Book your test at an official IELTS test centre

We are testing in Colombo, Dehiwala, Nugegoda, Malabe, Kandy, Kurunegala, Negombo, Gampaha, Jaffna, Matara and Batticaloa with extra measures to ensure your safety.

If you wish to take your test in the Maldives, please click here. 

You can take your test at one of our official test centres on paper or on a computer. All you need is a valid passport, ready-to-upload photo of passport and a credit / debit card to pay online. If you're under 18, your parents will also need to complete the Parent consent for candidates under 18. IELTS is not recommended for anyone under 16. 

Important:

• Candidates should carefully choose the correct test type (Regular IELTS, UKVI or Life Skills) and Mode (on paper or on computer).
• Transferring between test types is not possible (i.e. Regular IELTS to UKVI, etc.)
• Transferring between test format (on paper or on computer) on the same date is not allowed. Candidates would be required to apply for a test date transfer and pay the test fee difference (in addition to transfer fee) where applicable. In case the test fee is lower, no refunds are given. For example:
        - Transfer Regular IELTS on computer to IELTS on paper: Balance to pay Rs. 5,000/-.
        - Transfer Regular IELTS on paper to IELTS on computer: No refund given.
        - Transfer UKVI IELTS on paper to UKVI IELTS on computer: No refund given.
        - Transfer UKVI IELTS on computer to UKVI IELTS on paper: Balance to pay Rs. 5,000/-
• Card transactions conducted in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) on online / international merchants are liable for charges stipulated by the card holder's bank.

When you book an IELTS test with the British Council, you also get free access to:

• Exclusive and free access to our 'IELTS Ready Premium' and 'Road to IELTS full version' preparation bundle, which includes 50+ practise tests, modeled answers, feedback from IELTS experts and more.
• Downloadable practice book
• Top Tips seminar and a Writing skills workshop
• Five extra Test Report Forms that we send free of charge to institutions you’re applying to (e.g. immigration offices, universities etc.) up to two years after your test date. 

How to pay offline using Direct Bank Transfer (DBT)

Note: We are not accepting cash payments over the counters.

Make the payment by following the instructions given at IELTS Offline Payment Form

Important:

• All 3 Steps need to be duly completed within the “Payment Timelines”. Failure to do so would result in your booking getting cancelled. 
• Every attempt is made to ensure that we honour your venue, date and time slot selection. However we may be compelled to modify, discontinue and replace your selected preference due to operational and/or safety reasons. We shall notify you of any such changes.
• Failure to verify your payments in our bank records, as a result of technical or any other error, will result in the cancellation of your test registration or withholding of your Test Result Form until proof of payment is submitted.
• British Council will not be responsible for any delays in you taking the test or in you receiving the results, due to not following the stipulated process for offline payments and/or verifying payments made to the bank, as instructed above.
• Any bank deposits which are not claimed within a 30-day period will not be refunded.

After you have booked and paid for your test you will receive emails confirming: test date, time and venue details. 

More information about the test

Download and read our Information for Candidates to learn everything you need to know about the format, the different exam components and test results.