What is the difference between the British Council IELTS and IDP IELTS?

IDP IELTS or British Council IELTS: What should students choose?

IELTS is an English language exam put together by Cambridge University and is conducted by two separate entities which are the IDP, Australia and the British Council, London. By and large, there is no major difference between the British Council IELTS and the IDP IELTS, as the exam format and the questions are the same on a particular date of the exam. If both entities are conducting an exam in certain parts of the world on a particular date, the entire exam has the same content. Although their spread across the globe varies. In some parts of the globe, the British Council carries the exam, in other countries, IDP conducts and in some Asiatic countries both the entities conduct the exam.

What do you know about the IELTS British Council?

The British Council is UK based and conducts the IELTS exam in over 140 countries across the globe with wide exam date availability in a year. They also provide professional advice to prepare for the test. They do have the facility to book the test dates either online or manual. Besides that, they do have flexible fee payment options available. The British council provides both the paper-based IELTS exam and computer-based IELTS exam. The result is available online only after 13 days from the date of the test.

What do you know about the IELTS IDP?

IDP is an Australia based entity which conducts the IELTS exam in a similar manner as the British Council. It was founded in 1969, and has grown into a global leader as an education provider. It offers the IELTS exam in many countries just like the British Council. Since, there is no difference between both the test formats, the candidate can choose either test. The registration and the booking process is fairly simple. The test is offered in both the online and computer based formats.

IDP IELTS is the only exam offered in India

However, in a few countries like India, IDP is the only body that conducts the IELTS exam. If you are currently residing in India and would like to book your IELTS test in one of the centres in India, you can scroll to the last section of the article and read more information about the IELTS exam conducted by IDP India and read some commonly asked questions about it. If in your country IELTS is conducted by the British Council and IDP, you can continue reading the following section about common myths associated with IELTS IDP and IELTS British Council.

Common myths about the British Council and the IDP

Many candidates inadvertently rule out a good opportunity to take the test just by being held up with myths. Those myths are nothing but some bad experiences of a few of the candidates. They base their decision to take the test as per those experiences.

The difference between the IDP IELTS and the British Council IELTS lies in the personal experiences of the individual candidates. As such, there is no difference between the formats and questions in both the tests. 

Now, let’s hear out some of the common misconceptions that people have about these two IELTS testing bodies. 

1. “If you appear from Toronto or Vancouver, you’ll score less. Instead choose small towns like Kitchener or Streetsville.”

This exactly isn’t the wrong misconception but many candidates associate it with the brand name. For instance, the candidates who apply for the IDP IELTS from a big city, feel that they are unable to score good bands. But the matter of fact is, as per the experiences of many candidates, if one applies from a bigger city, the competition is much higher and each candidate is well versed with the language, so that is why the examiner sets a much higher bar. Probably that affects the scores. Whereas, some candidates feel that if they apply for the IELTS be it IDP or the British Council from a small town/city, the competition and the number of the candidate appearing for the test on the given day is much lesser, so the examiner comparatively marks leniently, with a result one gets good scores.

2. “Their staff took forever to change my headset.” 

Also, sometimes the candidates appearing for the test, come across some technical issues like headsets not working properly or the headsets stop working during the listening section and the way those issues are handled by the staff conducting the exam marks an impression on the candidate. 

Like, if the candidate is attempting the listening section and suddenly the headset stops working, the staff changes it within no time and the candidate does not miss his questions, he will definitely have a positive viewpoint about the entity conducting the exam. It all depends upon how well the unusual situation is handled.  In some cases, due to technical issues, a candidate is allowed to sit for retest but just in case, problem arises due to the negligence of the staff conducting the test and they do not allow the candidate for a retest whatsoever, then definitely the candidate will have a wrong notion about the entity and will relate the same to the brand name.

3. “Register with IDP if you are planning to go to Australia and with the British Council for the U.K and U.S.”

Another notion candidates have instilled in their mind is that IDP IELTS score may not be valid in the UK and the British Council IELTS score may not be valid in Australia. But this is not true at all, both the IELTS test scores are valid in the UK, Australia, and Canada, as the test is compiled by the Cambridge English language assessment while IDP and the British Council are just the bodies who are responsible for conducting the tests.

In case you  are still juggling with ‘IDP vs British Council’ confusion, our team would be happy to assist you with your queries. Other than that you can also contact us for all kinds of IELTS related doubts and concerns. 

Commonly asked questions about IDP IELTS in India

On July 25, 2021, IDP Acquired British Council’s IELTS Market in India, making it the sole organization responsible for conducting the IELTS exam in the country. This development came as a relief to many students, as it eliminated the confusion and ambiguity surrounding choice between the two test providers. With only one body now administering the IELTS exam in India, test-takers can focus on their preparation without worrying about potential differences in test content, evaluation criteria, or additional resources between the British Council and IDP. This consolidation aims to streamline the IELTS testing experience in India, ensuring a consistent and reliable process for students aspiring to study, work, or immigrate abroad. Let us look at some commonly asked questions that Indian students often have about IELTS IDP India.

