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About IELTS

IELTS, the International English Language Testing System is jointly owned by The British Council; IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. It is designed to assess the language ability of people who want to study or work where English is the language of communication.

In the last year, 3.5 million people took the IELTS test in over 140 countries worldwide. IELTS scores are accepted by over 10,000 recognising organisations.

Who accepts IELTS?

For a list of organisations that accept IELTS scores, please visit:

www.ielts.org/about-the-test/who-accepts-ielts-scores

We advise you to check with your Recognising Organisation which type of IELTS test you need to take and what scores are required prior to taking your test.

The IELTS Test has two modules to choose from — Academic and General Training.

The Academic module is for people wishing to study at university level and for those seeking professional registration.

The General Training module is for people wishing to migrate to an English speaking country and for those wishing to train or study at below degree level.

More information about IELTS

For more general information on IELTS, please visit www.ielts.org.

Remember to look at Information for Candidates Booklet before booking your test.

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Taking the test

Test takers wishing to take the IELTS test now have three options available to them:

1.IELTS test on paper with standard speaking test
This option costs £200 for 2024 and involves doing the speaking test on either a Thursday or Friday, and the main test on a Saturday.

2. IELTS test on paper with non-standard speaking test
This option costs £225 and candidates do the speaking test after the main test on a Saturday.

3. IELTS test on computer
This option costs £200 for 2024 and all parts of the test take place on Friday.

The Test Centre is open daily as follows:

Monday 9am to 4.30pm

Tuesday 9am to 4.30pm

Wednesday 9am to 4.30pm

Thursday 9am to 4.30pm

Friday 9am to 4.30pm

It is located at:

Kings Oxford contact details

This is the address for all correspondence.

Kings Oxford
21 St Michael's Street
Oxford
OX1 2EB.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1865 711829
Email: ielts@kingseducation.com

The test is in two parts:

  1. The main test (listening, reading and writing) .
  2. The speaking test which is taken separately.

The Main Test

Registration on the Saturday of the test is from 08:00. The Main Test is taken on Saturday morning from 9:00 to approximately 12:45. It is administered by Kings Oxford at:

Activate Learning
City of Oxford College
City Centre Campus, Oxpens Road
Glyme Building
OX1 1SA

View Google map of Activate Learning

There is a public car park in the City of Oxford College campus. It is open from 7.45am until 13.30pm. It costs £5 to park. You can pay by card only. No cash payments will be accepted. Spaces cannot be guaranteed.

Please note that there are no refreshments available at the City of Oxford College.

The Speaking Test

This is taken before the main exam on Thursday (16:00 – 20:00) or on Friday (13:30 – 18:00) at:

Kings Oxford
21 St Michaels Street
Oxford
OX1 2EB.

View Google map of Kings Oxford

You will be able to choose your speaking test date and time during the online test booking process. Whilst every attempt will be made to ensure that we honour your speaking test date and time slot selection, we reserve the right to modify, discontinue and replace your selected preference in accordance with the terms and conditions and we shall notify you of the same. We will confirm all the necessary information about your upcoming test by e-mail about 5 days in advance. If you have not received an e-mail 3 days before your test, please contact the IELTS office.

Speaking Tests at other times

A limited number of 'Non Standard' Speaking Test appointments are available on the afternoon of the main test (Saturday), mainly for the convenience of test takers travelling from outside the Oxford area.

You can read more about the Non Standard Speaking Test in the dedicated section below.

Non-standard Speaking Test

While Standard IELTS Speaking Test sessions are on Thursday or Friday before the main test, non-standard appointments may be selected for Saturday afternoon (immediately after the main test) during the online test booking process.

There is a supplementary fee of £25 for non-standard Speaking Test appointments.

Places are limited and cannot be guaranteed. Whilst every attempt will be made to ensure that we honour your speaking test date and time slot selection, we reserve the right to modify, discontinue and replace your selected preference in accordance with the terms and conditions and we shall notify you of the same.

The main test is held at:

Activate Learning
City of Oxford College
City Centre Campus, Oxpens Road
Glyme Building
OX1 1SA

View Google map of Activate Learning

While Speaking Tests are normally held at:

Kings Oxford
St Michael's Campus
Oxford
OX1 2EB.

