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IELTS Test Dates, Times & Fees in Ottawa & Gatineau
There are 4 testing centers in Ottawa. Two are IDP centers and the other two (both under the ELT) are British Council centers. You should note that the ielts.org website will show both British Council and IDP centers but IELTS .ca will only feature British Council centers and IDP.com will only feature IDP IELTS centers Why? The IDP and British Council are competitors. Some like the IDP centers offer free pretest classes while the British Council centers offer free online training so shop around carefully. I have posted Testing Centers from cheapest to most expensive.
You may be confused as to the difference between the test center and the test venue. They are often not the same but the most important issue is where it is (ie the venue) and how to contact them. You can book online through the British Council official website or you can contact the venue directly.
Also, the centers follow their own scheduled time and this gives a test taker a lot of flexibility in term of when to take the test. Be warned, however, these tests do book up quickly. Also, please realize that when you book tests only 3 weeks apart from each other, your chances of improving drastically is small, and there is even a chance that your score could even go down. See if there are test dates at locations in nearby cities such as Kingston or Montreal. Remember that registration books up quite fast in Ottawa, so I would not leave it until the last minute.
You should take note that the overall timing of the IELTS listening/reading and writing time varies from center to center. The time allotted for listening reading and writing and is exactly the same of course, but the start time and finish times are different, meaning that some testing centers may start ealrier or later and even some may put listening, reading and writing in the afternoon. Note also that speaking is usually in the afternoon but can be in the morning and you don't know exactly when you will be in for that until after you register and your time is slotted.
Booking a Test Procedure
The steps communicated by the British Council for booking is in 3 steps of 1. Checking the place and available times 2. Creating an account 3. Booking and paying
After all that, remeber that you must follow the steps outlined to you in your emails. If you receive no emails, let them know immediately
The steps for The steps for IDP registration are similar but perhaps a bit more cumbersome, starting with 1. Registering 2. Choosing a city 3. Choosing a date and time and the main difference here is you 1. register first before 2.choosing a city and 3. picking a date and time. Then you 4. complete an application and finally 5. pay the application fee.
After all that, remeber that you must follow the steps outlined to you in your emails. If you receive no emails, let them know immediately
The steps for The steps for IDP registration are similar but perhaps a bit more cumbersome, starting with 1. Registering 2. Choosing a city 3. Choosing a date and time and the main difference here is you 1. register first before 2.choosing a city and 3. picking a date and time. Then you 4. complete an application and finally 5. pay the application fee.
Refund & Cancellation Policies
British Council (Canada) posts the following refund and cancellation policies
The key thing to remember here is that 14 days is the key number. If you cancel before 14 days of your test, you can get a 75% refund but between 5-14 days you will only get 50% and before 5 days you will receve no refund. Futhermore, transfers of dates are only allowed after 14 days.
IDP (Canada) has communicated the following refund and cancellation policies
Key to remeber here is that IDP is more strict, requiring more than 5 weeks before the test date for a refund minus an administration charge. Otherwise you lose the whole fee unless you have a serious medical reason (meidcal certificate receives refund minus admin fee). However, IDP has states that if you communicate any uncontrollable difficulty on test day, you may be rescheduled
The key thing to remember here is that 14 days is the key number. If you cancel before 14 days of your test, you can get a 75% refund but between 5-14 days you will only get 50% and before 5 days you will receve no refund. Futhermore, transfers of dates are only allowed after 14 days.
IDP (Canada) has communicated the following refund and cancellation policies
Key to remeber here is that IDP is more strict, requiring more than 5 weeks before the test date for a refund minus an administration charge. Otherwise you lose the whole fee unless you have a serious medical reason (meidcal certificate receives refund minus admin fee). However, IDP has states that if you communicate any uncontrollable difficulty on test day, you may be rescheduled
Appealing am IELTS Score
Be sure to understand the appeal or remark system, which is now displayed in the British Council IELTS results section and the official IDP site under remark. Briefly, the policy is that the appeal is phrased Enquiry of Results (EOR) and must be done . no later than six weeks after the test date. The response will be in 21 days. There is a charge but that is determined by the center.
