IELTS

The next available test dates are listed on the registration website. Online registration closes 14 days before the test date, or when the test is full. Please note that test sessions may become full and don't show on the registration website.

Cancellations do occur sometimes so keep on eye on the registration website for any places in earlier sessions.

All tests start at 10:00. Read more about the timing of the test day.

To register for the IELTS Test in Finland you should:

1. Enter

your personal data into the candidates’ on-line database in the registration system.

Please bear in mind that sessions will not be visible in the system after the registration deadline. Once your application has been submitted, you cannot go back to change your details.

2. Send

- two recent colour photographs (without glasses),

- a clearly legible copy of your valid ID,

- a signed print-out of your application summary and

- a copy of your payment confirmation

to our office (Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9, 00120 Helsinki) to arrive on the 5th day after registering for the test at the latest. The photographs should be legibly signed with the name and surname of the candidate as well as the test date and venue the candidate wishes to register for.

3. Transfer

the required fee of EUR190 according to the instructions given in the registration system immediately after registering for the test.

4. You will receive the FULL address of your test venue and further test day information after receipt of your documents and payment. This information will be sent to you by e-mail approx. 2 weeks before your test date.

Register here!

The test takes place at the IELTS test venue:

Edupoli, Lämmittäjänkatu 2 A, 00880 Helsinki

The test starts at 10:00. Please note that if you are not in the building by that time
you will not be able to enter the building or take the test! Doors open at 09:00. If you are
late you will be deemed absent and subject to the terms of our refunds policy.

In addition to sufficient pens and pencils you must bring:

• Passport or national ID card, the same used for registration.

Edupoli Helsinki Location on the map below*. From the city centre, take the Metro east from the railway station and get off at Herttoniemi station. (Please note that Edupoli has no information concerning IELTS examinations, so all enquiries should be directed to FINNBRIT.)

*If the test centre is different, the location will be given in the confirmation email.

IELTS aims to assess the English language communication skills of all test takers fairly and objectively.

Our test centre can make arrangements to accommodate special circumstances or requirements to enable test takers to attend a test centre, and to understand questions and tasks and give their answers.

If you have a disability or another condition which might require special arrangements, you should let the test centre at which you will be doing your test know as soon as you can and at least 4 weeks before the test. Each case is considered individually, so they will need a medical certificate from you to put arrangements in place.

In this case your application must be supported by medical evidence, which should meet the following criteria:

The medical evidence should be legible and either in English or in Finnish/Swedish.

The medical evidence should be an original document on headed paper and bearing the name, relevant qualification(s) and signature of a recognised practitioner.

The medical evidence should give a clear statement of the candidate's disability.

The medical evidence should make it clear how the disability justifies Special Arrangements.

Additional criteria apply in the case of applications for Special Arrangements for candidates with specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia):

The medical evidence must be in the form of a report prepared in a period no more than two years before the test date.
Test centres require three months' notice to put special arrangements in place. They need to confirm arrangements with Cambridge ESOL, and modified versions of the test may need to be prepared (for example, in Braille).

Visual difficulties

A range of options is available, including enlarged print, and brailed question papers.

Answers may be recorded in a variety of ways, e.g. via an amanuensis, or using a Braille machine or word-processor, and extra time may be allowed for completion of Reading and Writing Modules.

A special needs version of the Listening Module is also available.

Hearing difficulties

If you have partial hearing loss and can hear with the help of headphones or special amplification equipment you may ask for permission to use this equipment when taking listening modules.

A lip-reading version of the Listening Module is available.

In the case of severe hearing difficulties, you can apply for exemption from the Speaking and/or Listening Modules.

Learning difficulties (eg: dyslexia)

You can apply for up to 30 minutes extra time to complete the Reading and Writing Modules, and can also apply to write your answers using a typewriter or word-processor, if you normally write this way.

Illness

If you are genuinely ill on the day of or during the test you should let the test supervisor know. Special consideration may be given to test takers who report their illness on the day.

Cost: €180. In 2012 the test fee is €190.

You can pay the test fee by direct bank transfer to Finnish-British Society (FINNBRIT). Your test fee should reach us within 5 working days of registering, failing which your registration will be cancelled:

Bank: Handelsbanken
Address: Helsinki-Dianapuisto
Erottajankatu 11
00100 Helsinki
IBAN: FI72 3131 3001 2545 07
SWIFT: HANDFIHH

Are you planning to take IELTS? Save money by preparing carefully!

Too many candidates end up taking the test several times because they are unprepared. This means they have to pay the fee several times, too. So, it's a good idea to prepare yourself adequately before you take the test.

Even if you feel confident of your English skills, you will feel more comfortable in the test situation if you know what to expect. Therefore, make sure you have a clear understanding of at least the following:
• the structure and time-frame of the test
• the assessment criteria
• the practicalities (test venue location, how to complete the answer sheets, etc.)

We recommend you read information for candidates for more details and frequently asked questions.

IELTS preparation with FINNBRIT professionals

FINNBRIT provides training for anyone preparing to take an IELTS exam.

