IELTS in India: fee, format, results and One Skill Retake
I need IELTS for a university abroad. Which IELTS do I book in India, what does it cost, how long are the results, and what if one section goes badly?
IELTS is one of the English tests that universities in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US accept. In India it is run only by IDP, and the fee is the same in every city. Paper-based IELTS has been discontinued here: you take Listening and Reading on a computer and then write either on screen or by hand (Writing on Paper). Results take one to five days. If one section lets you down, a One Skill Retake lets you redo just that section within 60 days, for less than a full test.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 30 November 2026. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
As of 31 October 2026: IDP, the only IELTS provider in India, charges INR 19,000 for IELTS Academic or General Training, and IELTS on paper is discontinued here. You now choose IELTS on computer or Writing on Paper, where only the Writing part is handwritten. Check ieltsidpindia.com before you pay.
At a glance
- Fee (Academic or General Training)
- INR 19,000 per test, the same in every Indian city, on computer or with Writing on Paper[1]
- Which one for a degree
- IELTS Academic, for undergraduate and postgraduate study[3]
- Test time
- 2 hours 45 minutes: Listening about 30 minutes, Reading 60, Writing 60, Speaking 11 to 14[3]
- Results
- 1 to 5 days for IELTS on computer[5]
- One Skill Retake
- INR 12,650; one section, once per test, within 60 days of an IELTS on computer test[1]
- Valid for
- 2 years, says IDP India; each university can set its own limit[1]
Where the 2 hours 45 minutes go
How long the result takes, by test
| Test | Fee |
|---|---|
| IELTS on computer (Academic or General Training) | INR 19,000 per test |
| IELTS Writing on Paper (Academic or General Training) | INR 19,000 per test |
| IELTS for UKVI, on computer | INR 19,250 per test |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 and B1) | INR 18,000 per test |
| One Skill Retake | INR 12,650 per retake |
IDP lists the same fee in every city. A minor test taker needs the parent's or guardian's ID at IDP by test day.[1]
| Service | IELTS on computer / Writing on Paper | IELTS for UKVI (on computer) | One Skill Retake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move to another test date (transfer) | INR 4,750 per transfer | INR 4,850 per transfer | INR 3,200 per transfer |
| Enquiry on Results (re-mark) | INR 14,250 per enquiry | INR 14,400 per enquiry | INR 9,450 per enquiry |
| Electronic score reports to universities | First 5 free, then INR 350 per university | First 5 free, then INR 350 per university | First 5 free, then INR 350 per university |
Enquiry on Results is IELTS's re-mark. IDP says it usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, rarely up to 4.[1]
| Your goal | Test | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or master's degree abroad | IELTS Academic | Built for study at undergraduate and postgraduate level |
| Professional registration (for example doctors, nurses) | IELTS Academic | IELTS lists professional registration under Academic |
| Training or study below degree level, or work | IELTS General Training | Everyday and workplace English |
| A UK visa that names it | IELTS for UKVI | The version UK Visas and Immigration accepts for UK visas |
Always check the exact test your university or visa page names before you book.[4]
Listening and Speaking are the same in all three. Reading and Writing differ: Academic uses the kind of texts and tasks you meet at university, General Training uses everyday and workplace English. For a degree course, book Academic.[4]
IELTS for UKVI is the version UK Visas and Immigration accepts for UK visas, and it costs INR 250 more. But the UK Student visa only asks for English at B2 for a degree-level course, and GOV.UK lets a university that awards degrees assess your English itself. So ask your UK university which IELTS it wants before you pay for the UKVI version.[7]
Say you scored well everywhere except Writing. Instead of paying INR 19,000 for the full test again, you book a One Skill Retake for Writing at INR 12,650, sit it within 60 days, and get a new Test Report Form 3 to 5 days later with the new Writing score and your three original scores. You can then send either report.