Test Center location, Dates Available Time schedule and Fees
1. Algonquin College, Ottawa (IDP)
Test Location: Algonquin Woodroffe Campus
Dates Available: Go through Official IDP website to see available dates
Test Day Schedule (Found in the FAQ section of Algonquin)
8:00 - 8:45: Registrtion
8:45: Final time for registration. Past this time is late and cannot sit for the test.
9:00 - 12:15: The Listening, Reading and Writing
13:00- 18:00 Speaking tests scheduled at 20-minute intervals. You will know your time slot and the location on your speaking test on test day.
Test fee: CAD $329 (Paper Based) CAD $346 (Computer Delivered)
Added Features: Thirty hours of free online practice material
Dates Available: Go through Official IDP website to see available dates
Test Day Schedule (Found in the FAQ section of Algonquin)
8:00 - 8:45: Registrtion
8:45: Final time for registration. Past this time is late and cannot sit for the test.
9:00 - 12:15: The Listening, Reading and Writing
13:00- 18:00 Speaking tests scheduled at 20-minute intervals. You will know your time slot and the location on your speaking test on test day.
Test fee: CAD $329 (Paper Based) CAD $346 (Computer Delivered)
Added Features: Thirty hours of free online practice material
2. Canada College (British Council) Ottawa,
Test Location: 93 Boulevard Greber Gatineau Quebec (Gatineau is only a few km away from Ottawa)
Dates Available: Found by going to through Official IDP Website
Test Day Schedule
8:00 am - 9:00 am - Candidates arrive. At 9:00 am - Doors closed (Latecomers not admitted)
9:30 am - 1300 - Test begins Listening test (40 [30 minutes + 10 minutes]) Reading (60 minutes Writing (60 minutes)
13:20 pm - 18:20 pm - Same day speaking tests (times assigned individually) Speaking 11-14 minutes
Test fee: CAD $ $308.85 (Before Tax) CAD $344 (after tax) [Note paper based and computer based are the same price]
Dates Available: Found by going to through Official IDP Website
Test Day Schedule
8:00 am - 9:00 am - Candidates arrive. At 9:00 am - Doors closed (Latecomers not admitted)
9:30 am - 1300 - Test begins Listening test (40 [30 minutes + 10 minutes]) Reading (60 minutes Writing (60 minutes)
13:20 pm - 18:20 pm - Same day speaking tests (times assigned individually) Speaking 11-14 minutes
Test fee: CAD $ $308.85 (Before Tax) CAD $344 (after tax) [Note paper based and computer based are the same price]
3. English Testing Centre (ETC), Computer Lab Ottawa (British Council) (Computer based only ) $290 (without tax) $327.70 (with tax)
Test Location: 150 Isabella St, Unit 155, Ottawa,
Dates Available: Found on the Booking Site of the British Council
Time Available: Found on British Council Booking site for ETC Isabella Street location
Paper Based
Listening, Reading & Writing 9:30 - 12:30
Speaking 15:00 - 18:40 (Speaking in 20 minute intervals eg First is 15:00, second 15:20 etc and last is 18:40)
Computer Delivered
Listening, Reading & Writing 10:00 - 13:00
Speaking 15:00 - 18:40 (Speaking in 20 minute intervals eg First is 15:00, second 15:20 etc and last is 18:40)
Test fee: CAD $309 (+ taxes) or CAD $349.17 (total) [IELTS tests are subject to 13% HST (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
Dates Available: Found on the Booking Site of the British Council
Time Available: Found on British Council Booking site for ETC Isabella Street location
Paper Based
Listening, Reading & Writing 9:30 - 12:30
Speaking 15:00 - 18:40 (Speaking in 20 minute intervals eg First is 15:00, second 15:20 etc and last is 18:40)
Computer Delivered
Listening, Reading & Writing 10:00 - 13:00
Speaking 15:00 - 18:40 (Speaking in 20 minute intervals eg First is 15:00, second 15:20 etc and last is 18:40)
Test fee: CAD $309 (+ taxes) or CAD $349.17 (total) [IELTS tests are subject to 13% HST (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
4. English Testing Centre (ETC) St Paul University Branch, (British Council) (Paper Based Test Only) Ottawa
Test Location: 223 Main St, Ottawa, Ontario
Dates Available: Found on the Booking Site of the British Council
Time Available: Specified in the British Council Booking site for ETC St Paul
Paper Based
Listening, Reading & Writing 9:30 - 12:30
Speaking 14:40 - 20:20 (Speaking in 20 minute intervals eg First is 14:40, second 15:00 etc and last is 20:00)
