How to Book the IELTS Exam in India
To book IELTS in India, go to ielts.idp.com and choose India. IDP has been the only IELTS provider in the country since 25 July 2021, so there is one official booking system and one network of centres. Create an account, choose your test type, pick computer or Writing on Paper, select a centre and date, enter your passport details exactly, and pay ₹19,000.
Official provider
IDP India
Standard fee
₹19,000
Computer availability
Up to 3 sessions daily
Writing on Paper
Up to 4 dates monthly
Start here
Which IELTS test should you book?
Choose the purpose of your test and check whether your recent full mocks support booking a date yet.
Booking planner
Choose the test before you choose the date
This takes about 30 seconds. It cannot replace the requirement shown by your university, regulator or visa authority.
Likely test
IELTS Academic
Use this for most university applications and professional registration. Check the institution's exact requirement before paying.
Measure your band before choosing a date
Without a timed baseline, the date is a guess. Start with a mock and ask for a study recommendation if Writing or Speaking is holding you back.
Ask for a booking-readiness checkHow do you book the IELTS exam in India?
IDP's booking journey is short. The important part is choosing the right module and entering the same identity details shown on your passport.
- 1
Create an IDP account
Go to ielts.idp.com, choose India, and register with the email address you will use for results. IDP is the only IELTS provider in India, so there is a single booking route.
- 2
Choose your test type
IELTS Academic for university admission and professional registration (NMC, GMC, AHPRA). IELTS General Training for most migration and work routes. IELTS for UKVI if a UK visa specifically asks for it. Life Skills only for UK family and settlement visas.
- 3
Pick computer or paper
Choose IELTS on Computer or IELTS Writing on Paper. The second option keeps Listening and Reading on computer but lets you handwrite Writing. IDP says the old fully paper-based format has been discontinued in India.
- 4
Select a centre and date
IDP runs test centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kochi and dozens of other cities. Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead for the popular ones.
- 5
Enter your passport details and upload the photo page
Type your name exactly as it appears on the passport you will bring on test day. Any mismatch, including a missing middle name, will stop you sitting the test and you lose the fee. Upload a clear scan of the photo page.
- 6
Pay and save the confirmation
Pay the ₹19,000 fee by card or a supported bank option. You get a booking reference and an email confirmation. Save both. You will need the passport and the confirmation on test day.
Book directly at IDP IELTS India. For UK routes, confirm the exact test on the UKVI approved test list.
Pay online
Debit or credit card, net banking or Paytm wallet.
Book offline
Visit an IDP branch or authorised registration partner if you need help.
Watch your inbox
IDP says final date, time and venue details arrive 5 to 7 days before the test.
Choose before you pay
Which IELTS test type do you need?
Booking the wrong version is the most expensive mistake in this process. Match your route to the row below.
| Test type | Use it for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | University admission, NMC / GMC / AHPRA registration, Australia skilled migration | ₹19,000 |
| IELTS General Training | Canada Express Entry, UK work and family routes, some training programmes | ₹19,000 |
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General) | Only when a UK visa route names 'IELTS for UKVI' specifically | ₹19,250 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 / B1) | UK partner, family and settlement visas that need speaking and listening only | ₹18,000 |
| One Skill Retake | Re-sit one weak section within 60 days of your original computer-delivered test | ₹12,650 |
Computer or paper?
The old fully paper-based test has been discontinued in India. Choose all-computer delivery or the newer option that lets you handwrite only the Writing section.
Computer-delivered
Results in 3 to 5 days. More dates, often several a week. You type Writing, which suits most people. Speaking is still face to face.
IELTS Writing on Paper
Listening and Reading stay on computer. You handwrite the Writing section. IDP lists up to four dates a month, so availability is narrower than IELTS on Computer.
Format details checked against the official IDP India fee and format page on 22 September 2026.
What to bring on test day
The passport you registered with
Valid on the test date, name matching the booking exactly. No Aadhaar, PAN or driving licence is accepted.
