantly
improve a score it is necessary to engage in further
study of a serious nature.
13. What help is available
for disabled candidates?
Test centres make every effort to cater
for the special needs of any disabled candidates, to
enable them to best understand questions and tasks and
to give their answers. It is our aim for the language
level of all candidates, irrespective of disability,
to be assessed fairly and objectively. Candidates with
special needs should inform their test centre when applying
so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
14. What happens if a candidate
is delayed by circumstances beyond their control (e.g.
a transportation strike)?
The test centre offers the candidate
an alternative test date as soon as possible.
15. What happens if a candidate
wants to postpone or cancel their application?
Candidates who request a postponement
or cancellation of their test within 5 weeks of the
test date will normally be charged the full fee unless
they are able to provide appropriate medical evidence
to support their request within 5 days of the test date.
16. What happens if a candidate
is absent on the day of the test without giving prior
notice?
The candidate will lose their full
test fee. However, if a medical certificate is provided
within 5 days of the test date then the full fee is
refunded minus a local administrative deduction.
17. What can candidates do
if they are unhappy with their results?
Candidates may apply for an enquiry
on results procedure at the centre at which they took
their test within four weeks of issue of results. There
is a fee for this which is refunded should the band
score change.
18. Candidates can receive copies of
their test results under the following conditions:
1. Results from the test date
and up to 1 month after.
- One (1) personal copy of the TRF
(Test Report Form) for the candidate.
- Up to maximum of five (5) copies
sent FREE of charge to institution addresses as provided
by the candidate on the application form.
2. From one (1) month to two (2) years.
- Candidate can request up to five
(5) additional copies to be forwarded to institution
addresses only, as provided by candidate. There may
be a reasonable handling charge requested by the Test
Centre for administration/postage.
3. After the two (2) year validity period.
- The Test Centre can only send a
letter to a receiving organisation as proof of a test
date attendance, and scores may be verified in this
letter. The Test Centre cannot print Test Report Forms
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