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 website, one fee and one set of centres. Create an account, choose your test type, pick computer or paper, select a centre and date, enter your passport details exactly, and pay ₹19,000.
Book the date after your mock scores hit your target, not before. A re-sit is another ₹19,000. Take a free IELTS mock test first, or see the full IELTS exam fee in India.
Booking IELTS in India, step by step
- 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
The content and scoring are identical. Computer-delivered gives you results in 3 to 5 days and usually has more dates. Paper takes about 13 days. Speaking is face to face with an examiner either way.
- 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.
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?
Same test, same score, same price. Two practical differences.
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.
Paper-based
Results in about 13 days. Fewer dates, usually up to four Saturdays a month. You write by hand, so practise your handwriting speed if you pick this.
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.
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.
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Booking IELTS in India: frequently asked questions
Go to ielts.idp.com and choose India. IDP is the only IELTS provider in the country. Create an account, choose Academic or General Training, pick computer or paper, select a centre and date, enter your passport details exactly, upload the passport photo page, and pay ₹19,000. You get a booking reference and an email confirmation to bring on test day.
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 website, one fee and one set 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.
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