IELTS guide to cancellation, refunds and transfers
The IELTS Cancellation and Refund Policy applies to all test centres in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. If you’ve booked your IELTS test in any country other than these, check with your local test centre about the rules that apply to you.
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel or reschedule your IELTS test, we offer flexible options depending on the notice you provide. Please review the guide below to understand the IELTS Cancellation and Refund policy, as well as the eligibility criteria for a refund or a test date change.
A quick summary of the rules
One free change to your test booking
Full refund if cancelled 14+ days in advance
50% refund if cancelled 7–13 days in advance
No refund if cancelled less than 7 days before
Who does the policy apply to?
The rules regarding changing your IELTS test or cancelling your test and requesting a refund apply to everyone who has booked an IELTS test in Australia, New Zealand, or across the Pacific on or after 1 July 2025.
These rules only apply to full IELTS tests, such as IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic. It does not apply to IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS for UKVI, IELTS Life Skills, or Enquiry on Results.
Tips before you change or cancel your IELTS test
Don’t wait until the last minute Even though you can make one free change up until test day, it’s best to act early. Availability for future test dates or formats might be limited, especially during busy periods like university application deadlines.
Use your one free change wisely IELTS gives you one free change to your test date, format, or module. If you’re unsure about your availability or preparation, consider using this option rather than cancelling. Once you’ve made your free change, any further changes may be subject to limitations. So, make it count.
Keep documentation if something goes wrong If you miss your test for medical or serious personal reasons, you may still be eligible for a transfer, but only if you submit valid supporting documents within 14 days. A note from a licensed doctor in the country where you take your test, or an official letter from the police or another officer, can help you.
Making changes to your IELTS test
You can make changes to your IELTS test booking once, free of charge. However, you must make this change before your original test date. The following counts as a change to your IELTS test:
Changing the date of your IELTS test
Changing the module (from Academic to General Training or from General Training to Academic)
Changing the format of your test (from IELTS on computer to IELTS on paper, or from IELTS on paper to IELTS on computer)
Time of request | Change options available |
|---|---|
More than 13 days before your test | One free change test date, format or module. |
7 – 13 days before your test | One free change test date, format or module. |
Less than 7 days before your test | One free change test date, format or module. |
After your scheduled IELTS test | No changes allowed |
You cannot make changes to your test after it has started. For example, if your IELTS General Training test is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on a Monday, but you request a change to the IELTS Academic module on Tuesday, you may need to pay and book for a new test.
Also, you can’t transfer your test to another person or another test centre. If you want to take your test in a different city or country, you’ll need to cancel your original booking (fees may apply) and make a new one.
Cancelling your test and requesting a refund
You can cancel your IELTS test at any time, but the amount you’re refunded depends on when you make your cancellation. Refunds are only available if your request is submitted before the test has started and follows the correct process.
Time of request | Change options available |
|---|---|
More than 13 days before your test | 100% refund |
7 – 13 days before your test | 50% refund |
Less than 7 days before your test | No refund |
After your scheduled IELTS test | No refund |
You must request a cancellation directly through your IELTS test centre. Most test centres will ask you to complete an online cancellation form or to send an email. Please ensure that you include your full name, test details, and booking reference.
If you miss your test and didn’t let the test centre know beforehand, you won’t be eligible for a refund.
How do you cancel your test?
Please contact your IELTS test centre in writing to request a cancellation. Include your full name, test date, and reason for cancellation. Refunds will be processed back to your original payment method and may take up to 7–10 business days (depending on the processing times of your bank).
Exceptions to the policy
In some exceptional situations, you may still be eligible for a transfer even if you miss your test or cancel late. These situations include serious illness, injury, or other unexpected events beyond your control that prevent you from attending your IELTS test.
To be considered for an exception, you must submit a request to your test centre within 14 days of your scheduled test date. You’ll need to provide official supporting evidence, such as a medical certificate or an official letter from a relevant authority. This evidence must be issued by someone in an official capacity and based in the same country where your test was scheduled to take place.
The IELTS test centre assesses all exception requests. Submitting evidence does not guarantee approval, and decisions are made at the absolute discretion of the relevant test centre.
Examples of genuine exceptions:
Hospital admission on test day You are admitted to the hospital the night before your IELTS test due to appendicitis. You provide a medical certificate dated on the test day from the treating hospital. This is generally considered a valid medical emergency and may be approved for a free test transfer (even if you’ve made a change to your test before).
Passport stolen the day before the test Your passport was stolen the day before your IELTS test, but you couldn’t get in touch with the test centre on the day. You contact the test centre after your original test date and provide a police report dated before the test, confirming the loss. Since ID is required to sit the test, and the situation was outside your control, this would generally be accepted as a valid reason for a free test transfer, provided evidence is submitted within 14 days.
Not Genuine Exceptions (likely to be declined):
Overslept on test day You failed to attend your test because your alarm didn’t go off. You contact your test centre after the test has started to request a new date. This is not considered a valid reason under the exceptions policy and would not be approved.
Couldn’t find the test venue You contact the centre after the scheduled start time, saying you got lost on the way. You did not contact the centre beforehand. This is not deemed a valid, unforeseeable emergency and would not qualify for a refund or free transfer.
Missed test due to public transport delays You arrive late or miss your test because your train, tram, or bus service is delayed. They did not allow extra travel time, and cannot provide official documentation from the transport provider confirming a significant service disruption. While inconvenient, transport issues are considered foreseeable and within your responsibility. Without strong, verifiable evidence, this is not treated as a valid reason for a transfer.
If your request is approved, you’ll be offered a free transfer to a future test date (even if this is a second transfer). Refunds are not offered under the exceptions policy.
Questions? Contact your IELTS Test Centre
If you have any questions, or you're unsure how this policy applies to you, please reach out to your IELTS Test Centre. You can also get in touch with our IELTS Customer Support team.