Two catches. The retake is open only after an IELTS on computer test at a centre that offers it, and not every university or visa office accepts it; ielts.org tells you to ask the organisation first. If your original test used Writing on Paper, a Writing retake must be on paper too.[6]
IELTS gives a band from 0 to 9 for each section and overall. The university, not IELTS, sets the minimum. The University of Toronto, for example, asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. Read the score for your own course, because programmes inside one university can differ.[8]
Tips and tricks
- Book IELTS on computer, not Writing on Paper, if you might need a One Skill Retake for UKVI: Writing on Paper is not available for UKVI, and a retake must match the mode of the original test.[2]
- Before you book, confirm the centre offers One Skill Retake. It cannot be added later at a centre that does not run it.[6]
- Name your universities in the IDP candidate login soon after the result. The first five electronic score reports are free, then INR 350 each, and you can add at most five a day.[1]
- Use the same passport you will apply with. Your results are looked up with the ID number you registered with and your candidate number.[5]
- A re-mark costs INR 14,250 and takes 2 to 3 weeks. If only one section is short, a One Skill Retake at INR 12,650 is cheaper and its result arrives in 3 to 5 days.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the IELTS exam fee in India in 2026?
INR 19,000 for IELTS Academic or General Training, on computer or with Writing on Paper, in every city. IELTS for UKVI on computer is INR 19,250, Life Skills INR 18,000 and a One Skill Retake INR 12,650.[1]
Is IELTS on paper still available in India?
No. IDP India has discontinued it. The option closest to it is Writing on Paper: Listening and Reading on computer, Writing by hand. The score and timing rules are the same.[2]
Should I take IELTS Academic or General Training for a master's?
Academic. IELTS says Academic is the test for study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. General Training is for work, training or study below degree level.[4]
How many days does the IELTS result take?
1 to 5 days for IELTS on computer and IELTS for UKVI, 6 to 8 days for IELTS Online, up to 9 days for UKVI Life Skills.[5]
How long is an IELTS score valid?
IDP India says 2 years. A university can accept only recent scores, so check its page if your test is more than a year old.[1]
Can I retake only one section of IELTS?
Yes, with One Skill Retake, if your full test was IELTS on computer at a centre that offers it. You get one retake per test, within 60 days, and the result comes in 3 to 5 days.[6]
Connected pages
- Related · Study abroadTOEFL iBT from India: fee, new 1-6 score, format and score reportsTOEFL iBT from India: US$164 fee before tax, the new 1 to 6 score with 0 to 120 alongside, a two-hour adaptive test, four free score reports and extra charges.
- Related · Study abroadStudy in the UK from India: UCAS dates, CAS and maintenance fundsUK Student visa money (£1,529 a month in London, £1,171 outside), the 28-day rule, fees, CAS, TB test and UCAS 2027 deadlines, with sources.
- Related · Study abroadStudy in Australia from India: intakes, CoE and financial capacityAustralia Student visa (subclass 500) living costs (AUD 29,710 a year), English minimums, CoE and health cover, plus 2027 semester dates, sourced.
- Related · Study abroadStudy in Canada from India: intakes, PAL and proof of fundsCanada study permit funds (CAD 23,448 from 1 Sep 2026), PAL/TAL, fees, documents and sample university deadlines, each with its official source.
- Related · Study abroadStudy abroad intake and deadline calendar: a month-by-month back-planPick a country and intake to get a printable month-by-month plan built back from official university and government dates, each with its source.
- Related · Study abroadPTE Academic in India: fee, format, results and reschedulingPTE Academic from India in 2026: INR 18,900 fee, the 2-hour format, results in about 2 business days, the 10 to 90 score and the 14-day reschedule rule.
- Related · Study abroadGRE General Test from India: fee, ID, format, scores and retakesGRE General Test from India in 2026: how the fee works, passport-only ID, the 1 hour 58 minute format, scores in 8 to 10 days, 5-year validity, retake limits.
- Related · Study abroadStudy in the US from India: intakes, tests and F-1 papersUS intakes, sample university deadlines, English tests, the F-1 document list and the official SEVIS and visa fees, each linked to its source.
Official and partner links
- Official bodyIDP IELTS India (official IELTS provider in India)
Sources
- IELTS exam fee in India 2026, IDP Education India (sole IELTS provider in India). Accessed 31 October 2026.
- Updates to IELTS Writing test delivery mode, IELTS (ielts.org). Accessed 31 October 2026.
- IELTS Academic test format and sections, IELTS (ielts.org). Accessed 31 October 2026.
- IELTS test types: Academic and General Training, IELTS (ielts.org). Accessed 31 October 2026.
- Getting and sharing your IELTS results, IELTS (ielts.org). Accessed 31 October 2026.
- IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS (ielts.org). Accessed 31 October 2026.
- Student visa: knowledge of English, GOV.UK, UK Visas and Immigration. Accessed 31 October 2026.
- English language requirements, University of Toronto. Accessed 31 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 31 October 2026.