What is the IELTS Exam Fee in India in 2026?

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IELTS Exam Fee in India 2026

The IELTS exam fee varies by version of the exam: Academic, General Training, and UKVI IELTS. These are mentioned in the table below.

Notes:

• For minors, the same fee applies, but a parent's or guardian's ID must be submitted on the test day. If not, they won't be allowed to test and a 75% refund will be provided.
• UKVI IELTS includes extra ID checks; therefore, the cost is slightly higher.
• IELTS Life Skills tests only assess speaking and listening skills. Their results include a ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ status instead of band scores.

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IELTS Exam Fee 2026 in Kolkata and Other Cities

The IELTS test cost in India does not vary by city to ensure fairness, as shown in the table below:

Can I change my IELTS test format after paying the fee?

No, once paid, you cannot change the test format. You will have to cancel and rebook, which could incur cancellation or rescheduling fees.

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IELTS Cancellation and Refunds Policy 2026

IDP IELTS has different cancellation policies for the different versions of the exam. These are explained in the sections below:

1. Regular IELTS

For regular IELTS (Academic and General Training), the cancellation and refund policy is as follows:

2. IELTS for UKVI

The cancellation and refund policy for the UKVI IELTS (Academic, General, and Life Skills) is given in the table below:

3. One Skill Retake

For the One Skill Retake, the refund amount varies as follows:

Note:

• All refunds will be processes in 7-10 working days after approval.
• All requests will be entertained on a case-by-case basis and depending on the submitted proof.
• Cancellation requests can be made either from your IDP account or by contacting your test center.
• If the test is cancelled by the center (e.g., technical issues), you get a full refund or free rescheduling.
• No refund will be provided for absentees; you will have to re-register and pay the full fee again.

Test-Takers Insights from Reddit:

• Many candidates on Reddit report losing part of their fee because they applied too close to the deadline.
• Test centers strictly follow cut-off dates.
• Refund processing may require follow-up emails.
• Always keep email confirmations and payment receipts.

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IELTS Rescheduling Fee 2026

Rescheduling your IELTS test can only be done within the rescheduling deadline given in the table below. Within this deadline, 25% of the test fee will be charged extra.

Note:

• Rescheduling requests can either be made from your IDP account or by contacting your test center.
• Only 1 rescheduling per test is allowed.
• The new date has to be within 3 months of the original date, or it will be treated as a cancellation.
• In case of special circumstances (e.g. illness or disaster), a partial refund is possible on a case-by-case basis and depending on the submitted proof.

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IELTS Rechecking Fees 2026

You can request a recheck of your IELTS score if you are not satisfied with your results. To make a recheck request, you need to submit an Enquiry on Results (EOR) form within 6 weeks of receiving the result. If your score changes after re-evaluation, you will receive a full refund.

Note: The Enquiry on Results Form will be available under the “Results” tab in your IDP account. Physical forms are no longer accepted.

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IELTS Additional Test Report Fee 2026

You can send your IELTS score to as many universities as you wish. The details for the test report costs and sending conditions are as follows:

• The first 5 score reports are free. You can send these reports anytime you want.
• For more than 5 score cards, INR 300 per report is charged.
• You can only send a maximum of 5 reports per day. More can be added 24 hours after this limit is exhausted.

If you are unsure of which universities to send your IELTS result to, check out a comprehensive list of top universities abroad accepting IELTS in 2026.

IELTS Exam Fee Payment Methods

Pay during online registration or at a center. Listed below are the payment methods:

• Online: Credit/ and debit cards (Visa or Mastercard), net banking, UPI (e.g., Google Pay, PhonePe).
• Offline: Demand Draft (in favour of "IDP Education India Private Limited," payable at New Delhi, from approved banks like ICICI or HDFC); or bank deposit using custom slips from the IDP or British Council site.
• No instalments are allowed; full payment has to be made upfront. Keep receipts for refunds or queries.

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Tips to Save on IELTS Exam Fee

Although the IELTS exam fee in India for 2026 is fixed by IDP, you can still cut down on additional costs. Here are some practical tips to save money on the test:

• Register Early: Booking your IELTS test date in advance helps you avoid travel hassles, last-minute costs, and possible fee revisions.
• Avoid rescheduling or cancelling: These changes can cost around ₹5,000. Choose your test date carefully and ensure your passport is valid.
• Prepare well to avoid retakes: Each attempt costs over ₹18,000, so make use of free resources from IDP, British Council, or Collegedunia, or free IELTS books.
• Check for discounts: Check IDP’s website and partner institutions for occasional offers or promo codes.
• Use Free Practice Materials: Access free mock tests, IELTS preparation apps, and sample papers instead of buying costly books. Use YouTube channels offering speaking practice.
• Explore IELTS Fee Waivers or Scholarships: Some universities and government programs reimburse IELTS fees for eligible students.
• Use free TRFs wisely: You can send up to 5 test reports for free, so finalise your university list beforehand to minimise extra charges.