IELTS test terms and conditions
You must …
• provide proof of your identity (passport or national identity card) at registration. This identity document must contain a number, a signature, a date of birth and a photograph. You should refer to the China IELTS Candidate
Rules on which type of identity document is accepted. Candidates taking the test outside their own country must produce a passport.
• provide one recent passport-sized photograph on test day.
Photographs must:
• be in colour
• be no more than 6 months old
• be taken against a plain background so that features are clearly distinguishable
• be undamaged
• be in sharp focus and clear
• be print quality of professional standard
• be a close-up of the head and shoulders
• show the candidate looking straight at the camera
• show the candidate with a neutral expression
• show the candidate with mouth closed
• show the candidate with eyes open and clearly visible
• show the candidate without glasses
• not show any shadows
• not show anything covering the face, the outlines of the eyes, nose or mouth
• be signed on the back with candidate’s full name and candidate number
• inform the Exams Unit of the British Council (operating in China as the
Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General) of any changes to your identity document before the test date. If you do not do this you will not be allowed to take the test and you will not be eligible for a refund or transfer
• bring the same identity document on the test day as the one recorded on your
Application Form. If you do not do this you will not be allowed to take the test and you will not be eligible for a refund or transfer.
• arrive at the test centre before the scheduled test start time. If you arrive late:
– you will not be admitted to the test room.
– you will not be allowed to take any of the test components.
– you will not be eligible for a refund or transfer.
• leave personal belongings outside the test room. The following items may not be taken into the test room: bags, correction fluid, highlighter pens and electronic devices such as mobile phones, pagers, recorders, mp3 players and

dictionaries. Candidates must ensure that mobile phones and pagers which are left outside the test room are switched off. Any candidate who does not switch off their phone or pager, or takes any electronic device into the test room, will not be allowed to complete the test and will not receive an IELTS test result or be eligible for a refund or transfer. Mandatory medicines and drink can be brought into test rooms after being confirmed and approved by the invigilator. The invigilator may ask to inspect candidates
’ personal belongs if deemed necessary. Candidates may not have access to their personal belongings during the test. Candidates must not bring valuables to the test centre as the test centre cannot be responsible for these. While there will be an area where candidates can leave personal items, neither the British Council
(operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General) nor NEEA or the local Test Centre assumes any responsibility for candidates
’ personal belongings. Items left in the personal belongings area are left there at t he candidate’s own risk unless the loss of the personal belongings under safekeeping is due to the British
Council’s (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the
British Embassy/Consulates-
General) or the local Test Centre’s wilful wrongdoing or serious fault.
• consent for your identity to be verified either at test registration or on test day. This may include:
– having your photograph taken. You will be required to temporarily remove any covering from your face, take off your glasses, reveal your ears and look straight at the camera with a neutral expression. Any candidate who refuses to have a photograph taken will not be permitted to sit the test and will not be entitled to a refund. The photograph taken by the test centre will appear on your Test Report Form.
– providing a sample of your signature.
• keep only the following items on your desk: your identity document, pen(s), pencil(s) and eraser(s).
• tell the test supervisor or invigilator at once:
– if you think you have not been given the correct question paper.
– if the question paper is incomplete or illegible.
• raise your hand to attract attention if you are in doubt about what you should do. An invigilator will come to your assistance. Candidates may not ask for, and will not be given, any explanation of the test questions.
• inform the test supervisor or invigilator on the day of the test, if you believe that your performance may be affected by ill health, by the way in which the test is delivered at the centre or for any other reason. If you have a complaint relating to the delivery of the test, you must submit your complaint to the test supervisor before you leave the centre on test day. The IELTS Test Partners will not accept complaints relating to the delivery of the test after test day.
• when leaving the test room at the end of the test, leave behind all test materials. The test materials include, but are not limited to, question papers,

