Guide · Last updated 22 September 2026
IELTS Exam Fee in Kazakhstan (2026)
What IELTS costs in tenge at the British Council and IDP, how to pay, the five-week rule that decides whether you get anything back, which of the twenty-odd cities have a centre, and how not to pay it twice.
How much is the IELTS exam fee in Kazakhstan?
As of 22 September 2026, these are the fees on IDP's own session listings and on the British Council's Almaty centre listing, and they match. Any page still quoting KZT 77,000, 95,460 or 105,000 is showing a pre-2026 fee.
| Test type | Fee (KZT) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS on Computer (Academic / General Training) | KZT 110,250 | British Council and IDP |
| IELTS for UKVI on Computer (Academic / General Training) | KZT 123,000 | British Council and IDP |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 / B1), on paper | KZT 100,250 | IDP, Almaty and Astana |
| One Skill Retake | Offered; price not published | Ask the centre |
Checked against IDP Kazakhstan's session listings and the British Council's Almaty listing on ielts.org on 22 September 2026. We re-check this table every month. Neither provider prints an effective date and the listings say prices may vary, so confirm the figure in the booking portal before you pay.
What other charges can come up?
The test fee is the whole price of sitting the test. These are the rules that decide what you get back when something changes:
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Transfer or cancellation with more than 5 weeks’ notice | Refund of the fee minus an administration fee |
| Transfer or cancellation inside 5 weeks | The full fee is charged, unless a medical certificate reaches the centre within 5 days of the test date |
| Not turning up | Nothing is refunded |
| Enquiry on Results (re-mark), within 6 weeks | Amount not published; refunded in full if your band changes; answered in 2 hours to 21 days |
How do I pay: card or bank transfer?
IDP: card online at booking, cash at an IDP branch, or bank transfer. British Council: Visa or Mastercard online at registration, or a bank transfer afterwards that must land within 5 working days, in tenge only, with the reference IELTS, your family name, city and test date, or the registration is cancelled. Neither provider lists Kaspi as a method or states a surcharge. A few details catch candidates out:
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Identity document | The same passport or national ID card you booked with, in the original, on both test days. |
| Bank transfer deadline | British Council: 5 working days, tenge only, correct reference line. |
| Life Skills | Paper-based and only in Almaty and Astana; do not book it by mistake for a study or work visa. |
| Start times | Some IDP listings print odd start times such as 01:30. Trust the confirmation email. |
Where can I sit IELTS in Kazakhstan?
IDP runs about two dozen centres: Almaty and Astana plus Aktau, Aktobe, Atyrau, Karaganda, Kokshetau, Kostanay, Kyzylorda, Pavlodar, Petropavlovsk, Semey, Shymkent, Taldykorgan, Taraz, Tekeli, Turkestan, Uralsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk. The British Council tests in Almaty, Astana, Atyrau and Shymkent. Same test, same fee, so choose by venue and date, as in the British Council vs IDP comparison.
When do results come out?
1 to 5 days after an IELTS on Computer test at IDP, viewable online for 28 days. You receive an electronic Test Report Form, which universities and immigration bodies accept directly.
How do I avoid paying KZT 110,250 twice?
Only book when your practice band already meets your target. The most common mistake in Kazakhstan is booking on hope: a candidate needing 6.5 for a Bolashak application or a UK offer books at a practice level of 5.5, falls short, and pays the whole fee again, with nothing back inside the five-week window. Take full mock tests until your score is stable at or above target. If one section lets you down on test day, ask the centre what a One Skill Retake costs and whether your destination accepts it before you pay for a full resit. A month of unlimited AI-scored practice costs about 3% of one exam fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the IELTS exam cost in Kazakhstan in 2026?
IELTS on Computer (Academic or General Training) costs KZT 110,250 at both the British Council and IDP. IELTS for UKVI on computer is KZT 123,000 at both. IELTS Life Skills (A1 or B1), which is still taken on paper, is KZT 100,250 at IDP in Almaty and Astana.
Can I pay with Kaspi?
Not as a listed method. IDP takes card payment online, cash at its branches and bank transfer. The British Council takes Visa or Mastercard online at registration, or a bank transfer that must arrive within 5 working days, in tenge only, with the reference IELTS, your family name, city and test date. A Kaspi bank card works wherever a Visa or Mastercard does.
Which ID do I need?
The same passport or national identity card you used to book, in the original, on both the written test day and at the Speaking test. Upload a clear colour scan of it when you register.
Is paper-based IELTS still available in Kazakhstan?
Not for Academic, General Training or UKVI: every sitting listed by both providers is on computer. Only IELTS Life Skills, the speaking-and-listening test for UK family visas, is still delivered on paper, in Almaty and Astana.
What does a re-mark or a date change cost?
Neither provider prints the Enquiry on Results fee for Kazakhstan; it is refunded in full if your band changes, and you must apply within six weeks. To move or cancel a test you need more than 5 weeks’ notice for a refund minus an administration fee; inside 5 weeks the full fee is charged unless you provide a medical certificate within 5 days of the test date.
Is One Skill Retake available in Kazakhstan?
Yes, on computer-delivered sittings, within 60 days of the original test and with the same provider, but neither provider publishes the price. Ask the centre for the figure and check that the university or immigration authority you are applying to accepts a One Skill Retake result.
How long do results take in Kazakhstan?
IDP releases IELTS on Computer results 1 to 5 days after the test and keeps them online for 28 days. Life Skills, taken on paper, takes longer.
Make sure you only pay this fee once
Practise free until your mock band matches your target. Then book with confidence.
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