View Google map of Kings Oxford

For an appointment on Saturday afternoon you will have to make your own way from the City of Oxford College or The King's Centre to your speaking test venue.

Payment Procedure for Non-standard Speaking Test

If you choose to pay online, you will be able to select a non-standard speaking test. Please see the details in your Acknowledgement of Receipt of IELTS Test Application email’s section 'Payment'.

If you want to pay in person (cheque, cash, credit card) please make sure you ask for a Saturday speaking test when you pay.

IELTS tests on computer

IELTS can now be taken on computer, and this type of test is available more frequently and with faster results - typically within three to five days.

The IELTS on computer is the exact same test as the IELTS on paper, but instead of writing your answers on paper, you will type them on a computer.

If you select this option, you will take the Listening, Reading and Writing sections on a computer using headphones, a keyboard and a mouse but the Speaking test will still be face-to-face with a trained IELTS Examiner. All parts of the IELTS test will be taken at our Test Centre on the same day:

Kings Oxford
St Michael's Campus
Oxford
OX1 2EB.

View Google map of Kings Oxford

Upon booking, detailed information about the test will be emailed to you around three working days before the test.

If you wish to book your IELTS test on computer, please visit section ‘How to book and pay for your IELTS test’

For more information about IELTS on computer, please visit the British Council website.

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One Skill Retake

If you want to improve your score on one test skill, you can retake any of the four IELTS skills – Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking. IELTS One Skill Retake follows the same format and timing as the regular IELTS test on computer. One Skill Retake does not apply to IELTS on paper tests.

You can book One Skill Retake through your Test Taker Portal if you’ve recently completed a full IELTS on computer test and have received your results. You can only retake one skill once per original IELTS on computer test, and you must sit the One Skill Retake within 60 days of your original IELTS on computer test.

If you wish to book your One Skill Retake, please visit the section on How to book and pay for your IELTS test.

For more information about One Skill Retake, please visit takeielts.britishcouncil.org

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Test takers with special needs

If you have a physical disability or a learning difficulty such as dyslexia, you may be entitled to special arrangements including extra time in the test.

If you wish to apply for special arrangements, you must do so at least six weeks before the test date. You will be asked to provide medical evidence.

For more information about special arrangements, please contact our office.

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Your identity document (ID)

The rules on proof of identity are very strict. If you come to the test without the correct ID, you will not be allowed to take the test and you will lose your test fee.

  • For all test takers except EU citizens, your ID must be your current passport. (European Union citizens may use their national identity card if they prefer.) 
  • British Residence Permit (BRP) cards are accepted as ID for IELTS. Other types of ID are not accepted.
  • You must bring the same ID that you used when booking the test with you to all parts of the test. If you bring a different ID, it will not be accepted.
  • You must bring the original. Photocopies will not be accepted.

If your ID changes before the test (e.g. you have a new passport), you must contact the IELTS office at Kings Oxford immediately. If your passport is at the Home Office, you must get it back before you come to take the test. If you have any doubts about your ID, please contact the IELTS office at Kings Oxford.

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Late arrivals and absence

Registration on the Saturday of the test is at 08:00. Test takers who are late for registration will not be allowed to take the test and will lose their test fee.

If you cannot attend because of a medical emergency, you must provide a medical certificate (a letter from a GP, hospital or walk-in clinic) no later than 5 days after the test. The letter must clearly state the reason that you were unable to attend the test and must be appropriately dated.

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Feedback and complaints

We would like you to tell us about your IELTS test experience at Kings Oxford by completing a short survey. You will receive a link to the survey in an email a week after your test.

If you have any issues, concerns with the way your test has been conducted or wish to make a complaint, you can do so by sending a letter of complaint to our office at ielts@kingseducation.com detailing the problem. Alternatively, you can complete a Candidate Complaint Form on the day of your test. We will respond to you in writing within 2 working days upon receipt of your complaint.

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IELTS preparation materials

For information on how to prepare for the IELTS test, please visit https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/pr...

The following IELTS preparation materials are provided by the British Council:

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IELTS for UKVI

If you need an IELTS test to prove your English language ability in support of a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) application, you must apply to an IELTS for UKVI centre.

Kings Oxford is not a UKVI centre.


Find out more about IELTS for UKVI

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The Kings Admissions Team