You will need to arrive in good time for your IELTS test. Your confirmation email will provide you with timings and procedures on the test day. If you arrive late, you may not be allowed to take the test. You will receive an email at least three days before the test so you will know at what time your test starts.

Make sure you are prepared and have something to eat and drink beforehand. You will not be allowed to take food into the test room and you will only be allowed to take water in a transparent bottle.

The Listening, Reading and Writing tests take 2 hours 40 minutes and there are no breaks between the parts of the test.

Your Speaking test may be offered on the same day as the other sections of the test, or up to a week before or two days after. You will receive notification in advance if your Speaking test is on a different day to your main test day.

You need to bring:

• your passport
• an eraser (for special preference without any cover)
• We recommend you to bring a transparent bottle of water.

10 things to know about IELTS exam day:

1. You will not be able to take anything else into the test room. Switch off your mobile phone and any other electronic devices. You will be asked to place these with other personal belongings outside the test room.
2. The IELTS test location staff will check your identity when you arrive.
3. Your photograph will be taken on test day as an additional security measure and will appear on your Test Report Form.
4. Stay in your seat until the invigilator gives you permission to leave the room.
5. If you think that there have been any issues that may have affected your performance, tell the invigilator straightaway.
6. If you want to raise an issue or make a complaint, please ask your invigilator for a Test Day Incident Form to complete. This form needs to be submitted within one week of the test date.
7. If you have any questions during the test, raise your hand to ask for help.
8. When you take the Listening test, check that you can hear the sound properly. Raise your hand straightaway and let the invigilator know if you cannot hear the recording.
9. Please remember that you will have 10 minutes after the Listening section to fill in your answer sheet. You will not have 10 minutes after the Reading section, so make sure that you write your answers on your answer sheet as you complete each section.
10. If you need to go to the bathroom during the test, raise your hand to attract the attention of the invigilator. Do not disturb other test takers.