Preparation timeline
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| When booking | Book with the passport or national ID you will bring on the day. Check that the version (Academic, General Training, or IELTS for UKVI) is the one your organisation requires. Request any special arrangements at this point. |
| 2–3 weeks before | Take the official free IELTS on computer familiarisation tests so the screen layout, highlighting, notes and word counter feel normal. Do at least one full Listening–Reading–Writing run without a break. |
| 1 week before | Check your confirmation email for the written-test start time, the Speaking date and time, the venue address and the check-in time. Speaking can come before the written test. |
| Day before | Put your ID where you cannot forget it. Plan the route and allow for delays. No new material: review your error log and personal error list for 30 minutes, then stop. |
| Test morning | Eat, use the toilet before check-in, and arrive at least 30 minutes before the time on your confirmation (earlier if the centre asks). |
What to bring and what stays outside
Bring: the original, valid ID you booked with (it is checked at registration and again before Speaking), and glasses if you need them. Most centres allow a clear, label-free water bottle.
Provided: headphones, and paper and pencils for notes. All working paper is collected at the end.
Stays outside the room in the storage area: phones (switched off), watches of any kind, bags, wallets, keys, food and any other electronics. A phone or watch found at your desk can lead to disqualification.
At registration your ID is checked and your photo is taken for the Test Report Form; some countries also take a finger scan. Late arrivals may not be admitted.
The written session, minute by minute
| Time | Part | Your targets |
|---|---|---|
| Before 0:00 | Log in, confirm your details, sound check | Adjust the volume now. Raise your hand if the headphones or screen have a problem. |
| 0:00–0:32 | Listening: four parts, about 30 minutes of audio played once, then 2 minutes to check | Preview every question set; use the 2 minutes for blanks, spelling and word limits |
| 0:32–1:32 | Reading: 60 minutes, 40 questions | Checkpoints at minute 17 and minute 37; every answer entered by minute 59 |
| 1:32–2:32 | Writing: 60 minutes, Task 1 and Task 2 | Task 1 about 20 minutes, Task 2 about 40, each ending with a check |
Each skill starts as soon as the previous one ends, and with instructions the session lasts about 2 hours 40 minutes. There is no break. You may ask to go to the toilet, but the clock keeps running, so go before you start.
Computer tools that matter
- Highlight and notes. Select text and right-click to highlight it or add a note. Use highlighting sparingly, for question keywords and located answers only.
- Question navigation bar. At the bottom of the screen, it shows answered and unanswered questions. You can move freely between questions and between Reading passages. In Listening the audio never pauses while you navigate.
- Review flag. Mark any guess so you can return to it if time allows.
- Timer. Shown at the top. Use it against your checkpoints rather than watching it constantly.
- Copy and paste. In Reading, copying words from the passage into a completion answer removes spelling mistakes. Check the word limit afterwards.
- Word counter. Writing shows a live word count, so you never need to count. Aim for 170–190 words (Task 1) and 270–320 (Task 2).
- Both tasks are open at once. You can move between Task 1 and Task 2. Many strong candidates write Task 2 first because it carries double weight. If you do, stop at 40 minutes whatever happens.
If you chose Writing on Paper (offered in selected markets), you handwrite both tasks in the answer booklet. You will not have a word counter, so know what 180 and 280 words of your handwriting look like.
The Speaking interview
- Your ID is checked again, and the interview is recorded.
- In Part 1 the examiner can repeat a question but will not explain it. In Part 3 you can ask for clarification: Do you mean in schools or at home?
- In Part 2 you receive a task card, paper and a pencil. Use the full minute to make notes, and keep talking until the examiner stops you. Being stopped is normal and means you did the job.
- The examiner will not comment on your performance. A neutral face tells you nothing about your score.
Mindset: three rules for the session
- One question is one mark. If you miss a Listening answer, let it go immediately and find the next question’s keyword. Chasing a lost answer costs the next two.
- Leave each skill behind. Once Listening ends, you cannot change it. Start Reading with a clear head and your 17–37 checkpoints.
- Never leave a blank. There is no penalty for wrong answers. Before the Reading timer reaches zero, the navigation bar should show all 40 answered.
Common test-day traps
After the test
- Computer results usually appear online within 1–5 days (often 1–2). You can send your Test Report Form to organisations through your account.
- If a Writing or Speaking band is well below your practice level, you can request a remark (Enquiry on Results) within 6 weeks of the test. There is a fee, which is refunded if your score increases.
- If one skill falls short, One Skill Retake lets you retake a single skill within 60 days of a computer test, where it is offered and accepted.
Quick recap
- Book and attend with the same valid ID, and arrive at least 30 minutes early.
- Listening, Reading and Writing run for 2 hours 40 minutes with no break; Speaking is separate.
- Practise with the official computer familiarisation tests before the day.
- Use the 2-minute Listening check, the 17–37 Reading checkpoints and a 20/40 Writing split.
- A missed answer is one mark: move on, and never leave a blank.