This is great news for anyone who hasn’t been able to book an IELTS test because testing was suspended in their country.
From 22 April you can book an IELTS Indicator test – an online test that will give you an indicative IELTS score that may be accepted by universities and educational institutions. It is important to know that not all organisations will accept this score, so check with your organisation whether they accept it before booking the test. The list of organisations that accept IELTS Indicator score is available here.
The purpose of IELTS indicator test is to act as a temporary replacement for an in-person IELTS test in locations where tests were suspended due to COVID-19. The list of countries where you can take the IELTS Indicator test is here (expand the answer to “Where is the IELTS Indicator being offered?”).
IELTS Indicator can be completed at home, online. You will receive a score in all the 4 sub-tests (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), just like in a normal IELTS test. This is an official IELTS exam which can be trusted. Your answers will be marked and evaluated by real IELTS examiners (not computer/AI).
All you need to take this test is a PC or Mac (the test doesn’t work on mobile devices), a reliable internet connection, headphones for the Listening test, and a camera + microphone for the Speaking test.
The cost of the test may vary between countries, it is approximately $150. The exact price for your country will be shown to you in the process of booking a test, prior to payment.
The test is only available for the Academic module at present (there is no General Training version), and it takes place once a week. The time limits are the same as for an in-person IELTS test, it can’t be paused and continued later. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one sitting, and the Speaking test is taken separately. The test interface is similar to that of computer-based IELTS.
You will receive the results within a week of completing the test. The results are available for download electronically (you won’t receive a physical IELTS certificate in mail).
Book your test here from 22 April.
IELTS Indicator FAQ
Where is IELTS Indicator available?
At the time of writing this IELTS Indicator is available in the following countries:
Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, SAR of China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.
Are there age restrictions for test takers to be allowed to take IELTS Indicator?
In general this test is recommended for ages 18 and over, though people aged 16 and 17 can take it too. They will need a signed consent document by a parent/guardian and they will need to be accompanied by an adult during the Speaking test. The test isn’t available to anyone 15 years old and younger.
How is the Speaking test done?
The Speaking test is done on Zoom video meetings platform and you will need a working web camera and microphone on your computer for it.
How long does it take to get the results of IELTS Indicator test?
The results will be available within 7 days of taking the test.
How should I prepare for the IELTS Indicator Speaking test?
We recommend our Interactive Speaking test as a great way to prepare for the IELTS Indicator Speaking test, because it allows you to see what video conferencing is like, and it also lets you check how well your internet connection, camera and microphone are working for a video meeting. In a report that you will receive our Speaking assessor will let you know in detail what aspects of your Speaking need improvement and how you can get a higher score. You can read more about our interactive Speaking tests and book a test here (it can be taken any time, day or night, mid-week or at the weekend).
Good luck with your exam!
I have already booked ielts academic paper based exam from India Ahmedabad. Can I enroll in this exam and get refund of last booked exam.
Hi Dhruv, you can get a refund for your paper based exam if testing in Ahmedabad was suspended. As for the new test, I suggest first finding out whether the institution you’d like to apply to is accepting an IELTS Indicator score instead of an in-person IELTS score. Then you will know whether taking this exam is going to help you.