/ IELTS BY COUNTRY
IELTS preparation by country
The IELTS test is the same everywhere, but who runs it, whether it is on computer or paper, and the challenges candidates face differ by country. Pick yours.
- IELTS in IndiaIDP IELTS · Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru
- IELTS in PakistanBritish Council · IDP IELTS · Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad
- IELTS in NigeriaBritish Council · IDP IELTS · Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt
- IELTS in BangladeshBritish Council · IDP IELTS · Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet
- IELTS in PhilippinesBritish Council · IDP IELTS · Manila, Makati, Quezon City
- IELTS in ChinaBritish Council and NEEA · Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou
- IELTS in VietnamBritish Council · IDP IELTS · Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang
- IELTS in IndonesiaBritish Council · IDP IELTS · Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung
- IELTS in Sri LankaBritish Council · IDP IELTS · Colombo, Kandy, Galle
- IELTS in UAEIDP IELTS · British Council · Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah
What is the same everywhere
IELTS is one test worldwide. The four parts, the timing, the question types and the marking are identical in every country, and a band 7 in Lagos means the same as a band 7 in London. IDP and the British Council deliver the same test, so your choice of provider comes down to dates, locations and price.
What changes from country to country
- Who runs the test. Most countries have both IDP and the British Council, but not all: in India, IDP has been the only provider since July 2021, and in mainland China the test is run by the British Council with China's National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA).
- Computer or paper. Several countries have moved to computer-only testing, including Nigeria and Vietnam. On computer you read and type on screen, and results usually arrive within a few days. The Speaking test is always face to face with an examiner.
- Fees and dates. These differ by country, city and provider, and change often, so always check the official booking page.
- Common challenges. Each first language makes different English sounds and grammar points harder. The country guides above list the ones examiners notice most.
Free practice, wherever you take the test
Practise with full-length IELTS Reading tests and Listening tests, Writing questions with model answers, and Speaking mock tests with an AI examiner. Then estimate your overall score with the band score calculator.