Feedback from candidates who participated in a preparation session:

"I found the prep session very useful, particularly in helping to concentrate on the forthcoming exam. (--) I also think the length of the session was optimal".

"The IELTS prep was an eye opener."

"I am thankful for your recommendation of participating in this kind of activities."

Contact us for further information 

Official practice materials

This book includes a full practice test with recordings on DVD and an answer key. The materials have been produced according to Cambridge ESOL's question paper production cycle and are the only preparation resources endorsed by all three IELTS partners.

The book can be purchased at FINNBRIT offices for 20,00 € (cash only). If you want us to send the book by post, the cost is 25.00 € including postage. We will send it to you cash on delivery - postiennakolla - within Finland. You can order the materials here.

Take a look at some of the free sample materials that are listed on the IELTS global website.

More help also available on this British Council Learn English/IELTS website: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/ielts

Preparation with Road to IELTS Online

Free 30 hours online preparation

The test starts at 10:00. Please note that if you are not in the building by that time will not be able to enter the building or take the test! If you are late you will be deemed absent and subject to the terms of our refunds policy. Doors open at 09:00.

Bring a valid form of identification.

In addition to sufficient pens and pencils you must bring:

Passport or national ID card.

Check your passport or national ID card carefully! In order to be valid, the number you used to register with must match the number that appears on the passport or national ID card you bring with you on the test day. A driving license is not a valid form of identification for IELTS.

Contact us as soon as possible if you will not be able to produce a valid form of identification. If you fail to bring these you will be deemed absent from the test and subject to the terms of our refunds policy.

How long does it take?
You should allow up to six and a half hours to complete the test. In the morning all candidates sit the Listening, Reading and Writing test. The morning session takes three hours. Bulky coats are not allowed in the exam room, so dress accordingly.

Speaking tests take place in the afternoon, starting at 14:00. You will be informed of your test time in the morning. Early speaking tests are given to candidates travelling a long distance or who give prior notice of requiring a specific time.

If you wish, you can leave the building after the morning session and return in time for your Speaking test. Your Speaking test takes 15 minutes.

It is sometimes necessary to arrange separate Speaking test sessions within a few days on either side of the exam date. This will normally only apply to candidates living in the Helsinki area. A separate email with the appropriate timetable will be sent to those candidates.

IELTS knows that you, and those relying on and using your IELTS score, want quick results – IELTS results are available within 13 days of taking the test.

Your results will be released in a test report form. For reasons of security your results cannot be released in any other way. Your test report form is valid for two years.

You will receive only one copy of your test report form. This is a very valuable document and we recommend that you take due care in keeping it secure. It cannot be replaced.

The free IELTS Test Report Form Verification Service enables universities and employers to authenticate test report forms and safeguard against fraudulent report forms using a safe and secure online database.

Order test report forms
You can have copies of your test report form sent to up to five institutions free of charge.

Contact us before your test date at the email address above, with the contact names, addresses, and any application reference number, for your chosen institutions. Please include Test Report Forms - your test date - in the subject line (where 'your test date' is the date on which you took your test).

Some institutions can also access your results directly online, providing you give them your permission to do so.

IELTS partners are unable to re-issue or verify the validity of IELTS TRFs for a test taken more than two years ago.

Cancellation & absence
You may cancel your registration for the IELTS test provided at least one week’s notice is given. Your test fee will be refunded to you minus an administration charge of €40.00.

If you cancel your registration for the IELTS test less than a week before the test you will not be entitled to a refund. Neither will you be eligible for a refund if you do not attend on the day of the test or are deemed absent, unless medical evidence is provided to support your absence.

Contact the IELTS Administrator immediately if you think you are not well enough to take the test.

Test date transfers
You may transfer the date of your IELTS test provided at least one week’s notice is given. There is no charge for transferring your test date. You are allowed to transfer the date of the examination twice.

After two transfers you will be obliged to take the test or cancel it subject to the above rules of cancellation.

If you want to make a complaint, you must do so before you leave the test venue.

Enquiry on Results is a procedure by which candidates can request to have their papers re-marked. The candidates must apply for a re-mark at their original test centres within six weeks of the Test date.

Candidates are entitled to request a full re-mark (i.e. all test papers) or a partial re-mark (i.e. one or more test) of their original results. The re-mark fee applicable for both partial and full re-mark: EUR 90.
Candidates requesting a re-mark of their results must complete an EOR form, available from IELTS test centres.

The Centre is notified of the re-mark result no later than six weeks after Head Office’s receipt of materials.

Verify candidate results
To ensure the security of IELTS results, we provide a free, online verification service. This gives an additional safeguard to the sophisticated features already built into the IELTS Test Report Form.

The online service means institutions can check the authenticity of any results with which they have been presented.

Please note that only IELTS receiving organisations can access this service. It is not available to organisations providing additional services to clients, such as recruitment agents, travel agents, legal and immigration agents.

Visit the IELTS Test Report Form Verification website to make an application.