Acceptable forms of ID
- Passport – this must show your name in English, date of birth, ID number, expiry date and contain your photograph and signature.
- National ID Card (for EU citizens only)
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
- Application registration card (ARC).
A driving licence is not an acceptable form of ID. All names listed on your passport or ID must be listed in your application.
Making a payment
Payment is due within IELTS’ deadline. Payments can be made – once registered and in receipt of a Registration Reference Number – via the secure online payment system. Soon after your application, IELTS will email the payment link.
Please note: Once payment is made, the status of an application will continue to show as 'unpaid'. Payment reminder emails may still be sent until the administration team enters the payment details manually. The process is not automatic and during busy periods there may be a delay (especially those payments made out of hours or at weekends). Do not worry – when you have your receipt from the online store your application will not be cancelled. You can ignore payment reminder emails from that point.
The IELTS test day
On test day, you must bring the original ID document used to complete your application. Copies aren't accepted. Failure to produce the correct ID will result in not being permitted to take the test, with no refund. If you're sending your passport away for visa applications, please ensure the passport will be returned in time for your test. If in doubt, email us at the address below at the earliest opportunity.
For questions concerning acceptable forms of ID, or if the ID document you applied with is no longer in your possession, please email ielts@liverpool.ac.uk.
Cancellation or test date transfer
A refund or Test Date Transfer Form must be completed in full. Please email ielts@liverpool.ac.uk for a form, then complete/return to the same email address.
Policy notice: Cancellation
For cancellations received no later than 5 weeks before the test date, the test fee will be refunded, less an administrative fee of 25% of the test fee. If the notice of cancellation is within 5 weeks of the test date, no refund will be given. To cancel your test date, please download a request form from our website and email the completed form to ielts@liverpool.ac.uk.
Test date transfer
A change of test date request must be received no later than 5 weeks before the test date. There's an additional administrative fee of 25% of the test fee. To change your test date, please download a request form from our website and email the completed form to ielts@liverpool.ac.uk. We'll contact you for payment once we receive the completed request form. Please note that you can only transfer the same booking once.
Illness on the test day
If you're ill on the test day, we need to receive the following documents from you within 2 calendar days of the test date:
- Supporting evidence of a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner (covering the test date)
- Request for Refund or Test Date Transfer Form (please download from our website).
The medical certificate must be sent to the address given in your application acknowledgement (also found on our website). If the document isn't received within the deadline, you'll be marked as absent and forfeit all claims. Please note that we only accept medical certificates signed by registered professionals. If the document reaches us within the deadline, you have 2 options to choose from:
- A refund of the test fee minus an administrative charge
- A single paid transfer to a new test date within the next 3-month period.
With less than 5 weeks’ notice, it isn't possible to refund your test fee or transfer your test date (other than in exceptional circumstances, eg for medical reasons). In such cases, please fill in the form (above) and email it along with supporting documentation within 2 days of the test. Visit the IELTS website for general guidance on cancellations, refunds or transfers.
Special arrangements procedure
Some test takers have special requirements such as a disability, hearing or sight impairment, dyslexia or a speech impediment, or a short term difficulty such as a broken arm. Special arrangements can usually be made in these circumstances.
Such test takers should email ielts@liverpool.ac.uk at the time of their application to inform us of these requirements. Please note that medical/other official evidence must be provided and dated following the 12th birthday - medical evidence written prior to this isn't acceptable. Please note that for some special arrangements, eg modified test material, a minimum of 3 months' notice is required. Visit the IELTS Special Requirements webpage for more information.
Minors (under 18s)
If the applicant is under 18, please contact the test centre separately for a consent form. Failure to do so may result in an application being rejected.
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