IELTS Tests
IELTS – the International English Language Testing System – is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test, developed and run by the British Council in partnership with IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English.
There are two main IELTS tests available – IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training:
- IELTS Academic
This is designed to measure your English language proficiency and to assess if it is suitable for an academic environment. The test reflects aspects of academic language and evaluates whether you’re ready to begin training or studying in English. - IELTS General Training
This is designed to measure your English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The test reflects both workplace and social situations.
Please contact the organisation you are applying to in order to check whether they require you to take IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training before you book the test.
IELTS exams can be taken ‘on computer’ or ‘on paper’ for £190 at Hammersmith and Fulham College. Please read the IELTS Test Declaration and Terms and Conditions carefully before you book your IELTS exam online. West London College is registered as ‘EHWLC IELTS Test Centre No 10126’.
Please note: The IELTS test result cannot be used for UKVI application purposes and you will not be eligible for a refund if you book the IELTS test and then subsequently find that you require an IELTS for UKVI test result.
If you have any questions, please contact us at ielts@wlc.ac.uk
Booking Your IELTS Test
- Choose the type of your IELTS test, your preferred test date and venue
- In the UK, IELTS test takers taking the test outside their own country must use only one of the following identification documents to apply for the IELTS test – either your original, valid Passport or BRP card or European Union ID card (no other identification documents are accepted)
You must inform the test centre of any changes to your identity document before the test date. If you do not do this you will not be allowed to take the test and you will not be eligible for a refund or transfer.
Important: You must the same identity document on the test day as the one recorded in your application. If you do not do this, you will not be allowed to take the test and you will not be eligible for a refund or transfer.
If you have any questions about your ID, please email us for assistance to IELTS@wlc.ac.uk before applying for the IELTS test.
Important: If your Passport is currently with the UKVI and you do not have a valid UK Biometric Residence Permit, you will need to get in touch with your caseworker and ask if they can release your Passport for the day of the test. DO NOT apply/pay for the test until you are sure that you will have a valid ID document, the same ID as you used to apply for the test, in your possession on the day of the IELTS test.
Please email us at ielts@wlc.ac.uk no later than 3 working days before the test if you have any questions.
IELTS ‘On Computer’
You will take the Listening, Reading and Writing sections on a computer. Results are usually released on the 4th-5th day after the test.
You can see sample questions from the ‘on computer’ IELTS test here.
Please choose the Barons Court location for IELTS ‘On Computer’.
IELTS ‘On Computer’ – Start and Finish Times
The check-in time is between 8:00am and 8:15am
IELTS ‘On Paper’
The traditional IELTS ‘on paper’ has exactly the same content as ‘on computer’, but instead of typing your answers, you will write them on paper. Your results will be available on the 13th day after the test.
If you have any special requirements for the test, please register for ‘on paper’ IELTS, as this option serves the needs of all test takers.
Please choose the Hammersmith location for IELTS ‘On Paper’.
IELTS ‘On Paper’ – Start and Finish Times
The check-in time is between 7:45am and 8:15am
Please read the IELTS Test Declaration and Terms and Conditions, the IELTS Information for Candidates booklet along with IELTS T&Cs for the IELTS on Paper or IELTS on Computer before you apply online for the IELTS test at ‘EHWLC IELTS Test Centre No 10126’.
Once you book the test, you have the right to cancel it within 14 days of booking. You will receive a full refund. However, if your test is within the next 14 days, and you booked your test less than 14 days ago, you are eligible to receive a partial refund (75% of the test fee). If the test day is less than 24 hrs from the cancellation date, you won’t be eligible for a refund. The cut-off period for zero refund policy application is after midnight of the day before the test.
Please note that if you apply for a refund more than 5 weeks before the test (and more than 2 weeks since you paid), you are entitled to a refund of 75% of the test fee.
If you apply for a refund less than 5 weeks before the test (and more than 2 weeks since you paid), you will not receive a refund.
IELTS Test Information
IMPORTANT: Please note that although the Listening test start time is scheduled at 9:00am, you are required to arrive at the test venue for registration no later than 8:15am. This is because before we press the Listening test button, all IELTS test takers should go through the IELTS candidate journey which includes cloakroom, ID and security checks and registration, finger scans, digital photos, and listening to the pre-test instructions and completing the paperwork.
