Covid-19: Exams FAQs

Our test centre staff will inform you as soon as your session is transferred to a new date.

If our test centre is already delivering exams, you may also contact the test centre directly if you wish to check your new test date or request a refund.

We will contact all candidates whose exam is cancelled by email. If you have registered through a school, you will be contacted directly by your school.

If you did not request a refund after your original session was suspended, our test centre staff will inform you as soon as your session is transferred to a new date.

If our test centre is already delivering exams you may also contact the test centre directly if you wish to check your new test date or request a refund.

We are processing all the claims we have received, but due to the Covid-19 crisis we are experiencing delays in processing requests. We are working on this issue and expect to have completed the processing in 10 weeks from the date of your request. Thank you for your patience and we apologise for any inconvenience this will cause.

You will be sent a session timetable with all information required for the test day (venue, hour of arrival, time of test, etc.). If you do not receive any communication three days before the exam, please contact your test centre immediately.

You will also receive a message from the test centre outlining the safety measures and requirements for the test day.

All test takers and test day staff are required to wear masks in the common areas of the test venue. Even if local government regulations do not require it, we have decided to make mask wearing mandatory in the common areas to ensure a safer test environment.

Once test takers are seated in the test room they will be allowed to remove their masks for the duration of the test.

If your exam has been suspended, we will be in contact via email to find a suitable date and time to reschedule your exam. You will receive information about your new exam schedule from us once the new exam date is confirmed. 

We will have hand sanitisers located at different points at the test venue. We will also ensure that there is liquid soap in the bathrooms so that test takers can wash their hands.

We will not be providing masks, but test takers will be required to bring their own on the test day.

We will not be providing latex gloves. You can bring your own but they are not mandatory.

Most of our offices, even in places where we have already re-opened delivery of exams, are currently not open to the public.

Test venues have limits on numbers of candidates that can be seated there. This will depend on local government regulations and the size of the venue. As we are maintaining physical distancing at all test venues, we will be able to accommodate fewer candidates than before Covid-19.

We will have hand sanitisers located at different points at the test venue. We will also ensure that there is liquid soap in the bathrooms so that test takers can wash their hands.
We will not be providing masks, but test takers will be required to bring their own on the test day.
We will not be providing latex gloves. You can bring your own, but they are not mandatory.

You can find out through our online calendar. 

Exams dates may change as a result of future guidance from the authorities about Covid-19. We will get in touch via email if your rescheduled exam is postponed again. We are constantly monitoring the situation, together with the certification body, and hope to provide you with more reliable information as soon as possible.

The British Council will select a speaking time for candidates who have transferred their test. If the speaking slot we propose is not acceptable, please contact us within 24 hours of receiving confirmation of your new session plan.

We are following government regulations to make sure it is safe for you to take your exam. If your exam is suspended, we will be in contact via email to find a suitable time to reschedule. To check which sessions are cancelled please refer to the dedicated page. 

If your exam has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 emergency, we will not charge an additional fee for the transfer to another date or for the cancellation.

Our examination fees will remain unchanged until December 2020. We will not charge you an additional fee if your exam is rescheduled beyond this date due to the Covid-19 crisis. 

The British Council provides plenty of resources to make your IELTS test a success. Check out the dedicated page and find out which courses, links and apps are right for you.