Speaking tasks, answer sheets/booklets and any paper used for rough work.
Any candidate who attempts to remove test materials from the test room will be disqualified and will not receive an IELTS test result.
You must not …
• talk to or disturb other candidates once the test has started.
• lend anything to, or borrow anything from, another candidate during the test.
• eat or smoke in the test room.
• leave the test room without the permission of the test supervisor or invigilator.
• leave your seat until all test materials have been collected and you have been told you can leave.
• show any verbal and/or physical offence and/or threat to the test day staff
• engage in any form of malpractice which may damage the integrity and security of the IELTS test. Malpractice includes, but is not limited to:
– attempting to cheat or assisting others to cheat in any way.
– impersonating another candidate or having another person impersonate you.
– copying the work of another candidate.
– disrupting the test in any way.
– reproducing any part of the test in any medium.
– attempting to alter the data on the Test Report Form.
– removing, or attempting to remove any materials from the test room
– damaging examination papers or answer sheets intentionally
– passing or attempting to pass test-related information to other people
– opening a test booklet before being instructed to do so
– failing to stop writing when instructed to do so
– other behaviours regarded as breach of test rules by the invigilator
• Candidates engaging in malpractice will not be allowed to complete the test and will not receive an IELTS test result. Candidates who are found to have engaged in malpractice on test day after their result has been issued will have their result cancelled. Candidates engaging in malpractice will not be eligible for a refund or transfer, may be prohibited from taking the IELTS tests on future occasions and liable to legal action.
IELTS test result
• Results are issued by the Exams Unit of the British Council (operating in
China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General), usually 13 days after the test.
• You will receive only one copy of your Test Report Form. The test centre is not permitted to issue a replacement copy in the event of loss or damage.

• The Test Report Form will be issued in your name as it appears on the identity document used at registration. If you find that your personal details are incorrect on the Test Report Form, please contact the Exams Unit of the British
Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General) to request changes. Documentation must be provided to verify the correct details.
• If you change your name after receiving your Test Report Form, the name will not be changed on the Test Report Form. In the unusual event that a replacement Test Report Form is approved centrally by the IELTS Test
Partners, it will be issued with the name provided on the original Test Report
Form.
• Your result may not be issued 13 days after the test if any of the IELTS Test
Partners deem it necessary to review any matter associated with your test. In exceptional circumstances you may be required to re-take one or more IELTS components.
• The Test Report Form may be cancelled after it has been issued if any irregularity is identified. You may be required to re-take one or more IELTS components.
• Your result will be disclosed by the IELTS Test Partners to the Recognising
Organisations which you nominated on your Application Form, for the purpose of allowing those organisations to verify the result or to carry out any enquiries in relation to suspected malpractice.
• If any of the data on the Test Report Form provided by you or your agent to
Recognising Organisations has been altered in any way, your original test result may be cancelled by the IELTS Test Partners.
• You will not be permitted access to the work you produce in the IELTS test.
The IELTS Test Partners will retain the work you produce to assess your test performance, and it may be used for quality control purposes and research activities.
• You can cancel your test or request a transfer before the registration cut-off date on the NEEA IELTS registration website by yourself. You can transfer after paying the transfer fee on-line, or cancel the test and receive a partial refund (i.e. the full test fee paid less an administrative fee). You will be charged an administration fee of up to 25% of the total test fee.
• You cannot transfer your tests after the registration cut-off date. Only under certain special circumstances may candidates be allowed to cancel their tests after the registration cut-off date, given they apply to cancel their test with the
Exams Unit of the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and

Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General) before the written test day and by providing appropriate and sufficient supporting documents within the required deadline. The Exams Unit of the British Council
(operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General) reserves the right to check the supporting documents and to decide whether to approve the cancellation application or not. Cancellation application will not be accepted after the written test day. For example, if you cancel your test after the registration cut-off date for medical reasons, you must provide supporting medical evidence within the required deadline. Only evidence of serious illness will be considered. Only original medical certificates will be accepted and must state inability to appear for the test on the scheduled test date.
How IELTS uses your information
• The IELTS Test Partners recognise and support the right of genuine IELTS test candidates to privacy.
• Test Report Forms will only be sent to those Recognising Organisations nominated by the IELTS candidate on their Application Form or at the request of the candidate after the issue of results.
• The IELTS Test Partners or their authorised representatives may share candidate personal data including without limitation test performance or score data or photographs taken by the IELTS test centre with educational institutions, governments (including visa processing authorities), professional bodies and commercial organisations that recognise IELTS scores
(‘Recognising Organisations’) or law enforcement agencies and appropriate regulatory authorities where required for verification purposes or other purposes to protect the IELTS test and its stakeholders against any form of malpractice.
• The IELTS Test Partners may use IELTS test score data and test responses, in an anonymous form, for informational, research, statistical or training purposes.
The China IELTS Candidate Rules constitutes an integral part of the rules and regulations stipulated in the online IELTS Application Form and Notice to
Candidates. IELTS candidates must read and understand these rules before completing the online application. Please contact the Exams Unit of the British
Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General) for further enquiries. The completion of registration means that candidates have already carefully read and accepted

the China IELTS Candidate Rules. The China IELTS Candidate Rules is legally binding on all candidates immediately upon completion of registration for the test.
IELTS on-line registration will only accept the following identification documents:
 Chinese nationals from mainland China can register with a valid and current 2 nd -generation national ID Card or passport
 Chinese nationals from Hong Kong and Macao can register with a valid and current ID Card or passport
 Chinese candidates from Taiwan can only register with a valid and current
Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents
 Chinese military service personnel can register with a valid and current military service personnel document or national ID Card

