IELTS

The International language Testing System (IELTS) assesses all of your English skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking, and is designed to reflect how you will use English at study, at work, and at play, in your new life abroad.

About IELTS

The listening and speaking sections of IELTS are the same for all test takers.

The reading and writing sections are different depending on whether you choose the academic or general training modules.

The Academic module is suitable for university entrance at undergraduate and postgraduate level and for professional registration.

The General Training module is suitable for the purposes of immigration to an English-speaking country and for people wishing to train or study below degree level.

Before registering for a test, you should find out which version you need to take. To do this we recommend you contact the recognising organisation (border agency, university, company etc.) that you are applying to. They will also inform you what test score you require.

IELTS is available in 140 countries, and last year over 2.9 million tests were taken. It is recognised by over 10,000 organisations worldwide, including employers, universities, professional bodies and immigration authorities.

IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

For further information on the IELTS exam, please follow the links below:

How to prepare

There are some very useful online materials provided by the British Council to help you find out more about the IELTS test and practice before you take your exam:

Available test dates

IELTS on Paper

Saturday 25 January 2025 - Academic module only -

Saturday 22 February 2025 - Academic and General Training modules -

Saturday 22 March 2025 - Academic and General Training modules -

IELTS on Computer

Academic and General Training modules

Wednesday 18 December 2024 (IELTS on Computer) -

Wednesday 15 January 2025 (IELTS on Computer) -

Wednesday 29 January 2025 (IELTS on Computer) -

Wednesday 12 February 2025 (IELTS on Computer) -

Wednesday 26 February 2025 (IELTS on Computer) -

Wednesday 12 March 2025 (IELTS on Computer) -

Wednesday 26 March 2025 (IELTS on Computer) -

Please note that the Speaking section will take place on the same date as the other three sections unless otherwise stated.

How to apply

Step one

The ELTC only accepts online registration for our IELTS exams.

Please note:

Registration for each test date closes 5 days before the test for IELTS on Paper, and 3 days before the test for IELTS on Computer. You will not be able to register after that point.
Completion of online registration does not guarantee you an IELTS test place. You must also send us the required documents and pay exam fees.

Step two

When completing your online registration you must enter your name exactly as it appears on your ID.

The ELTC IELTS team will contact you before your test to confirm your details. If there are any changes you must send a copy of your ID before your test. This can be done via email as a picture or scan.

You will need to bring the same ID to all your IELTS exams.

It must be a valid passport, biometric residence permit (BRP) or European ID card.

Step three

Test fees for IELTS sittings at the ELTC are £215 for tests in 2025.

The ELTC requires all IELTS test-takers to pay their fees by credit or debit card through our secure online payment system. We aren't able to accept any other payment methods for IELTS bookings at our centre.

At the end of your online registration (see Step one above) you will see a .

All fees should be paid no later than five days after you register and no later than 5 days before your IELTS test.

If you have any problems with payment of fees, please contact us at eltc.IELTS@sheffield.ac.uk.

Further information

Can I cancel my IELTS test or change to a new date?

If you would like to cancel your IELTS test, you should inform us by email at eltc.IELTS@sheffield.ac.uk at least 35 days before your test. We will then refund your test fee minus £25 for admin charges. If you cancel less than 35 days before your test, your fee will not be refunded.

To transfer to a different IELTS test date contact eltc.IELTS@sheffield.ac.uk at least 35 days before your test.

We will then send you a transfer request form to complete and charge a £25 fee for admin.

I have to send my passport to the Home Office for visa renewal. Can I still take the IELTS test?

You cannot register or take the test without a valid ID (passport, UK residence permit or EU Identity card) and you must bring the same original ID with you on test day. You will not be allowed to take the test without an original ID, and will not receive a refund. If you have any questions, please contact eltc.IELTS@sheffield.ac.uk

Results / Test report form (TRF)

Your test report form (TRF) for IELTS on Paper will usually be available 13 days after the test and will be posted to you on that day. It is not currently possible to collect any IELTS test results in person.

IELTS test results for the IELTS on Computer version of the exam will usually be available on the from between 1 to 5 days after the exam date. The TRF for IELTS on Computer exams is only provided in pdf format.

You can request for additional copies of your TRF to be sent to up to 5 institutions.

If you require additional copies of your TRF to be sent to another institution, or if your TRF is lost or damaged please contact eltc.ielts@sheffield.ac.uk

What can I do if I think there is a mistake with my results?

Test-takers can have one or all of their IELTS papers re-marked if they are not happy with the results they received. The process is called an Enquiry on Results (EOR) and costs and costs £90 for tests taken in 2024 and £92 for tests taken in 2025.

If you have taken an IELTS test at the ELTC and you would like an Enquiry on Results, you should submit your request through the no later than 6 weeks from the date of your test.

IELTS One Skill Retake

With IELTS One Skill Retake, you have the option to retake any one section of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking) if you need to improve on one area (instead of retaking all four sections).

We offer IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) for candidates who took an IELTS on computer test at the University of Sheffield ELTC test centre.

Please read the following important information before deciding to book an OSR:

OSR is only available for IELTS on computer (IoC) tests.
Candidates must have taken a normal full IoC test before applying for OSR.
If a test taker is not happy with the result of the full IoC test, they have a choice
- to apply for a remark
- to book a new test
- to book an OSR.
Candidates can only book one OSR per full IoC test taken.
OSR can only be booked for ONE skill per test.
OSR can only be booked at the same test centre where the original IoC test was taken.
OSR must be taken on a test date within 60 days of the original IoC test date.
Test takers must register and pay for OSR within 50 days of the original IoC test date.
OSR bookings are subject to availability, so early registration is advised.
OSR costs £132.00.
It is highly advisable for a test taker to check with the recognising organisation they are going to use their IELTS certificate with, whether it is accepting certificates gained via OSR. Not all organisations are accepting IELTS results with OSR components at the moment. A non-exhaustive list of recognising organisations accepting the OSR certificates is on the IELTS website () but again, candidates are responsible for double-checking this.

You can find further information about One Skill Retake on this section of the IELTS official website .

To apply for OSR you must email eltc.ielts@sheffield.ac.uk within 49 days of your original IoC test date.

How to find the test centre

IELTS tests at the University of Sheffield ELTC take place in the English Language Teaching Centre building at 78 Hoyle Street, Sheffield, S3 7LG.

Further information on how to find the test centre, including a map and public transport information is available on our 'How to find us' webpage.

What should I do if I have a complaint or want to give feedback?

Complaints on test day:

If you have a complaint about the way the test is run on test day, you should ask a member of staff for a complaints form. You cannot make a complaint about the test day after results have been released.

Other complaints:

For any other complaints or comments, please email eltc.ielts@sheffield.ac.uk

Following the test you will also be contacted to give feedback about your experience of taking IELTS.

Contact us

If you would like to ask us a question about our IELTS tests here at the ELTC, please email eltc.IELTS@sheffield.ac.uk or phone at +44 114 222 4931. Our office hours are Monday to Friday 9am-4pm.