What is IDP Candidate login and how to access it?

IDP Candidate login is one place where you can access your test results, and other important details related to the IELTS test. To access the IDP Candidate login, follow these steps:

• Go to the IDP IELTS website https://www.ieltsidpindia.com/ 
• Click on the “IDP Candidate Login” option located in the top right corner of the webpage.
• You will be redirected to the IDP Candidate login page. Enter your login details, which include your Candidate ID and password.
• Once you have logged in, you will have access to everything about your IELTS test which includes – your IELTS test results, test date and time, test venue, and more.

If you are a first-time user, you will need to create an account by clicking on the “New User Registration” option on the IDP Candidate login page. You will need to provide your personal details, create a password, and verify your email address to complete the registration process.

How to receive IDP IELTS Results in India

You can usually receive your IDP IELTS Paper based test results in India 13 calendar days after you take the test, whereas the time frame is 3-5 days for the Computer based test. The results are released online and you can access them through the IDP Candidate login portal using your Candidate ID and password.

IDP IELTS also offers a Test Report Form (TRF), which is a physical copy of your results that can be sent to you via mail. The TRF is usually mailed out on the 13th day after your test (in case of paper based test) or 3rd or 5th day (in case of computer based test), but the delivery time may vary depending on your location.

Note that in some cases, there may be delays in receiving your results due to circumstances beyond IDP’s control, such as administrative or technical issues. In such cases, IDP will inform you of any delays and provide you with an estimated timeline for when you can expect to receive your results.

How many days does it take for IDP IELTS Results to come?

Whereas the results for IDP IELTS Paper based test are typically released online 13 calendar days after the test date, it takes 3-5 days in case of IDP IELTS Computer based test. This timeframe may vary slightly depending on the location and specific circumstances, but candidates can generally expect to receive their results within the given time frame.

What is the full form of IDP?

The full form of IDP is the International Development Program. It is an international education organisation which offers placements for students in various countries like Australia, New Zealand, UK and Canada.

Can I get the IDP Result rechecked?

Yes, you can request a remark (also known as an Enquiry on Results) for your IDP IELTS test if you are not satisfied with your test results. This service allows you to request a re-evaluation of your test by a senior examiner who was not involved in the original marking process.

To request a remark, you must fill out an Enquiry on Results form, which is available on the IDP IELTS website. You will need to submit the form, along with the required fee, within six weeks of your test date. The fee for this service varies depending on the location and is refundable if your test score is increased after the remark.

It’s important to note that there is no guarantee that your score will be increased after a remark. Your original scores will be reviewed by a senior examiner, and your test may be remarked in its entirety. Your scores may remain the same, increase, or decrease. Therefore, it is recommended that you only request a remark if you feel that there has been an error in the original marking process or if you have reason to believe that your test was not accurately assessed.

What process to follow for IDP IELTS registration? 

To register for the IDP IELTS (International English Language Testing System), you can follow these steps:

• Go to the official IDP IELTS website for your country or region. You can find this by searching for “IDP IELTS” followed by your country or region name.
• Select the type of test you want to take (Academic or General Training) and the location where you want to take the test.
• Choose the available test date and time that suits you.
• Fill in the required personal details and contact information, and pay the test fee.
• After you have completed the registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the details of your test date, time, and location.

On the day of the test, make sure to arrive at the test center on time with the necessary identification documents (usually a valid passport or national ID card).

It’s important to note that registration procedures may vary slightly depending on the location and specific circumstances. Therefore, it is always best to check the official IDP IELTS website for your region to get the most up-to-date information and guidance.

How do I book the IDP IELTS exam?

You have two options for booking your IELTS test: online or offline at your nearest IDP branch. 

To book online, follow these steps on IELTS India website:

• Log on to the IELTS India website. 
• Go to the “Register for Test” option.
• Select your preferred test type (computer-delivered IELTS, paper-based IELTS, IELTS for UKVI, or Life Skills).
• Now choose your test type/module (Academic or General Training for IELTS, A1 and B1 for Life Skills).

Once done, select your desired location and date and fill out the required information including a scanned color copy of your passport.

At last, pay the test fee. 

After booking the test, you will receive an acknowledgement on your registered email or phone number. 

If the Paper based test takers need to book the Speaking test, they can book it online according to their preferred date and time or have a time slot automatically allocated to them if they fail to choose one within the stated time period. 

What are the IELTS IDP exam fees?

Here is the fee that IDP charges for its various IELTS tests:

• Computer-delivered IELTS – INR 16,250
• Paper-based IELTS- INR 16,250
• IELTS for UKVI- INR 16,500
• Life Skills- INR 15,350

What is the IELTS IDP Exam date? 

Generally, there exist four IELTS exam dates in a month for Academic IELTS whereas, General Training IELTS Exam is conducted twice a month. Candidates can choose any date from the listed dates and can choose any location out of specified 55 varied test centers, covering likewise. 

Lastly, there is another one of the most often asked question by the IELTS students i.e. Which exam to take: IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. You should definitely read this blog before you decide to fill up your IELTS exam. 

About Yuno Learning

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