Computer Delivered
Listening, Reading & Writing 10:00 - 13:00
Speaking 15:00 - 18:40 (Speaking in 20 minute intervals eg First is 15:00, second 15:20 etc and last is 18:40)
Test fee: CAD $309 (+ taxes) or CAD $349.17 (total) [IELTS tests are subject to 13% HST (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
Dates Available: Found on the Booking Site of the British Council
Time Available: Specified in the British Council Booking site for ETC St Paul
Paper Based
Listening, Reading & Writing 9:30 - 12:30
Speaking 14:40 - 20:20 (Speaking in 20 minute intervals eg First is 14:40, second 15:00 etc and last is 20:00)
Computer Delivered
Listening, Reading & Writing 10:00 - 13:00
Speaking 15:00 - 18:40 (Speaking in 20 minute intervals eg First is 15:00, second 15:20 etc and last is 18:40)
Test fee: CAD $309 (+ taxes) or CAD $349.17 (total) [IELTS tests are subject to 13% HST (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
How Much is the IELTS Fee and what other charges are there?
The price of an IELTS currently stands between 344 - 349. These prices make IELTS one of the most expensive standardized tests, so do compare the advantages and disadvantages of the other tests before deciding. Do also look at the additional charges for rescheduling, refunds, transcript sending and appeals and compare from center to center. For each testing center the following links will be helpful to clearly understand the policies involved.
The following is a ranking of most expensive to least expensive. For most centers, the paper and computer delivered tests are the same price.
1. English Testing Centre (ETC), Computer Lab Ottawa (British Council) (Computer based only )
Test fee: CAD $309 (+ taxes) + (13%) 40.17 or CAD $349.17 (total) (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
2. English Testing Centre (ETC) St Paul University,
Test fee: CAD $309 (+ taxes) + (13%) 40.17 or CAD $349.17 (total) (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
3.Algonquin:
Paper Based = $291.15 (+ taxes) + (13%) 37.85 = 329 (total)
Computer Based = $306.19 (+ taxes) + (13%) 39.81 = $346 (total)
4. Canada College (British Council) Ottawa,
Test fee: CAD $ $304.42 (Before Tax) + (13%) $40.42 = CAD $344 (after tax) (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
If any of these prices, dates, times or policies change increase, please let me know and I'll make the changes.
Also, be sure to understand the appeal or remark system, which is not well displayed in the official site. Briefly, the policy is that the appeal fee is $160.00, and you wait approximately six weeks to be notified of the results (many consider this an unfair amount of time to wait). If there is an improvement, you get your refund back without compensation for having to have waited for 6 weeks but if you lose the appeal, they will confiscate the full $160.
The following is a ranking of most expensive to least expensive. For most centers, the paper and computer delivered tests are the same price.
1. English Testing Centre (ETC), Computer Lab Ottawa (British Council) (Computer based only )
Test fee: CAD $309 (+ taxes) + (13%) 40.17 or CAD $349.17 (total) (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
2. English Testing Centre (ETC) St Paul University,
Test fee: CAD $309 (+ taxes) + (13%) 40.17 or CAD $349.17 (total) (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
3.Algonquin:
Paper Based = $291.15 (+ taxes) + (13%) 37.85 = 329 (total)
Computer Based = $306.19 (+ taxes) + (13%) 39.81 = $346 (total)
4. Canada College (British Council) Ottawa,
Test fee: CAD $ $304.42 (Before Tax) + (13%) $40.42 = CAD $344 (after tax) (Same price for Paper Based & Computer Delivered).
If any of these prices, dates, times or policies change increase, please let me know and I'll make the changes.
Also, be sure to understand the appeal or remark system, which is not well displayed in the official site. Briefly, the policy is that the appeal fee is $160.00, and you wait approximately six weeks to be notified of the results (many consider this an unfair amount of time to wait). If there is an improvement, you get your refund back without compensation for having to have waited for 6 weeks but if you lose the appeal, they will confiscate the full $160.