Where can I take IELTS or PTE in Lahore?

Pearson's test centre finder listed two PTE centres in Lahore on 10 October 2026: Pearson Professional Centers – Lahore, run by Pearson itself and the only Pearson Professional Center in Pakistan, and JNS Education, a partner venue. The next nearest are OPAL INSTITUTE in Gujranwala and Beaconhouse International College in Faisalabad.

Pearson's finder does not say which tests each centre runs on which day. When you book, choose PTE Academic, PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Core first and then your city; only centres with slots for that test appear.

Both providers run IELTS for UKVI in Lahore. IDP charges PKR 78,820; the British Council's fee table says PKR 72,000, but its date finder priced Lahore UKVI dates at PKR 78,820 too, so check the price before you pay. IDP's two AEO test rooms listed UKVI sessions on almost every day to 31 December. Check first that your visa or university actually needs UKVI (IELTS for UKVI vs Academic).

For IELTS for UKVI Life Skills (A1 or B1, used for some UK family and settlement visas), IDP charges PKR 53,000 and the British Council's date finder showed the same figure (its fee table says PKR 50,000). The British Council gives up to 9 days for Life Skills results, against 1–2 days for IELTS on computer. Its video-call Life Skills option is offered only in Islamabad and Mirpur, not Lahore. More in our IELTS Life Skills guide.

Read on 10 October 2026 on the British Council booking page (fees effective from 9 June 2026), IDP's session listings for Lahore and Pearson's price finder with Pakistan selected. Pearson charges one price for the whole country, in US dollars, so the rupee amount on your card depends on the exchange rate. Standard IELTS costs the same at both providers in Lahore.

Check the British Council's UKVI price in the booking form. Its booking page fee table (effective 9 June 2026) still lists IELTS for UKVI at PKR 72,000 and Life Skills at PKR 50,000, but on 10 October 2026 the date finder on its locations page priced every UKVI date at PKR 78,820 and Life Skills at PKR 53,000, the same as IDP.

The British Council says card payments are settled in a foreign currency and that banks deduct advance tax under section 236Y; paying by interbank transfer (IBFT) or cash deposit avoids that. Refund and transfer rules are in our IELTS fee in Pakistan and PTE fee in Pakistan guides.

If Lahore dates are full, Gujranwala has the British Council, IDP's AEO Gujranwala (with UKVI) and a PTE centre, and Faisalabad has both IELTS providers and a PTE centre. IDP also lists a partner centre in Sheikhupura (Cambridge IELTS Club), and the British Council tests in Sahiwal. All Punjab British Council centres charge the same PKR 76,240. See our Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Sialkot guides.

British Council: book online and pick Lahore as your location; the confirmation email gives the venue address. You need a valid passport or national ID card, and under-18s need written consent from a parent or guardian. Pay by IBFT, cash deposit at Standard Chartered or MCB, bank draft or credit card; the money must reach the British Council within 3 days of registering and at least 3 days before your first session (booking page). You choose your Speaking slot: on test day, or up to a week before or after, if space allows.

IDP: book online or at an IDP office. IDP asks for a copy of a valid identity document when you register and the same document on test day. If you choose to pay offline after booking, pay within two days or the seat is cancelled (IDP registration guide).

PTE: choose the test, then Lahore or the nearest city, pick a centre and a slot at least 24 hours ahead, and create your myPTE account with details that exactly match your passport (Pearson's booking guide). Pearson's ID policy asks for a valid passport; another ID is accepted for PTE Academic only if Pakistan appears on its exceptions list, so check before you book.

Results: the British Council gives 1–2 days for IELTS on computer and up to 9 days for Life Skills (results page); its UKVI page and IDP's listings say 1 to 5 days. Pearson sends PTE scores typically within 48 hours (PTE scoring). Before you pay, take a free IELTS mock test or a free PTE mock test to check you are ready.