- IDP has been the sole administrator of IELTS in India since 2021, so bookings now go through the IDP IELTS India portal rather than the British Council
- The IELTS Academic and General Training fee is INR 19,000, with IELTS for UKVI at INR 19,250
- IELTS on paper runs up to four times a month, giving 48 test dates in 2026, while IELTS on computer runs up to three times a day, seven days a week
- From mid-2026 IELTS moves to computer delivery only, and paper results already issued stay valid for the full two-year period.
The International English Language Testing System is the most widely used English test in the world for higher education and migration. In India the test is administered by IDP, which took over the British Council's IELTS operations in 2021, and every booking is made through the IDP IELTS India portal. You can register online or in person at a test centre, and several payment methods are accepted. Booking early matters, because slots at popular centres disappear quickly once university application deadlines open.
What Are the IELTS Booking Dates in 2026?
IELTS on paper runs up to four times a month, giving 48 test dates across 2026, mostly on Saturdays with occasional Thursdays. IELTS on computer is far more flexible, running up to three times a day, seven days a week. Book early, because slots fill fast in peak months.
Paper-based IELTS is scheduled on fixed dates published a year in advance. IELTS Academic is offered on all 48 paper dates in 2026, while IELTS General Training is offered on a smaller subset of those dates, so General Training candidates have less room to manoeuvre. Computer-delivered IELTS is not tied to that calendar at all and can usually be booked within days.
Demand peaks between June and August, when candidates rush to meet autumn intake deadlines, so paper dates in those months are the first to sell out. Whichever format you pick, allow a seven-day window around your test day: the Speaking test may be scheduled shortly before or after the other three components.
Complete IELTS Exam Guide 2026Read →How Much Does IELTS Booking Cost in 2026?
IELTS Academic and General Training both cost INR 19,000 in India for 2026, whether you take the test on paper or on computer. IELTS for UKVI costs INR 19,250, IELTS Life Skills costs INR 18,000, and a One Skill Retake costs INR 12,650.
| IELTS Test Type 2026 | Registration Fee 2026 (INR) |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (paper or computer) | 19,000 |
| IELTS General Training (paper or computer) | 19,000 |
| IELTS for UKVI (paper or computer) | 19,250 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 and B1) | 18,000 |
| One Skill Retake | 12,650 |
The fee is identical at every test centre in India and does not change with the format you choose, so there is no cost advantage in picking paper over computer. The One Skill Retake is the cheapest route back if you narrowly miss the band you need in a single component, because you only re-sit that one skill rather than the whole test.
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Register on the IDP IELTS India portal, choose your test format and module, pick a city, date and time slot, complete the application form, upload a clear scanned colour copy of your passport, then pay INR 19,000. Your confirmation email normally arrives five to seven days before the test.
- Open the official IDP IELTS India registration portal and create an account.
- Select Register for Test.
- Choose IELTS on computer or IELTS on paper.
- Choose your module: Academic, General Training, IELTS for UKVI, or Life Skills A1 or B1.
- Select the test city and centre closest to you.
- Pick a date and time slot from the available options.
- Complete the application form with details exactly as they appear on your passport.
- Upload a clear, scanned colour copy of your passport.
- Pay the fee by debit card, credit card, net banking or wallet.
- Wait for the confirmation email carrying your test date, reporting time and centre address.
Check every field before you submit. Your name, date of birth and passport number must match your passport exactly, because the Test Report Form is issued against those details and corrections after booking are slow. Availability is live, so a slot you can see is not reserved until payment clears.
Can You Book IELTS Offline at a Centre?
Yes. Visit your nearest IDP IELTS centre, collect and complete the paper application form, choose your test format and module, and submit it with a photocopy of your passport. Offline candidates can pay by demand draft or an ICICI or HDFC deposit slip, and the centre confirms your date.
- Find your local IDP IELTS test centre using the centre finder on the official portal.
- Collect the application form or download and print it before you go.
- Fill in the form and select your preferred test format and module.
- Submit the form with a photocopy of your passport.
- Pay by demand draft, or by depositing the fee at an ICICI or HDFC branch.
- Collect or wait for the centre's written confirmation of your test day and reporting time.
How Do You Book IELTS UKVI?
IELTS for UKVI is booked exactly like the standard test, but you must select the UKVI module and a UKVI approved centre. The fee is INR 19,250 in 2026. From mid-2026 the UKVI version is fully digital, with no handwritten writing option available at any test centre.
IELTS for UKVI is a Secure English Language Test approved by the UK Home Office. In content, format, timing and scoring it is identical to the standard Academic and General Training tests; the difference lies in the extra identity and security checks at the centre and in the Test Report Form, which carries the UKVI reference the Home Office needs.
Choose the module carefully at booking. A standard IELTS booking cannot be converted into a UKVI booking after the fact, and a standard Test Report Form will not satisfy a visa caseworker who requires a SELT. If your university asks only for proof of English and not for a visa-grade test, the standard test is usually enough and cheaper.
When Will IELTS Results Arrive After Booking?
Results depend on the format you booked. Computer delivered IELTS returns your Test Report Form in one to five days, while paper based results take up to 13 days. Factor this gap into your booking date if a university or visa deadline is close.
That difference is the strongest practical argument for booking a computer slot. If your application closes in three weeks, a paper date two weeks away leaves no margin at all, whereas a computer slot booked for next week returns a score with room to spare. From mid-2026 the question becomes academic in most markets, because IELTS will no longer be offered on paper.
Test takers who prefer to handwrite will still have an option in selected markets: IELTS on computer with Writing on Paper lets you handwrite the Writing component while sitting the rest of the test on screen. That option is not available for the UKVI version, which is fully digital.
Can You Study in the UK Without IELTS?
IELTS is not the only test the UK Home Office accepts. Approved SELT providers are Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson, plus PSI Services for tests taken outside the UK. Some universities also waive the test if your prior study was taught in English.
- A letter from your UK university confirming that you may apply without an IELTS score.
- An offer letter from a licensed UK student sponsor.
- An approved alternative Secure English Language Test from Trinity College London, LANGUAGECERT, Pearson or PSI Services.
- Evidence that your previous degree was taught and assessed in English, where the university accepts it.
The Home Office decides the CEFR level you must prove from the visa route you apply under, not from the test brand. Degree-level study at a licensed sponsor generally sits higher on that scale than study below degree level, so confirm the exact requirement with your sponsor before you pay for any test.