IELTS Exam Fee 2025: A Complete Guide for Fees and More!

IELTS Exam Fee: An Overview

The IELTS is an English proficiency exam popularly taken by candidates seeking academic and professional opportunities in English-speaking countries. The exam is jointly owned and conducted by Cambridge English, British Council, and IDP: IELTS Australia. In India, IDP has become the sole distributor of IELTS testing since July 2021.

IELTS scores are accepted as proof of proficiency in English across several countries, including Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Understanding all the relevant details about this exam can help you put your best foot forward. Keep reading to know about the IELTS exam fee, eligibility, and pattern.

Why Should You Write the IELTS Exam?

IELTS is an important requirement for migration, academic, and professional purposes in English-speaking countries. Moreover, IELTS is a highly recommended test that the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) accepts for applicants inside and outside the country.

Securing a good score in your IELTS exam is proof that you have remarkable communication skills and will be able to adapt to life in a new country. While the IELTS exam is not compulsory for all university admissions, completing this exam can be a great way to streamline your admission & visa process. 

What are the Eligibility Criteria for the IELTS Exam?

Here are the Eligibility Criteria for the IELTS Exam:

Age Requirement

• Candidates must be at least 16 years old to take the IELTS.
  
• Exceptions apply if the test is required for secondary education abroad.
  

Educational Qualification

• There is no minimum educational qualification required.
  
• However, the test is usually taken by students who have completed or are about to complete higher secondary education (10+2) and want to pursue studies abroad.
  

Nationality

• The IELTS exam is open to all nationalities; there are no restrictions based on citizenship.
  

Attempts

• There is no limit to the number of times you can attempt the IELTS. You can retake it as many times as you want.
  

Purpose of Taking IELTS

• Commonly taken for higher education, work opportunities, or migration to countries where English is the primary language (e.g., UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand).

What are the Types of IELTS Exams? 

As of 2025, the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is offered in the following types, designed for different purposes:

IELTS Academic

• Purpose: For students applying to universities or professional institutions in English-speaking countries.
  
• Focus: Measures English proficiency needed for higher education and professional registration.
  
• Who should take it: Students planning to study abroad (undergraduate, postgraduate, or professional courses like medicine, law, etc.).
  

IELTS General Training

• Purpose: For migration, work, or training programs in English-speaking countries.
  
• Focus: Everyday English needed for workplace and social situations.
  
• Who should take it: Professionals seeking employment, or people applying for permanent residency (e.g., Canada, Australia, UK, New Zealand).
  

IELTS for UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration)

• Purpose: Specifically for visa applications to the UK.
  
• Types Offered: Both Academic and General Training versions are available.
  
• Difference: The test format is the same as standard IELTS, but it is approved by the UK Home Office and taken at a UKVI-approved test centre.
  

IELTS Life Skills

• Purpose: For people applying for certain UK visas (family, spouse, or settlement).
  
• Format: Focuses only on Speaking and Listening.
  
• Levels: A1, A2, or B1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
  

Read: Improve your IELTS exam score with these tips | Syllabus, tricks & more!

What is the IELTS Examination Fee in India? 

Understanding the amount of the IELTS exam fee can help you plan your finances and prepare accordingly. So, let’s move ahead and learn about the IELTS fee in India based on the type of test you take.

Test Type	Fee (INR)
IELTS Academic Exam fee / General Training (Paper-based or Computer-based)	₹18,000
UKVI (Computer-based)	₹18,250
Life Skills (A1 & B1)	₹17,000
One-Skill Retake	₹12,000

How to Pay the IELTS Examination Fee? 

You can choose from one of the following modes of payment to pay the registration fee. 

Online Payment (most common)

• Debit Card / Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, RuPay, Amex)
  
• Net Banking (all major banks)
  
• UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, etc.)
  

Demand Draft (DD)

• Drawn in favour of “IDP EDUCATION INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED” payable at New Delhi.
  
• Must be from a nationalised or scheduled bank.
  

Bank Deposit / Cash Payment

• Pay cash at selected ICICI Bank branches using a customised deposit slip generated after registering online.
  
• Upload the scanned receipt to the IELTS registration portal to confirm payment.
  

In-Person Payment

• At the nearest IDP IELTS test centre, you can pay via credit/debit card, demand draft, or bank deposit slip.

What is the IELTS Exam Pattern? 

Learning about the IELTS exam pattern is the first step to making a preparation plan.

• Total Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes
  
• Mode: Paper-based or Computer-based
  
• Sections: 4 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
  
• Scoring: Band scale of 0 to 9
  

Listening

• Duration: 30 minutes (+10 minutes for transferring answers in a paper-based test)
  
• Format: 4 recordings of native English speakers
  
• Tasks: 40 questions (MCQs, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note completion, sentence completion)
  

Reading

• Duration: 60 minutes
  
• Format: 3 sections, 40 questions
  
• Academic Module: 3 long texts (descriptive, analytical, discursive, factual)
  
• General Training Module: Extracts from books, magazines, advertisements, company handbooks, etc.
  

Writing

• Duration: 60 minutes
  
• Tasks: 2 tasks
  

Academic:
– Task 1: Describe visual information (graph, chart, table, diagram) in 150 words.
– Task 2: Essay response to an argument or problem (250 words).

General Training:

• Task 1: Write a letter (formal/semi-formal/informal).
  
• Task 2: Essay response (similar to Academic).

Speaking

• Duration: 11–14 minutes
  
• Format: Face-to-face interview with an examiner
  

Parts:
– Part 1: Introduction & general questions (4–5 mins)

– Part 2: Cue card – Speak on a topic (1 min prep + 2 mins speaking)

– Part 3: Discussion with examiner (4–5 mins)

Key Takeaways 

The IELTS exam is one of the most popular exams that tests proficiency in the English language.  IELTS exam scores are accepted in several English-speaking countries worldwide for education, immigration, and professional purposes. 

Understanding everything about the IELTS exam can help you prepare and score better. So, do thorough research to learn all about the exam.

That’s all for now! If you have any more questions about which program to choose, you can drop a comment below or reach out to us.

Liked this blog? Read next: IELTS Preparation | Best way to prepare for the IELTS exam

FAQs 

Question 1. How long will it take to deliver the results if I attempt the IELTS computer-based test?

Answer – With the IELTS computer-based test, you can expect your results within 5 to 7 working days! This makes it one of the most convenient modes for writing this exam. 

Question 2. What is the IELTS score validity period? 

Answer – The IELTS score validity period is two years. 

Question 3. How many countries accept IELTS? 

Answer – Over 140 countries worldwide accept the IELTS score!

Question 4. What are the modes of payment for the IELTS exam fee? 

Answer- The most popular modes of payment for the IELTS exam fee are credit/debit cards and net banking. 

Question 5. What is the IELTS examination fee?

Answer- The IELTS examination fee in India for 2025 is ₹18,000 for both Academic and General Training tests. IELTS UKVI costs ₹18,250, Life Skills is ₹17,000, and the One-Skill Retake option is around ₹12,000, payable online or offline.