IELTS fee in Australia by test
The fees below were read on 10 October 2026 on IDP's session listings (Sydney) and on the Australian centre pages in the ielts.org test centre finder, where every centre in Australia is run by IDP or an IDP partner. The price is the same in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or Darwin, so there is no saving in travelling.
IDP's One Skill Retake page puts a retake at AUD 310 whichever skill you resit, with no booking or processing fee and no surcharge for a last-minute date. ielts.org lists no IELTS Online (at-home) option for Australia, and Home Affairs does not accept at-home tests for visas anyway.
| Test | Fee (AUD) | Where in Australia |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training on computer | 490 | All 20 IDP centres |
| IELTS with Writing on Paper | 490 | Sydney CBD, Parramatta, Melbourne CBD, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra (General Training only) |
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training) | 505 | IDP Sydney CBD and IDP Melbourne only |
| IELTS Life Skills A1 or B1 | 390 | IDP Sydney and IDP Melbourne only |
| IELTS One Skill Retake | 310 | Most centres (not Tamworth or Albury-Wodonga) |
Which IELTS counts for an Australian visa?
Home Affairs accepts IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, including results with One Skill Retake for eligible visas, but only from a secure test centre; tests delivered fully online, such as IELTS Online, are not accepted (Home Affairs English tests). IDP goes further and says Home Affairs accepts One Skill Retake for all visa subclasses, so check your own visa page before relying on it.
For Proficient English (10 points) you need 7 in each of the four IELTS components, and for many visas the result can be up to 3 years old when you apply (Proficient English). Scores by visa are in IELTS for skilled visas 189, 190 and 491, IELTS for the 485 visa and IELTS for the 482 visa; nurses registering with Ahpra should read IELTS for nurses in Australia.
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →Date changes, cancellations and refunds
IDP Australia's reschedule and cancel page now lets you change your test date, format (computer or Writing on Paper) or module (Academic or General Training) once free of charge, right up to the test date. A module change should be requested at least 48 hours before the test. Changes go through the test centre where you booked, and a booking cannot be moved to a different test centre.
Cancel 14 or more days before and you get a full refund; 7 to 13 days before, 50%; fewer than 7 days, nothing. If you are sick on the day, contact the centre that day for a free date change, or send a medical certificate dated on or before the test within 14 days to ask for a free transfer. A no-show without notice forfeits the fee.
| When you tell the test centre | Refund if you cancel | Change date, format or module |
|---|---|---|
| 14 or more days before the test | 100% | Once, free |
| 7 to 13 days before | 50% | Once, free |
| Fewer than 7 days before | None | Once, free, up to test day |
| After the test | None | Not available |
Booking tips for people already in Australia
Book on IDP's site with a valid ID such as your passport; you upload a copy when booking and bring the same document on test day (IDP booking checklist). IDP's listings show results in 1 to 5 days for IELTS on computer, and IDP says bookings come with free access to an online preparation course it values at $80.
The free date change is the biggest money-saver: if you are not ready, move the test rather than sitting it and paying AUD 490 again. If you missed your score in one skill only, a One Skill Retake within 60 days costs AUD 310 instead of a full test (One Skill Retake guide). PTE Academic costs AUD 499 in Australia; see PTE vs IELTS for Australia PR and take a free full IELTS mock test before you book.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the IELTS test in Australia in 2026?+
AUD 490 for IELTS Academic or General Training at IDP centres, on 10 October 2026. IELTS for UKVI costs AUD 505 and Life Skills AUD 390.
How much does IELTS One Skill Retake cost in Australia?+
AUD 310, whichever skill you retake. It must be taken within 60 days of your full IELTS on computer test, at a centre that offers it.
Can I get a refund if I cancel IELTS in Australia?+
Yes: 100% if you cancel 14 or more days before the test, 50% at 7 to 13 days, and nothing within 7 days. A free date change is often the better option.
Can I change my IELTS date for free in Australia?+
Yes, once. IDP Australia lets you change the date, format or module free of charge up to the test date, through the centre where you booked.
Does Home Affairs accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+
Home Affairs accepts IELTS results that include One Skill Retake for eligible visas; check the page for your visa subclass. At-home IELTS Online is not accepted.
Is IELTS cheaper than PTE in Australia?+
Slightly: IELTS is AUD 490 and PTE Academic AUD 499 on 10 October 2026. The bigger saving is One Skill Retake (AUD 310), which PTE does not offer.
Keep reading
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- All 874 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 10 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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