Foreign nationals can register with a valid and current passport
The non-acceptable identity documents include but are not limited to:
1 st -generation national ID Card, household book, household certificate, driving license, student ID, work ID, Hong Kong / Macao Travel Permit for Chinese
Citizens, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents, social security card, and any expired ID documents.
Candidates must ensure that the personal details used during online registration for IELTS are the same as the personal details on the identity document. If the personal details provided by candidates during online registration do not match the details on their identity documents at any time during the written and speaking test session, or the identity documents presented at the test contains personal information different from that provided upon registration, candidates might not be admitted to the test and might not be eligible for transfer, cancellation or refund of any kind. Their test results might be voided.
If a candidates’ identity document is changed, lost or expired before the test date, or unavailable on the test day as a result of reasons beyond the candidates’ control, candidates should contact the Exams Unit of the British
Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General) immediately and follow the relevant instructions and arrangements.

Candidates should bring their identity documents, photographs, and IELTS
Test Admission Ticket to gain entry to the test centre. On the day of the test, candidates must present the same genuine and valid identity document used for online registration at both the written test and the speaking test.
The Exams Unit of the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and
Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General) reserves the right to establish the genuineness of a candidates’ identity before, during, or after the test. The measures include but are not limited to:
 Questions related to candidates’ personal information, and the record of the interview for the purpose of identification confirmation

Request for submission of additional proof of identity within a given timeframe
 The collect of candidates’ signature and handwriting sample or other forms of biometric identification confirmation
 Take actions to verify candidates’ identities to protect the IELTS test and its stakeholders against any form of malpractice, including but not limited to involving relevant government regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, public security bureaus, candidates’ schools/companies/work units/communities, score recognizing organizations, embassies and consulates-generals, other test partners and test centers
In cases where a dispute regarding candidate identity cannot be settled on the day of the test, or if a candidate refuses to participate or is unable to satisfactorily establishing their identity, the IELTS Test Supervisor reserves the right not to admit the candidate to the test. The candidate will not be eligible for transfer, cancellation or refund of any kind, and may be prohibited from taking the IELTS test on future occasions The candidates may contact the Exam Unit of the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General) on the following Monday afternoon to make an appointment for a full identity check. If the identity document is found to be genuine and valid, and the candidate’s identity is verified, a free test will be arranged for the candidate at a later date.
The following instances may result in candidates being disqualified from taking the test, or result in the voiding of the test results. In all these cases, candidates are not eligible for transfer, cancellation or refund in any form:

Failure to present the appropriate identity document before the written test or interview deadline.

An invalid or incorrect identity document is presented (such as expired ID card or passport, driving licence, etc.) at any time during the test.
 Any other cases where candidates’ identity cannot be verified on the test day by test day personnel.

Candidates who attempt to take the test with false or altered identity documents and/or photographs, or who have someone else attempt to take the test on their behalf, will be prohibited from taking the IELTS test in the future and will not be eligible for transfer, cancellation, or refund of any kind. Such candidates’ test results will be cancelled, and the Test
Report Form voided. Any person purporting to be the candidate will be prohibited from taking the IELTS test on future occasions. The British
Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the
British Embassy/Consulates-General) reserves the right to inform government organisations, the Public Security Bureau, recognizing organizations, relevant embassies and consulates-generals, other test partners and test centres of such cases. This may result in legal action.
Candidates may be requested to undergo a non-intrusive electronic scan, by a designated IELTS test day personnel within the precincts of the test centre during the test. If candidates refuse to be scanned or an electronic or telecommunication device is detected on the candidates, it may result in their being disqualified from taking the test, or result in the voiding of the test results.
In these cases, candidates are not eligible for transfer, cancellation or refund in any form. Such candidates may be prohibited from taking the IELTS test on future occasions
Candidates must print their Admission Ticket by logging on the NEEA IELTS on-line registration website 7 days before the written test date, and check their personal information and test arrangements before the test (including test module, candidate number, speaking test time, written and speaking test venue and address, written and speaking test room, etc.). Sometimes the written and speaking test venue and address might be different from the test centre venue and address.
The speaking test is arranged on any day one week before or after the written test date. Candidates may not request pre-booking or changes to the interview schedule. An observer may attend my Speaking test as part of the monitoring process.
If deemed necessary, the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General) reserves the right to adjust the written test module sequence or change the speaking test schedule based on the test day situation without prior notice to candidates.
Please follow the instructions on the test day. The registration website information is for reference only.

