IELTS exam FAQs | International House Bristol

Below are some frequently asked questions from past IELTS candidates which may help answer your query.

IELTS exams must be booked via the British Council website(Opens in a new tab/window). Once you have made your booking, you will be given a link so that you can pay for your exam. We can take card payments online or over the phone.
The IELTS test taker fee is £220 (£225/£240 in 2026). If you choose a tracked service on our payment page for the delivery of your Test Report Form, there will be an additional charge.
Additional fees:
- IELTS One-Skill-Retake: £165 (£185 in 2026)
- Enquiry on Results: £120
- Test date transfer: £55
To pay for the 'additional fee' services, go to our online IELTS payment form and select 'IELTS results & transfers' as the 'Exam Type or Service'.
The IELTS test is not recommended for candidates under the age of 16. If you are under 18, we require permission from your parent or a legal guardian to allow us to capture your photo and finger scan during the registration process on the exam day. When somebody under 18 is registering for the exam they will be able to make an incomplete booking. However we will not process the payment until the Parent/Guardian has accepted the Terms and Coditions, entered collection instructions and paid the test fee. After this we will confirm the booking.
When the under 18 year old registers for the test, the Parent/Guardian will will receive and emial with a secure link to the candidate's registration page.
On the test day you MUST present the same identification document you used when you completed your application. You will not be able to sit your test without this ID. We cannot accept photocopies (even if they are certified copies from a solicitor) or letters from the Home Office.
You can apply with a valid:
- Passport (or authorised travel document)
- UK Residence Permit - if your BRP expired in December 2024, you can still use it, but you must first get approval - please email ielts@ihbristol.com
- ARC card (You must contact us in advance to ask for permission if using this type of ID)
Please email at us ielts@ihbristol.com if you do not have any of these ID's.
If you have a learning disability, physical, or mental health condition, you can apply for special arrangements - examples include 25% extra time, enlarged scripts, a word processor, separate invigilation (and more).
If you require special arrangements, please make sure to contact us more than 6 weeks before your test, as this is the deadline to request special materials.
Confirmation letters are sent by email. Please ensure you have checked your email inbox and your junk inbox for your letter. It can take up to 72 hours for us to process your application and send you your confirmation letter.
Please be aware that if you book on the weekend, your test may auto cancel. This is a technical issue that we cannot change. Please be aware that your booking will be processed on the Monday. Our email and phone lines are closed on the weekends.
If you still haven't heard from us after 72 hours, please email us at ielts@ihbristol.com.
Here is our IELTS cancellation policy:
To cancel your IELTS (Academic and General Training) test, please log in to the Test Taker Portal and submit a cancellation request, along with an upload of any supporting documentation/evidence. To determine whether supporting evidence is necessary, please read the criteria below.
If the cancellation request is made within 14 days of payment, we will issue a full refund. All refunds will be made against the original payment method.
If you have requested a cancellation within the aforementioned 14-day period but within 72 hours of your exam start time, your booking will be refundable minus an administration fee of £55 (25% of the test taker fee).
If you request to cancel your exam more than 14 days after the original payment but more than 72 hours before the exam start time, the test taker fee is refundable, minus a £55 administration fee.
If a medical certificate confirming illness on the day of the test is provided via email to ielts@ihbristol.com within 72 hours of the exam start time, together with the submitted cancellation request on the Test Taker Portal, the fee is refundable, minus a £55 administration fee.

