1. What should I wear in the IELTS examination room?
There are no clear guidelines about what should be worn, but the following clothing should not be worn by people taking the IELTS examination;
An ankle-length heavy raincoat, hot pants, a motorcycle helmet, a plastic mackintosh, a miners helmet, green wellington boots, a trilby hat, spats, goloshes, plastic flip flops, brogues, green silk stockings, an imitation cashmere sweater, Manchester United football shirt, any form of baseball cap, Klu Klux Clan mask, Che Guevara t-shirt, wizard's hat, cuff links, shoulder pads, fluorescent headband, policemen's helmet, leather trousers, spandex tank top. Also, men wearing knee-length shorts, a white short-sleeved shirt and open-toed sandals without socks will probably be barred from entering, since nobody likes to see grown men dressed like this.
2. Is the IELTS test too long and difficult?
No, or possibly yes, depending upon who you talk to.
3. I have taken IELTS three times and have not been able to understand any of the listening tests due to the strange British accents. What can I do?
In IELTS listening, a variety of British accents are used. Check out Youtube for British English accents from the following areas; Scottish highlands, Glamorgan, Pimlico, South Shields, Dingley Dell, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, the West Country, Harrow, the Mendips and, finally, Birmingham.
4. Can I buy a sample listening test CD in Blue Ray format?
No, this is a format for DVD's only.
5. Can I wear spectacles during the Reading test?
Yes, but not Smart Specs.
6. Can I complete the Listening and Reading answer sheet with a gold nib fountain pen?
No,
7. Can I draw cute cartoon-style pictures of Bambi on the IELTS writing question paper?
Yes. These will not be graded.
8. How is the Speaking test conducted?
The Speaking test is conducted with some degree of dignity and grace.
9. What should I bring to the Speaking test?
A confident manner.
10. I am deaf, can I take the listening test?
Yes you can, but there is a possibility that you will not hear anything.
11. I cannot speak English, can I take the speaking test?
Yes you can. Many people who cannot speak English take the IELTS speaking test.
12. What happens if I go to sleep during the IELTS exam?
At the end of the day, just before he needs to lock up, the building caretaker will tap you gently on the shoulder to wake you up.
13. What happens if I don't stand in a straight line whilst I am waiting to go into the IELTS examination room.
You will be reminded that IELTS is a British exam and in Britain people always stand in a queue in a straight line, sometimes for many hours.
14. What happens if I really want to postpone or cancel my application, but don't actually postpone or cancel my application?
If you really want to postpone or cancel your application but don't actually do so you will have to learn to live with the consequences of your inaction.
15. What happens if the country is invaded by a foreign army on the day of the IELTS test.
As soon as you think your life is not in danger, contact the test centre and ask for another examination date. At the same time contact the commander of the invading force to make sure that a curfew is not planned for the date of your re-scheduled test.
16. What can I do if I am unhappy after I get my IELTS results?
There are a number of possible actions; book into a one-star hotel and stay in bed for at least five days; suck strong mints; embrace this as an important experience, live through the unhappiness and learn from it, convert to Zen Buddhism
18. If I take the IELTS test at a British Council centre in my country and am seen entering or leaving the building, will I be arrested by my government as a spy?
In many countries, yes. Since Grahame Greene and Lawrence Durrel made the connection fifty or so years ago, there has been strong, but unfounded rumours (or some would say conclusive evidence) that British Council offices are used as intelligence gathering centres and safe houses for British spies. Often, the country manager at the British Council office is a high-ranking ex-military man. However, according to the British Council spokesman, Major Sir John Fortesque-Smyth, OBE, there is no statutory connection between MI5/MI6 and the British Council, and anyone who claims otherwise is a socialist, a troublemaker and probably a foreign spy.
19. What should I do if I find that I have an attack of the Yips on the day of the IELTS test?
Reflect on life's ironies.
20. I am married with seven children aged under 10. What should I do if I find that my partner and all of my children have Covid on the day of the IELTS test?
Each country has its own policy on Covid, so you need to follow the guidelines given by your government.
