IELTS

IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System. It is one of the world’s most popular standardized tests for measuring English language proficiency, especially for non-native English speakers.

Key Points About IELTS:

• Purpose: Used for education, immigration, and work in English-speaking countries.
• Accepted in: Over 140 countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Types of IELTS:
• IELTS Academic: For people applying for higher education or professional registration.
• IELTS General Training: For those migrating to an English-speaking country (like Australia, Canada, UK) or applying for secondary education or applying for work with organisations that require proof of English language level.

Ways to take IELTS

You can take IELTS your way, with options to take IELTS on computer or IELTS on computer with Writing on Paper at a test centre.

• IELTS on Computer 

Take the test via computer at an official test centre. Questions for the Listening, Reading and Writing sections will be given on-screen and you’ll input your answers directly onto the computer. Your Speaking test will be live with an examiner. 

• IELTS on Computer (Writing on Paper)

Writing on Paper is a new option for the IELTS on Computer test and allows you to take the Writing section with a pen and paper. If you choose Writing on Paper, your Writing component tasks will be shown on screen, but you’ll complete the tasks in pen on an IELTS Writing Answer Sheet.

Writing on paper

Writing on paper is a new option for the IELTS on computer test and allows test takers to take the Writing section with a pen and paper.

If you choose Writing on Paper, you will sit at a computer desk and work your way through the Listening and Reading sections of the test. When you come to the Writing section, you will see your tasks on screen, but you will be provided with an answer sheet and a pen to complete your responses.

Why take Writing on Paper?

IELTS on computer (Writing on Paper) will allow you to enjoy many of the benefits of our computer-based test, along with the comfort of writing by hand:

• Write your way
  Complete the Writing section by hand using pen and paper
• More choice and flexibility
  Find a date and venue to suit you with more booking
  choices
• Improve your score with One Skill Retake
  If you don’t get the result you need, resit one skill, not the whole test
• With flexible ways to sit the test, a comfortable test day
  experience and faster results, we’ll help you to perform at
  your best on test day.

Scoring:

• Each section is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9.
• The overall score is the average of all four sections.

Why Take IELTS?

• Required for university admissions, visa applications, and job opportunities.
• Proves your ability to communicate in English in real-life situations.

2026 Fees

IELTS exam – £245

One Skill Retake – £185

Enquiry on results – £130

Online IELTS preparation course – £395 (click here for more information)

Both General IELTS and Academic IELTS are available at all locations.

All tests are on a computer (IELTS on Computer – IOC), but where you see IOC+P then you have the option of doing the Writing skill either directly onto the computer or onto paper where you can hand write your answers with a pen.

The dates are as follows:

Venues

Plymouth:

Odils Learning Foundation, 1-5 Manor Street, Plymouth, PL1 1TL (map here)

Exeter:

Exam Rooms Ltd, 1st Floor, Brittany House, Exeter, EX4 4EP (map here)

Registration is open until 3 days before the test or until all places have been taken.

You have 48 hours from your booking date to pay for the test.  Please note that once payment has been received the confirmation of the place on the test is manually done in office hours.  If you pay close to the end of the 48 hours you may find the test is cancelled but don’t worry as this can be rectified when IELTS staff are able to check your payment against your application.

One Skill Retakes are useful if you have failed to achieve what you need in only one skill.  It means you don’t have to do the whole test again. 

Results

Results are available 1-5 days after the test.

When you register for the test, you will be sent all the payment details. 

Terms and conditions

Payment: After you book your exam on the IELTS website, you will be given a link to Odils’ payment page, which will ask you to enter your card or bank details. Please note that if you do not pay for your exam within 48 hours of booking, your entry will automatically be cancelled.

If you pay by bank transfer, the confirmation of your place on the exam is a manual process involving matching the payment to the application form and will only be done in normal working hours.

Cancellations

To cancel your IELTS (Academic and General Training) test, please log in to the Test Taker Portal and submit a cancellation request, along with an upload of supporting documentation/evidence.

If a medical certificate confirming illness on the date of the test is provided via email address ielts-exams@odils.com within two calendar days of the test date, together with the submitted cancellation request on the Test Taker Portal, the fee is refundable, minus a £50 administration fee. All refunds will be made by bank transfer.

Transfers: If you would like to transfer your exam to a later date, you will need to contact the centre at ielts-exams@odils.com  If medical evidence is provided within 2 calendar days of the test date, you can request a transfer to a later exam within 3 months of the original test date, which will incur a transfer fee of £50.

If the transfer request is made within 14 days of payment and more than 14 days before the test date, we can grant a free transfer to a later date (within 3 months of the original test date) without a transfer fee.

Exam numbers: Odils Learning Foundation will run all sessions numbers permitting. Candidates/preparation centres are informed within one week of the date should Odils Learning Foundation not be able to run a session.

Candidates with learning or physical disabilities Candidates with learning or physical disabilities need to contact Odils Learning Foundation by the closing entry date with a medical report in English (not older than 2 years) giving detailed information about their condition so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Odils Learning Foundation cannot guarantee that a special arrangement can be accommodated so please contact us for more information.