If you arrive to the test venue after 8:15am you may not be allowed into the exam floor and will not receive a refund.
The Listening, Reading, and Writing tests will take place from 9:00am to 12:00pm with no scheduled breaks. The Speaking test takes place from 12:20pm to 4pm.
The individual time slots are announced on the day of the test. The Test Centre has the right to change your speaking test time slot on the day of the test.
You are strongly advised to keep the whole IELTS test day free from any other obligations.
Once released, your Test Report Form will be posted by 1st Class Royal Mail. Please note that your address will be printed on the envelope exactly as you entered it when you registered for the test online. 1st Class Royal Mail is not a trackable service. Provided the postal address is correct, delivery to an address in the UK will be made within 2-3 working days. However, please allow a week for UK post and one month for international deliveries before contacting us in case you did not receive your TRF. Please note there may be a £30 admin charge for an additional Test Report.
When you book your test, you can add up to five recognised organisations to receive your IELTS test scores.
You can check if your chosen institution/organisation is registered to accept IELTS scores here. If you require more than five copies to be sent to recognising organisations, or if your request for additional organisations is submitted after the results have been released, an administrative charge of £30 per additional copy may apply.
Special Requirements and Exceptional Circumstances
IELTS is designed to be a fair test. Your English language ability will be assessed objectively, regardless of any additional needs you may have. We make every effort to cater for the special requirements of our test takers.
If you are someone who has special requirements, please register for the IELTS ‘On Paper’ – this option serves the needs of all test takers.
Please contact our test centre via ielts@wlc.ac.uk to discuss your needs as soon as possible. It can take up to 3 months for us to put arrangements in place.
On rare occasions, there may be instances where you are unable to attend your test or are disadvantaged on the test day owing to illness, injury, or another exceptional event outside your control and you no longer qualify for a standard cancellation, refund, or transfer close to the test date.
In these cases, including instances such as bereavement, civil unrest, or domestic crisis, you may make an application for special consideration due to exceptional circumstances. You can find more information on this process here.
If you are not happy with your result you can apply for an Enquiry on Results (EOR). The Test Centre should receive your EOR form and an enquiry fee of £110 (paid via a payment link) within six weeks of the test date. Your EOR request will be submitted to the British Council. The remark is done by trained Clerical Markers and/or by senior examiners employed by the British Council.
Your result will normally be available in 2 to 21 days, depending on several factors including the number of sections requested for the remark. If you have not received a response after 28 days, please contact us at ielts@wlc.ac.uk
Once the British Council completes the EOR process, you will receive an EOR letter stating your final result status.
- If your result is changed, the enquiry fee will be fully refunded to your bank account usually within four weeks (we will send you a refund Request Form via email). To obtain the new Test Report Form you will be required to return the original of your previously issued Test Report Form before a new one can be issued
- If your score remains the same there will be no refund
If you think that there have been any issues that may have affected your performance, inform the invigilator straightaway on the day of the test; this may be if you believe that your performance may be affected by ill health, by the way in which the test is delivered at the test centre or for any other reason.
You must immediately tell an invigilator and request a Complaint Form. Please fill the form out and submit it to a Test Day Supervisor on the day of the test.
Complaints relating to the delivery of the test will not be accepted after test day. Please see the British Council Complaints Policy for more information.
- Road to IELTS
This comprehensive 30-hour online course includes a Last Minute version that is free if you are registered with the British Council - LearnEnglish
High-quality videos and podcasts, along with interactive exercises to help you improve your English - The MOOC ‘Understanding IELTS Techniques for English Language Tests’
This is a free online six-week course featuring videos, test samples and quizzes - IELTS mobile apps
This app helps you practice for the Speaking and Listening sections of the IELTS test and develop your skills
If you need to take the SELT test at West London College, please book your test here and choose British Council London West GBS02 as your test centre. Please note: this is not organised by West London College; however, the test takes place in our facilities.
Candidates are expected to behave in an acceptable, respectful manner. Our Test Centre follows the guidelines concerning Zero Tolerance. Any incident in which an employee is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work is unacceptable and not tolerated. Candidates who use abusive language or demonstrate threatening behaviour will be immediately asked to leave the premises and may be reported to the British Council.
COLLEGE
Barons Court
London W14 9BL
Ealing
London W5 5EW
COLLEGE
Southall
London UB1 1DP
