The British Council offers the IELTS academic test on 48 pre-determined dates, while the General Training test occurs about 24 times a year. These are global dates on which the test is held in different countries including Singapore. These dates are also usually on a Saturday or a Thursday. Computer-Based tests are available 3 times a day for the entire year, except for public holidays. Places are available on a first-come-first-served basis. The speaking test can be booked on the same afternoon or within a 7-day window
The day on which you take your IELTS test can also have an effect on your score. Therefore it is important to consider all possible factors before you book your exam with the IDP. I’ve written this article to provide you with all the facts about choosing the best date to take the IELTS exam
When is the Best Time to Book Your Test?
Honestly, the best time to book your test is when your English level is at its best and you are well aware of the strategies and skills needed to ace your exam. It’s much better to prepare first and then book your test. Use the time between your preparation and booked test date to continually improve your skills through practice with official IELTS Tests. Unfortunately, most students do not heed this advice, mostly because they have an unrealistic opinion about their current level of proficiency as well as the actual level of difficulty of the IELTS exam.
Such students book tests under false assumptions about the test’s difficulty and their actual levels of English Language proficiency and realize, all too late, that they have made a great error in judgement about the time they need to prepare. Remember that you have to pay separately for each time you attempt the test and taking the test multiple times can be quite expensive.
During the registration process, you will be allowed to choose up to five organisations that will receive your official IELTS score. Since different institutions and universities have different application deadlines and admission policies, it’s important to make sure that you know the date on which your chosen organisations will receive your results. Remember that your results will be available online, but it can also take an additional two weeks for universities and other organizations to actually receive those results.
Why It Is Important to Book Your Test Early
One needs to plan for the worst-case scenario. If you do not obtain the required band scores on your first attempt of the IELTS Test, then you would need sufficient time to prepare and take a second test. Obviously, this depends heavily on your individual circumstances and levels but in my opinion, an extra month would suffice.
If you feel that you are not currently at a level of English language proficiency that is necessary for the IELTS exam, then you should consider enrolling for an IELTS preparation course with an experienced IELTS tutor