Complaints procedure: If you wish to make a complaint about anything related to your IELTS exam, you must do so on the same day. You can ask a staff member for a Complaint Form on the day of your test and return it before you leave.  Otherwise, you can email ielts-exams@odils.com before 11.59pm the day of the test.

SELT and NON SELT IELTS: Odils learning Foundation is a non SELT IELTS Test Centre.  If you require IELTS for a UK visa you will need to take a test at a UKVI IELTS SELT centre.  It is your responsibility to check which IELTS test you require and book the correct test accordingly.  Odils Learning Foundation will not be liable for anybody who books an IELTS test at the incorrect testing centre.

Transfers

Cancellation

If you have purchased an IELTS test that takes place in more than four weeks’ time, you have a 14-day period from the date of payment within which you can change your test date for free, or cancel your test and receive a full refund.

If you are unable to attend your test or are disadvantaged on test day owing to exceptional events outside your control, you can apply for special consideration. You can apply for special consideration before the test, and up to two calendar days after the test date. If your application for special consideration is successful, you can cancel your test and receive a refund or transfer your test to a different day. The refund or transfer will be subject to a £50 administration fee.

What if I need special arrangements for my test?

You may need special arrangements because you have visual, hearing, speaking or learning difficulties. You may need accommodations if you are pregnant.

Special arrangements include:

• Braille question papers
• Enlarged print question papers
• Scribe and Reader
• Assistive technology
• Modified Listening CD
• Hearing impaired version
• Exemptions
• Seating arrangements and toilet breaks in case of pregnancy

You will need to let us know about any special arrangements at least six weeks prior to your IELTS test.

You will need to provide medical evidence to support your claim. The medical report should be written in English, should be dated within two years before your test date by a medical professional, and needs to be provided six weeks prior to the test. Send by email to: ielts-exams@odils.com.

Your English language ability will be assessed objectively, regardless of any disability or special needs that you may have.

Are there any age restrictions for taking IELTS tests?

IELTS is not recommended for those under 16 due to the complexity of the content but it is possible.

For any test taker under 18 their parent or guardian will need to complete a ‘minor consent form’ that will be provided by the test centre.  They will also need to sit their speaking test with an invigilator present for safeguarding reasons.  All IELTS test day staff have up to date and appropriate DBS checks.

There is no maximum age limit when taking IELTS.

What ID do I need to take IELTS and should I bring it on the day?

Whichever ID you register with, you MUST bring it with you on the day of the test.  The ID should be valid and should be an original document, not a copy.  If you do not bring the ID on the day of the test you WILL NOT be allowed access to the test.

The following forms of ID are valid for IELTS tests in the UK:

Passport

Biometric Residence Permit

Photographic Government Issued Identity Card

Immigration Status Document

Refugee Protection Claimant document

I have paid but I’m still being sent payment reminders – why?

The payment confirmation is a manual process carried out by the IELTS administrator within office hours.  It involves matching the payment to the IELTS test application and confirming it.  Sometimes a payment reminder is scheduled before the confirmation has taken place.
There is no need to contact the IELTS office at this stage as the confirmation will come shortly after the office is open for business.

I have paid but my test has been cancelled due to no payment – why?

The payment confirmation is a manual process carried out by the IELTS administrator within office hours.  It involves matching the payment to the IELTS test application and confirming it.  Sometimes a payment cancellation is scheduled before the confirmation has taken place.

Please contact your IELTS centre to make sure the payment has been received.

How do I get my certificate?

IELTS test results are released between 1 and 5 days after the test.

You can find a digital Test Report Form (TRF) in your test taker portal.

How can I share my IELTS results with the Institutions I want to apply or work for?

On your application form, you can request up to five copies of your test results to be sent to educational institutions, government bodies or an employer at no extra cost. You should provide the relevant addresses on your IELTS test registration form.

What happens if I can’t attend my IELTS test on the day?

If you are sick on the test day and you are unable to attend you will need to email a copy of a doctor’s certificate to ielts-exams@odils.com confirming your inability to attend within 48 hours of the test date.  If this is accepted by the IELTS administrator you can transfer or cancel your test subject to an administration fee of £50.
If you are unable to attend due to a serious event please contact ielts-exams@odils.com within 48 hours of the test date. If this is accepted by the IELTS administrator you can transfer or cancel your test subject to an administration fee of £50.

What if I didn’t get the IELTS results I expected?

There are a couple of options possible if you didn’t get the IELTS result you expected:

You could purchase a One Skill Retake (OSR) if you did a computer delivered test.  This enables you to do just one skill that is added to the result from the first test.  A new certificate is issued.

You can buy an Enquiry on Results (EOR) which entitles you to a remark of one or more sections of the test.  If your test score changes then you are given a full refund.

What if I didn’t get the IELTS results I expected?

There are a couple of options possible if you didn’t get the IELTS result you expected:

What about Recognising Organisations?

Please verify with you recognising organisation what grade they require and what their offer is dependent upon.