Your Test Day

Cambridge Exam Centre web

It's finally arrived... the day of your IELTS test!

Please be sure to arrive about 30 minutes before the start of the test. Your confirmation email, which you will receive after booking the test, will provide you with timings and procedures on the test day. Please note that latecomers might not be allowed to sit the test!

Please ensure that you have fully familiarised yourself with the testin advance. During the test our employees are not able to answer questions regarding the format or contents of the test.

You are very welcome to contact us prior to the IELTS test if you would like to arrange lessons with one of our native English speaking teachers.

Before your IELTS test

How to register and what else do I need to know before the exam.

What is the cost, and how do I pay?

You will find our current prices listed against the relevant exam dates.

You will have to choose a payment method at the end of the registration process. Available payment methods are:  

  • Credit Card
  • Debit Card
  • eps-transfer
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay


How can I prepare?

Our qualified team of native English speaker teachers will be happy to help you with your preparation for the IELTS test.

If you are interested in preparation with our teachers, contact us to book a free placement test and consultation and learn more about how we can help you on your preparation journey. 

Furthermore, download the IELTS by IDP app here to get access to expert guided tutorials, practice questions, quizzes, etc. 

What do I do if I have special requirements?

We have a number of ways to support people who are disabled (temporarily or long-term) or need specific arrangements to take our exams. For example, access arrangements are available if you:

  • have a broken arm
  • have a long-term illness or physical condition (e.g. diabetes)
  • have a specific learning difficulty
  • have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
  • are neurodivergent
  • are feeding an infant

Access arrangements can include modified test papers (large print or Braille), extra time or the use of personal assistive technology. 

Please get in touch with us at least six weeks before your test so that we can make arrangements.

 

Can I postpone my exam day and transfer my paid fee to another date?

You can postpone your test up to 35 days (5 weeks) prior to the test date for free.

After that, no cancellation or postponement is possible. You will have to sign up for a new test date and pay the full test fee again.

You must select a test date within the next three months from your original test date. If your preferred test date is more than three months after your original test date, your transfer will be treated as a cancellation. 

You can only transfer the same booking once.

Can I cancel my registration?

A cancellation is possible up to 35 days (5 weeks) days prior to the test date, whereby an administration fee of 25% will be charged. 

After that, no cancellation or postponement is possible. You will have to sign up for a new test date and pay the full test fee again. 

If you signed up online, a cancellation without administration fee is possible within 14 days of registration. However, this is only possible if your test is more than 72 hours away.

Please note that transfers to a different date might be possible.

Exceptional circumstances or Special Considerations

You may make a case for exceptional circumstances any time before the test and up to 2 days after the test date if you did not attend the test. We will assess your case for exceptional circumstances and respond to you within 7 working days of receiving your case in writing.

If we approve your case, you will receive a refund of the total test fee minus an administrative fee of 25%. 

We define exceptional circumstances as: 

  • a traumatic experience 
  • domestic crisis 
  • unavoidable legal or military obligation 
  • serious medical conditions which prevent you from attending or performing normally on the test day 
  • bereavement or other forms of significant hardship 
  • civil unrest or extreme weather

Please contact us here with supporting evidence if you think this might apply to you.

On the test day

Our aim is to make sure your test day runs as smoothly as possible. To ensure this happens, there are some important things to consider.

How long does the test take?

The overall duration of the test is 2 hours and 45 minutes. There are no breaks between the Listening, Reading and Writing part. 

Please note that you will take all parts of the test on a computer, even the Speaking, which is done online via Zoom with a certified Speaking Examiner. 

Which forms of ID are accepted?

Please bring your valid passport or national ID with you. No other forms of ID will be accepted. 

The ID you present on the test day must be the same you used for the test registration.


 
What happens if I cannot present a valid ID document?

Please note that you will not be able to sit the test if you do not have a valid ID document with you

If you fail to present a valid ID document, you will have to book a new appointment and pay the full test fee again. You will not get a refund.

I am ill on the day of the exam - what can I do?

If you are unable to take the exam for health reasons, please submit a sick note from your doctor within 2 days of the exam

If we receive a sick note in time, we can refund the examination fee - minus a processing fee of 25% - or credit it for a later examination.

