Guide · Last updated 22 September 2026
IELTS Exam Fee in Saudi Arabia (2026)
What IELTS costs in riyals at the British Council and IDP, why the two differ, the Iqama and residency rules, where the women-only venues are, what a re-mark really costs, and how not to pay it twice.
How much is the IELTS exam fee in Saudi Arabia?
As of 22 September 2026, these are the fees on the providers' own pages. The two do not match: IDP prices its computer test SAR 69 above the British Council. Pages quoting SAR 1,300 to 1,410 are showing an older fee.
| Test type | British Council | IDP |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / General Training on computer | SAR 1,636 | SAR 1,705 |
| IELTS on paper, or on computer with Writing on Paper | SAR 1,636 | Writing on Paper SAR 1,875; no full paper test |
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic / General Training) | SAR 1,744 | SAR 1,815 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 / B1) | SAR 897 | SAR 897 |
| One Skill Retake | SAR 1,099 | SAR 1,075 (Writing on Paper SAR 1,180; UKVI SAR 1,145) |
Checked against the British Council Saudi Arabia booking page and its centre listings on ielts.org, and IDP Saudi Arabia's session listings, on 22 September 2026. We re-check this table every month. Neither provider says whether 15% VAT is included; the figure in the booking portal is what you pay, so confirm it there.
What other charges can come up?
| Situation | British Council | IDP |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry on Results (re-mark), within 6 weeks | SAR 690, refunded if the band changes | Refunded if the band changes; ask the centre for the amount |
| Cancellation | UKVI: 75% back with 14+ days’ notice, 50% at 2 to 14 days, 25% under 2 days, nothing on the day | 25% administration fee with 5+ weeks’ notice; nothing back inside 5 weeks without medical evidence within 5 days |
| Transfer to another date | Up to 25% fee; inside 14 days treated as a cancellation (UKVI) | Same 5-week rule as cancellation |
| Extra Test Report Forms | SAR 69 by airmail, SAR 184 by courier | Ask the centre |
| Unpaid booking | Pay at booking or by transfer | Seat cancelled if not paid within two days |
How do I pay, and what do I bring?
British Council: a bank card online at booking, or a bank transfer with the receipt emailed to its registration desk. IDP: a credit card online, cash at an IDP branch if you register in person, or a bank transfer, paid within two days. Neither provider lists mada, SADAD or Apple Pay by name, and neither states a surcharge. A few details catch candidates out:
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Identity document | Saudi nationals: passport or national ID card. Non-Saudis: passport or Iqama. The physical original on test day; digital IDs are refused. |
| Paper test residency rule | A non-Saudi needs an Iqama, student visa or long-stay visa held for at least three months to sit IELTS on paper. The computer test has no such rule. |
| Under 18 | Written parental consent is required at the British Council. |
| Two price tiers | The same test is SAR 69 to 71 cheaper at the British Council; IDP’s Writing on Paper adds SAR 170. |
Where can I sit IELTS in Saudi Arabia?
The British Council lists 17 locations: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Al Khobar, Al-Hassa, Buraydah, Hail, Jubail, Madinah, Makkah, Tabuk and Taif, with computer sittings daily in the three big cities and paper sittings in the smaller ones. IDP lists 31 centres, adding Dhahran, Unaizah, Abha, Jazan, Arar, Al Jouf, Hafr Al Batin and Khamis Mushait. Both run women-only venues, including the British Council's female venues in Riyadh, Dammam and Buraydah and IDP's Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University. IDP sits Friday to Tuesday in Riyadh and Jeddah with morning, afternoon and evening slots. Same test, same marking, so choose by venue, date and price, as in the British Council vs IDP comparison.
When do results come out?
British Council: 1 to 2 days for IELTS on Computer, up to 13 days on paper, up to 7 days for Life Skills. IDP: 1 to 5 days on computer, 13 days for UKVI, 7 days for Life Skills. You preview the band online and receive an electronic Test Report Form, which universities and immigration bodies accept directly.
How do I avoid paying SAR 1,636 twice?
Only book when your practice band already meets your target. The most common mistake in Saudi Arabia is booking on hope: a nurse needing 7.0 for the NMC or a candidate needing 6.5 for a UK offer books at a practice level of 6.0, falls short, and pays the whole fee again, with nothing back inside IDP's 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, a One Skill Retake at SAR 1,075 to 1,099 within 60 days is cheaper than a full resit, as long as the organisation you are applying to accepts it. A month of unlimited AI-scored practice costs under 2% of one exam fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the IELTS exam cost in Saudi Arabia in 2026?
It depends on the provider. The British Council charges SAR 1,636 for IELTS Academic or General Training, on paper or on computer, SAR 1,744 for IELTS for UKVI, SAR 897 for Life Skills and SAR 1,099 for a One Skill Retake. IDP charges SAR 1,705 for IELTS on Computer, SAR 1,875 with Writing on Paper, SAR 1,815 for UKVI, SAR 897 for Life Skills and SAR 1,075 for a One Skill Retake.
Which is cheaper, British Council or IDP?
The British Council, by SAR 69 on the standard test and SAR 71 on UKVI. Same test, same marking, so the price only matters if both have a venue and a date that suit you. IDP has more centres, about 31 against the British Council’s 17, and sits daily in the big cities.
Can I sit IELTS with my Iqama or national ID?
Yes. Saudi nationals register with a passport or the national ID card; non-Saudis with a passport or Iqama. It has to be the physical original on test day; digital IDs such as Absher or Tawakkalna are not accepted. Candidates under 18 need written parental consent at the British Council.
Is paper-based IELTS still available in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, unusually. The British Council still runs IELTS on paper in the smaller cities and computer sittings daily in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, plus IELTS on Computer with Writing on Paper. IDP offers computer and Writing on Paper for SAR 170 more. UKVI on paper has been withdrawn. Note the residency rule: since 2026 a non-Saudi needs a valid Iqama, student visa or long-stay visa held for at least three months to sit the paper test; the computer test has no such rule.
What does a re-mark or a date change cost?
An Enquiry on Results is SAR 690 at the British Council for every test type, refunded if your band changes; blogs still quoting SAR 500 are a decade out of date. IDP cancels or moves a test with five or more weeks’ notice for a 25% administration fee and refunds nothing inside five weeks without medical evidence. The British Council’s UKVI scale is 75%, 50% or 25% back depending on notice, and a transfer can carry a fee of up to 25%.
Are there women-only test venues?
Yes, at both providers: the British Council lists female venues in Riyadh, Dammam and Buraydah, and IDP runs mixed and women’s venues including Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University. Choose the venue when you pick the date.
How long do results take in Saudi Arabia?
The British Council quotes 1 to 2 days for IELTS on Computer, up to 13 days on paper and up to 7 for Life Skills. IDP quotes 1 to 5 days on computer. Extra Test Report Forms cost SAR 69 by airmail or SAR 184 by courier at the British Council.
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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