Essential information

Test takers are required to upload a photo or scan of their ID at the time of registration. If you are using an ID card as your form of ID, you must upload a picture of both the front and the back of your card. 

Accepted forms of ID document:

• Passport - This must have your photo, name in English, date of birth, a unique ID number and expiry date.
• BRP - Until 30th June 2026

Further information on accepted forms of ID document:

• If you cannot supply a passport/BRP, you should contact us for advice. 
• Student cards/drivers licences are not accepted forms of ID.
• You must bring the original document on the test day - the SAME ONE as you used for your application form. If you do not bring the same document with the same ID number as on your application form, you will not be permitted to take the test and your fee will not be refunded.
• Your ID document must be in-date on your test day, if using your passport. If you renew, change or lose your ID document before the test, and are therefore unable to bring the same document, you must contact us immediately (before the test day) for advice. Please note that if taking a One Skill Retake test the same ID must be used and in-date, if a passport, on both your original test date and your OSR test date. 
• Copies of ID documents will not be accepted on the test day and no refund will be granted under these circumstances.

Please note that we will be unable to prepare a place for your test if we do not have an approved copy of your identity document on file. Failure to provide a suitable copy of your ID document in advance of your test date may result in cancellation of your test. Our standard cancellation policy will apply in this instance.

Some test takers have special requirements, such as hearing or sight impairment, dyslexia, or a short-term difficulty such as a broken arm, and require assistance in order to fully access the IELTS test.

Such test takers should email ielts@manchester.ac.uk before they book a test date to inform us of these requirements and to provide supporting medical evidence. The medical evidence should contain clear recommendations regarding the requested special arrangements and should meet these requirements:

• It should be an original document on headed paper, bearing the name, relevant qualification/s and signature of a recognised, qualified professional.
• It should give a clear statement of the test taker’s disability.
• It should be clear on how the disability justifies special arrangements.
• It must include details of the degree of disability.
• For learning difficulties, it must include assurance that the evidence of specific difficulties was obtained through the results of appropriate and recognised tests and the tests used must be stated.
• For learning difficulties, the evidence should be from when the test taker was aged 13 years or older.
• Medical evidence must be translated into English, if it has been prepared in another language.

Once we receive your evidence, we will be able to confirm the special arrangements we can offer and available test dates. Please note that we cannot guarantee a preferred test date, although we always try to accommodate test takers’ preferences. Please be aware that if you require a modified version of the IELTS exam materials (braille papers, enlarged font, special CD for Listening), you must give three months’ notice. If your circumstances require special arrangements to be made, (extra time, separate invigilation) up to three months' notice may be required.

If you are under 18, a parent or guardian will need to book the test on your behalf, as they will need to consent to the IELTS terms and conditions. These include giving permission for us to take your photo and finger scan during the registration process and confirming whether you can leave the test day unaccompanied.

Test takers under the age of 18 will be chaperoned throughout the test day proceedures, including during the speaking test. Please be aware the IELTS test is not recommended for candidates under the age of 16.

If you registered for an IELTS on Paper test you will be provided with one hard copy of your Test Report Form (TRF). This will be sent by Royal Mail first-class post to the address you registered with, unless our courier service has been requested and paid for. 

If you registered for an IELTS on Computer test after 01/01/2024, you will receive your results electronically only. We will not issue a paper Test Report Form. You will be able to access a downloadable and printable version of your electronic Test Report Form (eTRF) from the Test Taker Portal. You can print your eTRF to send it to any organisations you are applying to, or you can send it to them via email. Alternatively, you can request to share your results via the Test Taker Portal. Recognising Organisations must verify all IELTS scores at ielts.org/verify.

All Test Takers can request for up to five hard copies of your Test Report Form to be sent (free of charge) directly to Recognising Organisations (academic institutions, government bodies or employers) on your behalf. If the Recognising Organistion accepts electronic transfer of results, you will not be charged for this service.

IELTS on paper test start and finish times 

IELTS on computer test start and finish times

You can request to transfer your test date at any time up to 42 hours* before your test start time. Please note that an additional payment of £50.00 is required for a transfer request and you may only transfer the same booking once, any further requests will be treated as a cancellation.

To make a change to a test date, please email us with your request. Please include:

• Your full name, as it appears on your registration
• Your original test date
• The test date you would like to transfer to. You must select a test date, where available, within three months from your original test date. If your preferred test date is more than three months after your original test date then your transfer will be treated as a cancellation.

*Transfer requests must be made by 3pm (GMT/BST) two days prior to the test date to qualify, 42 hours before your test start time. For example by 3pm on Thursday for a Saturday test date. 

If you are absent on the day of your test you will forfeit the full test fee. You will also be classed as absent if you arrive after the specified arrival time for the test day and therefore forfeit the full test fee.

On rare occasions, there may be instances where you are unable to attend your test or are disadvantaged on the test day owing to illness, injury, or another exceptional event outside your control and you no longer qualify for a standard cancellation, refund or transfer close to the test date.

In these cases, including instances such as bereavement, civil unrest or domestic crisis, you may make an application to your test centre for special consideration due to exceptional circumstances. If you feel this may apply to you, please contact our IELTS Office immediately for advice.

You can apply for special consideration before the test, and up to two calendar days after the test date. However, applications for special consideration will not be accepted after your results have been released.

You can find more information on this process on the IELTS website.

The nearest car park is Cecil Street Car Park (view on Google Maps).

Visit the Car parking at the University page for car parking rates.

If we are unable to provide a test date that is suitable for you, you may wish to try another test centre. Please visit the IELTS website for a full list of UK test centres.

Further information on the test can be found through the British Council: Take IELTS website.

IELTS on Paper - Results are issued 13 calendar days after the IELTS on paper test. An email notification is sent to the email address you registered with when the results are released. The hard copies of Test Report Forms are sent by post and should be with you shortly after the results release day. You can request to collect your results from the Test Centre. Collection in person must be arranged with the IELTS office in advance.

IELTS on Computer - Results are issued 1-5 calendar days after the IELTS on computer test.  An email notification is sent to the email address you registered with when the results are released. You can also access your results by logging in to the Test Taker Portal. If you registered for an IELTS on Computer test after 1 January 2024, you will receive your results electronically only.

For more information please visit the 'After the test' page.