Please contact us at office@cambridge.at.

Which items are allowed in the test room?

Before the test starts, our staff will collect all your electronic devices as well as watches and store them securely. 


The only things allowed in the test room are your ID, a clear bottle of water, tissues and, if necessary, medication
 

What happens to my other items?

Other items such as; jackets/coats, bags, umbrellas etc. can not be taken into the exam room. These may be left in the waiting room during the exam. The waiting room will be locked during the exam.

In the waiting room you are also welcome to bring drinks or snacks. We ask that you kindly leave the room in the condition that you found it, making use of the rubbish bins provided. 

Are there any security measures in place? (Test Day Photography & Finger Scanning)

Yes, Test Day Photography and Finger Scanning. Both have been introduced to protect genuine test takers while ensuring the highest standard of customer care and the validity of test scores. They also provide receiving organisations with reassurance that the person whose photograph appears on the Test Report Form is the person who took the test.

The Test Day Photo will be taken at some point on your test day, usually before your Speaking. This photograph will also appear on your Test Report Form. 

 

What is a finger scan?

A finger scan will be used to confirm test taker identity. The finger scan uses an electronic scanner which doesn’t contain any ink, liquid or chemical. 

No image of the finger is taken or stored instead data is converted into a unique sequence of numbers that are then used to identify the test taker and cannot be converted back into an image. A finger scan is not a finger print.

What will happen to finger scan data and photograph?

Finger scan will be stored as a binary reference and cannot be converted back into an image. An actual image of the scan is never stored. Photograph and all personal data will be used only for the purpose of the IELTS test. The finger scan will be taken prior to the first test part and matched each time test takers leave and return to the test room. 

The finger scan data will be deleted automatically 60 days after your test date. 

Can I refuse to take the test day finger scan or have my picture taken?

Refusal to comply with IELTS identity verification will prevent test takers from taking the test, and they will not be eligible for any transfer, cancellation or refund of the test.

After the test

What happens after the test, and how to get your results and TRF (Test Report Form).

How can I check my results?

The results for IELTS will generally be available within 1 and 5 days, usually on day 2 after the test. 

You can check your IELTS result on this page

Please note that your results available online are not official. They are provisional only until you receive your official Test Report from us.

How do I get my Test Report Form (TRF)?

You will get an email notification from us once your Test Report Form (TRF) is ready for collection. Please make sure to bring your ID with you when you collect your TRF. 

What happens if I lose my TRF?

After taking IELTS, you will receive one copy of your Test Report form (TRF). Replacement copies are not issued in the event of loss or damage.

However, your result can be sent to recognising organisations. We will be able to do so as long as your test was taken less than two years ago. After two years, it is not possible to send results to recognising organisations. 

What's on the Test Report Form (TRF)?

xxxxx

What if I’d like a better score?

With the IELTS One Skill Retake option, you can now retake any one component of the test: Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking without redoing all four sections.

You're eligible to book IELTS One Skill Retake after you have recently completed a full test on computer and received your IELTS test score. You must take your IELTS One Skill Retake within 60 days of your original test date.

IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted by various universities and professional bodies. Always check the website of the organisation you intend to apply to for more information about eligibility requirements. 

Click here to find out which organisations accept your IELTS One Skill Retake test scores.

How do I share my results with universities or other organisations?

Sharing official IELTS scores is easy. You can request to have your scores sent to your chosen organisation(s) through the booking portal. Organisations will specify how they prefer to receive official IELTS scores: either through postal mail or via IELTS Results Service e-delivery. 

  • Paper Test Report Form delivery (postal mail): Please contact us to have your scores sent to organisations that have requested to receive paper results via postal mail. 

    An administration fee of € 19,50 applies and must be paid upfront.

     

  • E-delivery: Results can be shared with organisations receiving e-delivery results by contacting us or by selecting them via the booking portal. You can share your results by IELTS Results Service e-delivery with as many organisations as you like.

Please contact your chosen organisation(s) to confirm how they prefer to receive IELTS scores (postal or e-delivery). You should also ask your chosen organisation to confirm their address (for postal delivery) or account name (for e-delivery).

Here you can see a sample Test Report Form: