Guide · Last updated 22 September 2026
IELTS Exam Fee in Sri Lanka (2026)
What IELTS costs in rupees at the British Council and IDP, where the two differ, how to pay, why the British Council will not take your NIC, and how not to pay it twice.
How much is the IELTS exam fee in Sri Lanka?
As of 22 September 2026, these are the fees on the providers' own pages. The British Council's list is marked effective from 9 June 2026, its second rise this year after one on 1 January, so a page still quoting LKR 55,000 to 70,000 is showing an old fee.
| Test type | British Council | IDP |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS on Computer (Academic / General Training) | LKR 77,000 | LKR 77,000 |
| IELTS Online (Academic, taken remotely) | LKR 72,800 | Not offered |
| IELTS for UKVI (Academic / General Training) | LKR 85,600 | LKR 82,500 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 / B1) | LKR 67,750 | LKR 65,100 |
| One Skill Retake | Offered, price not published | LKR 46,600 |
Checked against the British Council Sri Lanka fee page, its centre listing on ielts.org and IDP Sri Lanka's fee page on 22 September 2026. We re-check this table every month. Fees follow the exchange rate and have moved twice in 2026, 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 charges appear only when something changes, and two of them are large:
| Charge | British Council | IDP |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry on Results (re-mark), within 6 weeks | LKR 32,500, refunded if the band changes | LKR 32,500, refunded if the band changes |
| Transfer to another date | LKR 8,800; new date within 3 months | LKR 8,800 with 5+ days’ notice (UKVI LKR 15,000 with 14+ days, Life Skills LKR 10,000, One Skill Retake LKR 9,300) |
| Cancellation | Fee refunded minus LKR 8,800 | 25% kept with 5+ days’ notice; nothing back under 5 days (UKVI and Life Skills: 75%, 50% or 25% back by notice) |
| Speaking reschedule | At least one working day’s notice | Ask the centre |
How do I pay the IELTS fee in Sri Lanka?
British Council: Visa or Mastercard online, an online bank transfer (it does not accept ATM, CDM or EasyPay deposits), cash at its Colombo office, or a 0% twelve-month instalment plan on a Seylan credit card. Payment and a colour copy of your passport are due within 5 days of booking. IDP: card online, cash or NETS at the Colombo office, or a bank transfer to its HSBC or Sampath account. Email the deposit slip within a day; an unpaid booking expires on the third day. Neither provider lists a wallet such as eZ Cash or mCash, and neither states a surcharge.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Identity document | British Council: passport only. IDP: passport or NIC for citizens, passport for foreign nationals and permanent residents. Same original document on both test days. |
| Payment window | British Council 5 days; IDP 2 days, with the slip emailed within one. |
| Two rises in 2026 | On 1 January and again on 9 June. You pay the fee in force on the day you book. |
| Test Report Form | The British Council issues an electronic TRF only and will not print a paper copy. |
British Council or IDP?
Same test, same marking, and the same LKR 77,000 for the standard sitting, so choose by document, venue and dates. If you have no passport, IDP is the only option. The British Council tests in Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, Negombo and Batticaloa, with sittings in Malabe, Jaffna and Matara; IDP runs Colombo, Battaramulla, Malabe, Kalubowila, Kandy, Kurunegala, Galle, Matara, Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. For a UK visa test IDP is LKR 3,100 cheaper. The same logic as the British Council vs IDP comparison for Bangladesh applies.
When do results come out?
British Council: 1 to 3 days for IELTS on Computer and IELTS for UKVI, up to 7 days for Life Skills, 6 to 8 days for IELTS Online. IDP: within 2 days. Results appear in your portal as an electronic Test Report Form, which universities and immigration bodies accept directly.
How do I avoid paying LKR 77,000 twice?
Only book when your practice band already meets your target. The most common LKR 77,000 mistake in Sri Lanka is booking on hope: a candidate needing 6.5 for an Australian or UK offer books at a practice level of 5.5, falls short, and pays the whole fee again. 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 LKR 46,600 within 60 days at IDP 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 3% of one exam fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the IELTS exam cost in Sri Lanka in 2026?
IELTS on Computer (Academic or General Training) costs LKR 77,000 at both British Council and IDP, a fee the British Council applies from 9 June 2026. IELTS for UKVI is LKR 85,600 at the British Council and LKR 82,500 at IDP. IELTS Life Skills is LKR 67,750 at the British Council and LKR 65,100 at IDP. The British Council also runs IELTS Online, the remote Academic test, at LKR 72,800.
Is IELTS cheaper at IDP or the British Council in Sri Lanka?
The standard test costs the same LKR 77,000 at both. IDP is cheaper for the UK visa versions: LKR 3,100 less for IELTS for UKVI and LKR 2,650 less for Life Skills. IDP also publishes a One Skill Retake price, LKR 46,600; the British Council offers the retake but does not print a fee.
Can I register with my NIC, or do I need a passport?
It depends on the provider. The British Council accepts only a valid passport: no NIC, no driving licence. IDP accepts a passport or the National Identity Card for Sri Lankan citizens, and requires a passport from foreign nationals and permanent residents. Whichever you use, bring the same original document on both test days.
Is paper-based IELTS still available in Sri Lanka?
No. IDP withdrew IELTS on Paper after 31 December 2024 and the British Council lists only computer-delivered sittings plus the remote IELTS Online. Listening, Reading and Writing are typed at a test centre; Speaking is still face to face with an examiner.
How do I pay the IELTS fee in Sri Lanka?
British Council: Visa or Mastercard online, an online bank transfer (ATM, CDM and EasyPay deposits are not accepted), cash at its office, or a 0% twelve-month instalment plan on a Seylan credit card; payment and a passport copy are due within 5 days of booking. IDP: card online, cash or NETS at the Colombo office, or a bank transfer to its HSBC or Sampath account, with the deposit slip emailed within a day and the booking expiring on the third day if unpaid.
How long do results take in Sri Lanka?
British Council: 1 to 3 days for IELTS on Computer and IELTS for UKVI, up to 7 days for Life Skills, 6 to 8 days for IELTS Online, delivered as an electronic Test Report Form in your portal with no paper copy. IDP: within 2 days.
What does a re-mark or a date change cost?
An Enquiry on Results is LKR 32,500 at both providers, requested within six weeks and refunded if your band changes. A date transfer costs LKR 8,800 at both, though IDP asks for at least 5 days’ notice (14 for UKVI, where the fee is LKR 15,000) and the British Council keeps the new date within three months of the original.
Make sure you only pay this fee once
Practise free until your mock band matches your target. Then book with confidence.
Check my band free