IELTS EXAM FEE WITH COMPLETE DETAILS
Table of Contents
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam is jointly managed and conducted by Cambridge Assessment English, the British Council, and IDP. It is your gateway to a world-class education and career opportunities in countries where English is the primary language of communication. This English proficiency test is held multiple times a month across the globe for individuals whose first language is not English but who wish to study, work, or migrate to countries such as the UK, Canada, the US, Australia, and more. Whether your goal is higher education or employment abroad, careful preparation for IELTS is essential, and it begins with understanding the exam fee. We are here to get a clear picture, we have prepared a detailed breakdown of the IELTS exam fees, registration charges, payment methods, and related costs in India. Here’s everything you need to know.
IELTS Exam Fee in India with various categories
While the fees for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are the same, the UKVI variant of IELTS costs slightly more. Additionally, whether a candidate chooses the paper-based or computer-delivered format for IELTS Academic or General Training, the test fee remains the same. However, IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) is available at a lower cost.
| TEST TYPE | REGISTRATION FEE |
| IELTS on Computer (Academic & General Training) | INR 18000 |
| IELTS on Paper (Academic & General Training) | INR 18000 |
| IELTS for UKVI (Paper & Computer) | INR 18250 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 & B1) | INR 17000 |
| IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) | INR 12000 |
Types of IELTS test exams and their purpose
Many students get confused because there are different types of IELTS exams. You must choose the right one based on your visa requirement. Here is the simple list of IELTS test types and how much they cost in 2026.
1. IELTS Academic & General Training
- Purpose
- IELTS Academic: This is for students who want to go for higher education (university or college) in countries like Canada, USA, Australia, etc.
- IELTS General Training: This is for people going for work visa or PR (Permanent Residence).
- Note: The price is same for Computer-delivered and Pen and paper based test.
2. IELTS for UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration)
- Purpose
- If you are applying for UK Student Visa or work visa, the UK government often asks for this specific test.
- It is same as normal IELTS in content, but the security is higher and it is recorded on video.
3. IELTS Life Skills (A1 and B1)
- Purpose
- This is a shorter test, only for Speaking and Listening.
- It is used for spouse visa or family visa in the UK.
4. IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR)
- Purpose
- If you failed in just one subject (like Writing or Reading), you don’t need to give full exam again.
- You can just book One Skill Retake to improve your score in that single module.
IELTS exam fee payment methods:
There are two test agencies in India for IELTS exam. They are British Council and IDP. There are different methods through which the candidate can pay and register for the IELTS. Candidates can register through online or offline methods. Further, the payment mode for the IELTS test fee depends on the method you select to register for the IELTS. The following are the payment methods offered by IDP India for IELTS test registration.
Online payment: Candidates opting for the payment of IELTS exam fees through online payment can pay the IELTS exam fee through net banking, credit, or debit card while registering for the IELTS online.
Bank deposit: Applicants who choose to register for the IELTS offline can pay the IELTS exam fees through bank deposits. The candidate can download the bank deposit slip from the official IELTS IDP India website. Also, they can obtain this slip from their nearest IDP India branch office.
After getting the slip, candidates need to deposit the IELTS exam fee (in cash) at any ICICI / HDFC branch. Candidates need to attach a copy of their slip while submitting the IELTS application form at the IDP branch office.
Demand draft: Applicants can also register for the IELTS and pay through a demand draft in favour of “IDP EDUCATION INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, Payable at New Delhi”. Candidates are required to make the demand draft payment only from the banks approved by the IDP. You can get the list of approved banks on IDP Education India’s official website.
IELTS Fee for cancellation
For any reason, if you want to cancel your IELTS appointment, then there are certain criteria that you need to fulfil to receive a refund for cancelling the IELTS exam. However, you need to pay IELTS cancellation fees for cancelling the IELTS test.
If a candidate cancels the booked IELTS slot before five weeks the test date, in that case, he will receive the refund minus a 25% administrative fee
If a candidate cancels the IELTS test less than five weeks ahead of the test date, then he will receive no refund.
If a candidate fails to appear for the IELTS test, then he will not receive any refund. This is also considered a cancellation.
Those who can produce a medical certificate within 5 days of the test date can receive a refund after deducting the local administrative cost.
IELTS rescheduling fee
- Those who reschedule the IELTS exam date at least five weeks before the booked test date can get a fee after deducting the administrative fee.
- If applicants reschedule or cancel their IELTS exam within five weeks of the test date, they will be charged a full fee unless they have a serious medical reason.
- Applicants who provide a medical certificate within five days of the test date can receive a refund minus the local administrative fee.
You will not receive any refund or any rescheduling option if you fail to take the IELTS test on the second date.
| IELTS TEST TYPE | RESCHEDULING FEE |
| IELTS on Computer for UKVI | INR 4550 |
| IELTS on Computer | INR 4500 |
| IELTS on Paper | INR 4500 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 and B1) | INR 4550 |
| IELTS on Paper for UKVI | INR 4550 |
| One Skill Retake (OSR) | INR 3000 |
IELTS EXAM fee for rechecking and re-evaluation
IELTS answer sheets are evaluated by trained professionals, and the checking process is also partially automated, ensuring fair and accurate marking of the Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking sections. However, candidates who are not satisfied with their results are allowed to request a re-evaluation of their scores. The re-evaluation option becomes available after the declaration of the final IELTS results. To initiate the process, candidates must submit a rechecking request and pay the applicable fee through the official IELTS website. Below are the rechecking fees for different IELTS exams.
| IELTS TEST TYPE | RESCHEDULING FEE |
| IELTS on Paper | ₹13,500 |
| IELTS on Computer | ₹13,500 |
| IELTS on Paper for UKVI | ₹13,700 |
| IELTS on Computer for UKVI | ₹13,700 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 and B1) | ₹12,750 |
| One Skill Retake (OSR) | ₹ 9000 |
IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE Exam Fees in India (2026)
Although IELTS is one of the most widely accepted English proficiency tests, other alternatives such as TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo are also recognized by top universities and institutions worldwide. Since each test has its own significance, eligibility criteria, and requirements, applicants should always check the immigration policies of the destination country and the admission requirements of the institutions they plan to apply to. Here is the comparison:
| TEST | FEE | RESULT TIME | KEY POINTS |
| IELTS | INR 18000 | 5-7 DAYS | Widely accepted test; computer or paper‑based. |
| TOEFL | INR 18000 | 3 DAYS | Standard TOEFL exam fee; score reports and extra services cost extra |
| PTE | INR 17999 | 2-5 DAYS | Fully computer‑based with fast results. |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | INR 5300 | Within 48 hours | Cheapest option, fully online, results quickly. |