Before the test starts on the test day, candidates are also required to double check and confirm their personal information and test arrangement on their desk labels. If candidates find any mistake in their personal information or test arrangements, they must report this immediately to the invigilator and follow the invigilator’s instructions. Once the test starts, it will not be possible to deal with any enquiries about changing test arrangements.
 Written test: Candidates should arrive at the test centre by 08:00am to check-in into the written test room. This is to allow time for a series of important pre-test preparations such as personal belongings storage, ID check, test room check-in, test instruction delivery, listening equipment testing and adjustment, and clerical information completion on the answer sheets. The written test check-in closes by 08:30 am.
 Speaking test: Candidates should arrive at the test centre 30 minutes before their scheduled interview time. This is to allow time for a series of important pre-test preparations such as registration, test instruction, ID check, and speaking test room check-in. The speaking test check-in closes 15 minutes prior to the scheduled interview time.
Candidates' Test Report Forms will be sent via EMS (limited to mainland China service) to the address provided on the online IELTS Application Form, usually on the 10th working day after the written test. This applies only to those who completed all the modules of the written and speaking tests and had their photograph taken on the test day successfully. Candidates must ensure that the address provided is valid for at least 1 month after the written test date. If the address is changed due to a situation beyond the control of the candidate, candidates should contact the Exams Unit of the British Council (operating in
China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General) within 1 week after the written test date, and provide an ID photocopy as well as an address change application. Requests for address changes after the time specified may not be processed.
Candidates can check their results and EMS tracking number online by visiting the IELTS online registration website ’s "My Status" page., usually on the 10th working day after the written test. The registration website information is for reference only and the test result is based only on the Test Report
Form . It is not possible to give test results over the telephone, by fax or e-mail.
The Exams Unit of the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and
Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General) cannot provide a photocopy or test result verification service.
Candidates won’t be eligible to receive their TRFs if they are absent for any module of the written/speaking test, fail to have their photographs

taken before the completion of the test, disqualified during the test, or if their test results are voided after the test. For candidate whose speaking file not audible for marking, a fee speaking test will be offered and the Test
Report Form will only be issued after the candidate completes the free speaking test.
If the IELTS test partners [the British Council (operating in China as the
Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General), IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge
English Language Assessment] discover that a false or altered Test
Report Form has been provided to academic institutions, government departments, embassies and consulates-generals, and other professional organizations in and outside China, the candidate who attempted to forge or alter the Test Report Form will be prohibited from taking the IELTS test in the future and will not be eligible for transfer, cancellation, or refund of any kind. Such candidates’ test results will be cancelled, and the Test Report Form be voided. The British Council
(operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General) reserves the right to inform government organisations, Public Security Bureaus, recognizing organizations, relevant embassies and other test partners and test centres of such cases. This may result in legal action.
The Exams Unit of the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and
Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General) makes every effort to cater for the special needs of disabled candidates, to provide equal testing opportunities for all. Candidates who require special arrangements must submit a special test application to the Exams Unit of the British Council
(operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British
Embassy/Consulates-General) at least three months before the test date.
Relevant supporting materials (medical certificate and/or disability certificate) should be provided.
The IELTS test partners [the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General), IDP:
IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment] will make every effort to ensure that the examination takes place as planned. If examinations are disrupted, cancelled or delayed for any other reason outside of our control, every effort will be made to resume normal services as soon as possible. Liability of the British Council China office (operating in China as the
Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General) will be limited to the refund of the registration fee or re-testing at a later date.

The IELTS test partners [the British Council (operating in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy/Consulates-General), IDP:
IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment] take all reasonable steps to provide continuity of service. However, they cannot be held responsible for any indirect or consequential lost caused by circumstances beyond their control.
I acknowledge that I have read the above rules and regulations and agree to abide by them.