Covid 19: Exams FAQs

Are you planning to open new exam sessions? Where can I find information about available test dates in my city / area / country?

The British Council is running IELTS exams, in line with the up-to-date government guidelines and restrictions. Your health and safety is our top priority. We therefore adhere to the ministry of health guidelines.

Please check for information on available exam dates for IELTS here.

I was enrolled in an exam session that was suspended. How can I transfer to another session / how can I request a refund?

If you did not request a refund after your original session was suspended, our test centre staff will inform you as soon as your session is transferred to a new date.

If our test centre is delivering exams you may also contact the test centre directly if you wish to check your new test date or request a refund.

I registered for an exam through one of your partners. How can I transfer to another date?

Please contact the school you registered with to transfer your test date.

Your office is closed to the public. How / when can I receive my test certificate?

You can access your results for IELTS through your profile on the IELTS Candidate Portal. You can preview your IELTS test results 13 calendar days from the test date for IELTS on paper tests and 1-5 calendar days for IELTS on a computer test.

The test centre will inform you of the method of delivery of your IELTS Test Report Form. As we are currently not open to the public your TRF/certificate will most probably be sent to the address you provided at registration.

We are not able to provide test results over the phone, by email or fax for security reasons.

I filled out the refund form(s), but I did not receive a response. When will refunds be provided?

We are processing all the claims we have received, and expect to have completed the processing in 10 weeks from the date of your request. Thank you for your patience and we apologise for any inconvenience this will cause.

Can you send a message to my university confirming that my exam was cancelled?

If you were registered for an IELTS test, we will inform the Receiving Organisations that you listed on your registration form that tests have been suspended.

I am enrolled for an exam session – what health / protection measures do you have in place?

The health of our test takers and staff is our priority. Before we open any test centre:

We ensure that we are following all local government safety guidelines as well as those of the British Council.
We brief our test centre staff so they are up to date on what to do and how to prepare for the arrival of test takers.

We have put the following measures in place to make our test centres as safe as possible:

Test venues will be cleaned thoroughly prior to each test session.
In the case of computer-delivered tests all equipment will be sanitised prior to each session.
Our staff will be wearing masks.
It is mandatory for all candidates to wear masks in all areas of the venue, e.g. waiting areas, registration and check-in areas, cloakroom areas, when being taken to their desks in the test room or when going to the bathroom.
You must also maintain 1,5 metres physical distance at all times.
If you would like to, you may also wear latex gloves although this is not required.
We will provide sanitisers throughout the test venue and we ask that all test takers use them regularly or wash their hands to help ensure a safe environment.
We will not provide pens or pencils to test takers who will be asked to bring their own stationery on the test day.

Do I need to wear face mask at your premises?

All test takers and test day staff are required to wear masks.

If you are exempt from wearing a mask for health reasons (e.g. asthma), you must provide a medical certificate confirming the exemption. This should be presented when you register on the day of the test.

Is there any limit on the number of customers inside exam premises?

Test venues have limits on numbers of candidates that can be seated there. This will depend on local government regulations and the size of the venue. As we are maintaining physical distancing at all test venues, we will be able to accommodate fewer candidates than before Covid-19.

How I can contact Customer Service?

Our customer services teams will support you via exams@britishcouncil.be. We will be in touch as soon as possible.

Self-declaration of symptoms

Candidates with symptoms compatible with Covid-19 should not attend their test. We are including the link to the World Health Organisation’s website with general sanitary information and basic hygiene measures Covid-19 Information.

If a candidate shows symptoms prior to the test date, they should contact the Examination Centre in order to reschedule their exam to an alternative date.

Before the start of the test candidates will be required to sign a self-declaration confirming that they are not in quarantine, have not been in contact with anyone suspected of Covid-19 in the past 14 days, and that they have no Covid-19 compatible symptoms.