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 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 subject to availability. Candidates would be required to pay the test fee difference 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/-
• British Council is not liable for applicable bank charges that may arise on payment.

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

• Our popular online preparation course 'Road to IELTS Last Minute course', which includes 100 interactive activities, 9 video tutorials and two IELTS Academic practice tests for each of the four skills
• 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 currently not accepting cash payments over the counters.

Payment Timelines - IELTS on Paper (Regular IELTS, UKVI IELTS and Life Skills):

• Within 6 hours from booking time – If the exam date is less than 10 days from booking date.
• Within 3 Days from booking time – If the exam date is more than 10 days from booking date.

Payment Timelines - IELTS on Computer (Regular IELTS and UKVI IELTS):

• Within 6 hours from booking time.

Step 1 – Pay the relevant fee using an online bank transfer to our account.

Note: We accept ONLY Online Bank/Payment Transfers or Over the Counter Payments at Banks. EasyPay/ATM/CDM Machine Payments NOT Accepted.

Bank: HSBC
Branch: PO Box 73, Colombo 1
Account Name: British Council
Account Number: 001-002377-002
Swift Code: HSBCLKLX
Currency: LKR
Narration: Exam Name - Passport Number (eg: IELTS - N1234567)

If there is a character limitation for the narration, you may enter only the Passport Number.

Step 2 – Upload the Bank Transfer Slip by logging into Test Taker Portal (TTP) under “Upload Documents” tab.

Step 3 – Complete the “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.