IELTS exam dates 2026 in India: how many, and how to pick one
IDP India runs IELTS on 48 fixed test dates a year, up to four in any month, mostly on Thursdays and Saturdays. Academic is available on all 48; General Training on 24. Availability then varies by city and by centre, so the practical question is not "when is the next date" but "when is the next date near me that still has seats".
How many dates there are
| Module | Dates in 2026 | Typical days |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | All 48 | Thursdays and Saturdays |
| IELTS General Training | 24 | Thursdays and Saturdays |
If you need General Training, plan earlier: half as many dates means the convenient ones fill first, and a city with one centre can be booked out weeks ahead.
Your Speaking test may not be on your test day
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one sitting on the date you booked. Speaking may be scheduled before or after that date, and you do not choose when — the centre allocates it. Plan for a window of a few days around your booking rather than a single morning, and do not book travel or a visa appointment tight against it.
Choosing a date that works backwards from your deadline
Work back from the application deadline, not forward from today. A workable sequence for a September intake:
- Find the deadline on the programme's own page, and the English requirement with its section minimums.
- Add the result wait. Computer-delivered results are typically out in 3 to 5 days.
- Leave room for one retake. If a section comes back short you will want a second date, and One Skill Retake needs its own booking.
- Then book, six to eight weeks before the deadline if you can.
A score is valid for two years from the test date. Sitting very early is safe academically but can expire between an offer and a visa — check the date the university and the visa route each require the score to still be valid on.
Where you can sit it
IDP runs centres across India, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune and Vadodara. Seat availability is shown live during booking, and it is the thing that actually decides your date — check it before you commit to a plan built around a particular week.
Changing your date
Moving a booking is a transfer and it is charged: INR 4,750 for IELTS on Computer or Writing on Paper, INR 4,850 for the UKVI test, INR 4,500 for Life Skills and INR 3,200 for One Skill Retake. The full rules, and what you get back if you cancel instead, are on our [fees page].
IELTS exam dates — FAQs
4 questions
IDP India offers 48 fixed test dates a year, up to four per month. IELTS Academic is available on all 48 and General Training on 24.
Most dates fall on Thursdays and Saturdays, though availability varies by city and test centre.
Not always. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken together on your booked date, and Speaking may be scheduled before or after it by the centre.
Six to eight weeks before your application deadline is comfortable: it leaves room for the 3 to 5 day result wait and for a retake if one section comes back short.
Sources
Checked on 25 September 2026 against the official pages below. Fees and formats change — the official page is always the final word.
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