IELTS in Tamil Nadu
IELTS in Chennai: test venues, fees and online preparation
Where to take IELTS in Chennai, what it costs, which version your goal needs, and how to prepare online before test day.
Fees, venues and score requirements checked on 19 October 2026 against IDP India, the NMC, IRCC and ielts.org. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
₹19,000
IELTS Academic or General Training fee
₹19,250
IELTS for UKVI fee
1 to 2 days
Results for IELTS on computer
2 venues
IDP venues in Chennai, all UKVI-approved
Where to take IELTS in Chennai
IDP runs IELTS in India: the British Council sold its Indian IELTS business to IDP in 2021, so you book every IELTS test in Chennaion IDP’s website.
Elsewhere in Tamil Nadu, IDP lists an IELTS for UKVI centre in Coimbatore.
Check the exact address, reporting time and ID rules on your booking confirmation; venues and timings can change.
IDP venues in Chennai
- Egmore: IELTS and IELTS for UKVI
- Adyar: IELTS and IELTS for UKVI
Sources: IDP India: IELTS for UKVI test centres; The PIE News: British Council's India IELTS business sold to IDP.
IELTS fees in Chennai
IDP charges the same fees at every Indian test centre. Fully paper-based IELTS has been discontinued in India; Writing on Paper keeps a handwritten Writing test with Listening and Reading on computer.
| Test | Fee | Change of date |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training on computer | ₹19,000 | ₹4,750 |
| IELTS Writing on Paper (Listening and Reading on computer) | ₹19,000 | ₹4,750 |
| IELTS for UKVI (on computer) | ₹19,250 | ₹4,850 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 or B1) | ₹18,000 | ₹4,500 |
| One Skill Retake | ₹12,650 | ₹3,200 |
Results: within 1 to 2 days for IELTS on computer and 7 days after the test for Writing on Paper. Cancellation refunds depend on the test type and how close the test date is. Sources: IDP India: IELTS test fees; IDP India: IELTS results.
Which IELTS do you need, and what score?
| Goal | Test | Score needed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Skilled Worker visa (new applicants since 8 January 2026) | IELTS for UKVI, Academic or General Training | At least 5.5 in each of the four skills (CEFR B2) | IELTS: tests for UK Visas and Immigration |
| UK settlement (ILR) applications from 26 March 2027 | An approved test at CEFR B2 | B2, up from B1 on most routes | Bates Wells: B2 English for UK settlement from March 2027 |
| UK nursing or midwifery registration (NMC) | IELTS Academic | Listening 7, Reading 7, Speaking 7, Writing 6.5; two sittings within 12 months can be combined | NMC: accepted English language tests |
| Canada Express Entry, CLB 7 | IELTS General Training | 6.0 in each skill | IRCC: language test equivalency charts |
| Canada Express Entry, CLB 9 | IELTS General Training | Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0 | IRCC: language test equivalency charts |
Universities set their own scores for each course, so check the course page. Use the band calculator to see how your four scores combine, and the band score guide for what each band means.
Taking IELTS from Chennai
Chennai has two IDP IELTS venues, Egmore in the centre and Adyar in the south, and both are listed for IELTS for UKVI. Candidates from western Tamil Nadu can also test in Coimbatore.
Nursing and healthcare candidates are a large part of IELTS demand in Tamil Nadu. For UK registration the NMC needs IELTS Academic, not General Training, with 7 in three skills and 6.5 in Writing, so check which test you are booking.
For nurses: Writing is often the deciding skill
The NMC accepts 6.5 in Writing but 7 everywhere else. Get criterion-by-criterion feedback on your essays and graphs, and use the rule that lets you combine two sittings within 12 months if you narrowly miss one skill.
Prepare online from Chennai
Start with a timed mock test to find your weakest skills, then practise them with the AI Writing Evaluator and AI Speaking Evaluator, and keep building range with the free vocabulary drills. The study plan generator turns your test date into a day-by-day plan. Scores and feedback from these tools are estimates to guide your practice, not official IELTS results.
Check your Writing before test day: estimated band scores for all four criteria, with comments on what to fix
Try the AI Writing EvaluatorIELTS in Chennai: questions
What is the IELTS exam fee in Chennai?
₹19,000 for IELTS Academic or General Training (on computer or Writing on Paper) and ₹19,250 for IELTS for UKVI. IDP charges the same fee in every Indian city. One Skill Retake costs ₹12,650.
Where are the IELTS test centres in Chennai?
IDP lists venues in Egmore and Adyar, both approved for IELTS for UKVI. Coimbatore also has an IDP UKVI centre.
What IELTS score do Tamil Nadu nurses need for the UK?
IELTS Academic with Listening 7, Reading 7, Speaking 7 and Writing 6.5, according to the NMC. General Training is not accepted for registration.
Can I change my IELTS date in Chennai?
Yes, for a fee: ₹4,750 for IELTS on computer or Writing on Paper and ₹4,850 for IELTS for UKVI. Cancellation refunds depend on the test type and how close the test is; IDP's fee page sets them out.
Other Indian cities
Sources
- IDP India: IELTS test fees
- IDP India: IELTS for UKVI test centres
- IDP India: IELTS results
- The PIE News: British Council's India IELTS business sold to IDP
- IELTS: tests for UK Visas and Immigration
- NMC: accepted English language tests
- IRCC: language test equivalency charts
- Bates Wells: B2 English for UK settlement from March 2027
Checked on 19 October 2026. IELTS is a registered trademark of its owners; IELTS Prep Studio is not affiliated with IDP, the British Council or Cambridge University Press & Assessment.