Here is our IELTS transfer policy:
If you would like to transfer your exam to a later date, you will need to contact the centre at ielts@ihbristol.com.
If the transfer request is made within 14 days of payment, we can grant a free transfer to a later date (within 3 months of the original test date) without a transfer fee. If you request a test day transfer within this 14-day period but within 72 hours of your exam, you will need to pay the test day transfer fee of £55 (25% of the test taker fee).
If you request a test day transfer less than 72 hours before your test, you must provide valid medical evidence which, if accepted, will permit you to transfer to a new test date within 3 months of the original date, providing you also pay the test day transfer fee.
If you request a test day transfer 72 hours or more in advance of your exam, but more than 14 days after the original payment, this request will be accepted without any need for medical evidence, providing your new test date is within 3 months of the original date, and you pay the test day transfer fee.
You must bring your ID with you to the exam. This must be the same ID you registered with. Do NOT bring pens, pencils, erasers. We will give you all the stationery you need. You may bring water in a transparent bottle with no label or writing on it.
Test results are posted from IH Bristol on the 13th day after the test (unless candidates have requested to collect them). Please allow up to two weeks for them to reach UK addresses and three weeks for international addresses before contacting us. All undelivered results should be reported within three months of the test date. After three months, we will not be able to issue replacements.
You can check your computer-based results 1-5 days after your test.
You can check your paper-based results online on the 13th day after your test (this is usually a Friday) from around 10am onwards.
You will need to provide the following information to access your results:
- Test date
- Date of birth
- ID document number
- Candidate number (given to you during registration on Saturday morning)
Click here (Opens in a new tab/window)to check your results online now.
Results are available to view online for up to 35 days after your test. If you experience any problems accessing your results then please email us at ielts@ihbristol.com.
If you would prefer to collect your results from the Bristol IELTS office, you can do so during our visiting hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm - 4pm. All collection requests MUST be emailed to ielts@ihbristol.com before the results are released.
Yes you can. In order for us to release your results to a friend/relative you will need to:
- Download, complete and sign an authorised collection form
- Ask the person collecting to also sign the form and then scan and email it to ielts@ihbristol.com before collection
- The person collecting should then bring with them a copy of this form along with their passport / EU ID card
Download an authorised collection form here.
We can only issue one test report form to each candidate and an additional four to educational institutions, government agents, professional bodies or an employer free of charge (postage not included). Any additional certificates after the first five will cost £20.
For Test Day Complaints: If you wish to make a complaint about anything related to your IELTS exam, you must do so on the day of the exam. You can ask a staff member for a Complaint Form on the day of your test and return it before you leave.
For Other Issues: If you are unhappy with any aspect of the IELTS service you have received from the IELTS Test Centre at International House and wish to make a complaint, you can do so by sending a email to our office detailing the problem.
Link to the IELTS website explaing the change:
https://ielts.org/news-and-insights/updates-to-ielts-test-delivery(Opens in a new tab/window)
International House Bristol will have it's final public paper-based test on the 6th of June 2026.
FAQs for test takers:
1. Will the content of the test change?
No, the content of the IELTS test will remain the same. The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections will be taken on a computer, and the Speaking test will still be conducted face-to-face with a trained examiner, just like in the paper-based test.

2. How is IELTS on computer different from IELTS on paper?
The main difference is that the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are completed on a computer instead of paper. Responses for Listening and Reading are recorded directly on the computer, so do not need to be transferred on to your answer sheet. The Speaking test is the same personal interview with an IELTS Examiner. Test takers also benefit from faster results, more test dates, and access to IELTS One Skill Retake

3. Is IELTS on computer harder than IELTS on paper?
No, there is no difference in the test content. IELTS on computer assesses your language skills in the same way as IELTS on paper, with no change in scoring or test format. The only difference is the method of delivery.

4. How will I complete the Writing section on a computer?
With IELTS on computer, you type your responses for the Writing section directly into the computer. Many test takers find this more comfortable, as it mirrors the type of writing you might do in academic or professional settings. You can edit your responses easily and there is an automatic word count available.

5. Will the Speaking test still be face-to-face?
Your Speaking test will be in the same testing room face-to-face, or, in certain situations, the Speaking test can be conducted using a secure video conference online platform. This provides more flexibility and availability of IELTS Speaking tests. The video call Speaking test is conducted at an official IELTS test centre with the same high standard of identity verification. The test will be the same as the in-person Speaking test in terms of content, scoring, timing, level of difficulty, question format and security arrangements.

6. When will I receive my results?
For IELTS on computer, you can expect your results typically within 1 to 2 days. This is faster than the IELTS on paper, which takes 13 days.

7. Will there be enough available test dates?
Yes, IELTS on computer test allows for more frequent test dates and better availability. This provides greater flexibility for you to choose a time that fits your schedule.

8. How can I prepare for the IELTS on computer test?
We provide free scored practice tests for IELTS on computer to help you get familiar with how the test will look and feel. You can also access resources online to help you practice your typing speed and general computer skills.