Where can I take the IELTS test?
Quick answer
You can take IELTS at an official test centre or, for the Academic test only, at home through IELTS Online. IELTS.org states that there are over 4,500 test locations in over 160 countries, and its test centre search lets you filter by country and test type. Centres are moving to computer delivery as the paper test is withdrawn.
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There is no single building where IELTS is taken. It is offered at test centres in many countries, and in some countries at home, and the way to find yours is the official search, not a list.
The official search
IELTS.org states that IELTS has over 4,500 test locations in over 160 countries. Its test centre page offers a tool that lets you filter by country and by the type of test you need. That tool is the best starting point, because it shows what is currently offered near you and changes as centres change their sessions. IDP also gives a searchable list of the countries where it offers the test, and asks you to choose your country and city.
Who runs the centres
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press and Assessment. In practice you book through the partner that operates in your country or city, and both the format and the content of the test are the same. Which partner is available depends on your location, which is another reason to start with the search.
At a centre or at home
IELTS.org lists three ways to take the test. IELTS on computer is taken at a test centre, with Listening, Reading and Writing on screen and Speaking face to face with an examiner. IELTS on computer with Writing on Paper is offered at centres in selected countries, with the Writing tasks written by hand. IELTS.org has announced that from mid-2026 it will no longer offer a fully paper-based test, with exact timelines varying by market. IELTS Online is taken at home or in a private location, with Speaking by video call. Our answer on IELTS on computer and on paper compares the centre formats.
What only some candidates can use
IELTS Online is available for the Academic test only, so General Training candidates use a test centre. IELTS.org also states that IELTS Online is not currently accepted for immigration purposes and that receiving organisations decide whether they accept it. Our answers on IELTS Online at home and whether universities accept it go into the details.
Before you book
Check three things: the test type your institution asks for, the format it accepts, and which centres near you offer that format. The next step is in how to register for IELTS.
What this means for your score
A candidate needing General Training for immigration cannot use IELTS Online, because it is available for Academic only and is not accepted for immigration purposes. Her choice is a test centre, and the official search shows which centres near her offer the format she wants.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs IELTS test centres?
IELTS.org states that IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press and Assessment. Test centres are booked through these partners, and IDP lists its own test locations by country. The test is the same whichever partner you book with.
Can I take IELTS at home?
Yes, in some countries, for the Academic test only. IELTS.org describes IELTS Online as taken at home or in a suitable private location with a stable internet connection, with Speaking by video call. It advises you to check with your institution before booking, and it is not accepted for immigration purposes.
Can I choose between computer and paper?
Less and less. IELTS.org lists IELTS on computer, IELTS on computer with Writing on Paper in selected countries, and IELTS Online. It has announced that from mid-2026 it will no longer offer a paper-based test, with timelines varying by market. The booking search shows which formats each centre offers.
Sources
- IELTS test centres — IELTS.org
- Ways to take IELTS: online, computer or paper — IELTS.org
- Find IELTS test centres — IDP IELTS
- Updates to IELTS test delivery — IELTS.org
Last verified 30 Sep 2026
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