Your booking confirmation
Email or printout. The centre checks it against the register.
Nothing else in the room
Phones, watches, notes and calculators stay in a locker. Water in a clear, label-free bottle is usually allowed.
A trainer's booking rule
Do not let an application deadline choose a bad test date
I ask students for two full timed mock scores before we discuss a booking date. One good Reading score is not enough. Writing and Speaking are the sections most likely to expose a gap when the pressure is real.
- Confirm the exact test and minimum score with the receiving organisation.
- Leave time for results and a possible One Skill Retake or full retake.
- Use the same passport details at registration and on test day.
Every January I get messages from students who booked a February date in a panic, then realised in the last week they were nowhere near their band. The date is the easy part. Get your Writing and Speaking marked by someone who knows the criteria first, then book with a month of buffer. That order saves people a lot of money.
Not sure you are ready to book?
Tell us your target band and the date you are considering. We will give you an honest read and a plan. No payment to enquire.
Ready to Find Out More?
Send us a message, even if you're not sure which course is right for you. We'll give you honest advice, not a sales pitch.
Booking IELTS in India: frequently asked questions
Go to the official IDP India booking page. Choose Academic, General Training, UKVI or Life Skills, then select IELTS on Computer or IELTS Writing on Paper where available. Pick the city, date and time, enter your passport details exactly, upload the passport photo page, and pay the applicable fee.
No. IDP bought the British Council's India IELTS business on 25 July 2021 and has run every IELTS test in India since. There is one official booking system and one network of centres. Your result is accepted everywhere regardless.
The fee is ₹19,000 for IELTS Academic or General Training as of September 2026, the same on computer or paper. IELTS for UKVI is ₹19,250, Life Skills is ₹18,000, and the One Skill Retake is ₹12,650. See the full breakdown on our IELTS exam fee in India page.
Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead, and earlier for Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune where paper dates fill fast. If you need a test in the next 2 to 3 weeks, a computer-delivered slot is usually your only option.
Transferring to a later date costs ₹4,750 for a standard test, ₹4,850 for UKVI, ₹4,500 for Life Skills and ₹3,200 for One Skill Retake. Cancelling 9 or more days before a standard test gets you a refund minus 25%; less than 9 days means you lose 25%. UKVI and Life Skills use a 14-day and 2-day scale.
Only the passport you registered with, valid on the day, with the name matching your booking. If it has expired or the name differs you are refused entry and lose the fee.
Academic for university admission and for NMC, GMC or AHPRA registration. General Training for Canada Express Entry and most UK work and family routes. If you are unsure, check the exact wording on your university or visa page before you book, because a re-sit is another ₹19,000.
Take a full mock test to fix your current band, then work on your weakest skill until your mocks are consistently at your target. Most students need 4 to 12 weeks. Book the date once the score is there, not before.
Before you book
IELTS Exam Fee in India
₹19,000 as of Sept 2026: the full fee table, UKVI and Life Skills prices, reschedule and cancellation costs.
ExploreIELTS Exam Pattern
What each section contains and how it is scored, so you book the right test type.
ExploreIELTS One Skill Retake in India
Re-sit one section within 60 days for ₹12,650 instead of the full fee.
ExploreIELTS Online Course
Live classes, feedback and mock tests, so you book the date once and pass.
Explore FreeIELTS Mock Test, Free Practice
Take a full timed test and get a band estimate before you pay to book.
ExploreIELTS Exam Dates India 2026
City-wise paper dates and computer slots for the year.
ExploreIDP vs British Council
In India you book with IDP only. Why the old two-desk advice no longer applies.
ExploreBook once, pass once
A course that gets you to your band the first time costs less than a second booking.
Reviewed by our CELTA-qualified teacher at IELTS Training Camp.
Online IELTS course
Ready to hit your target band score?
Live courses from £154 with a CELTA-qualified teacher. Start with a free consultation.