IELTS Testing Centre

Saint Mary’s University will not be offering IELTS exams following March 16, 2024.

For alternative test locations please visit www.ielts.ca 

 

IELTS: Go more places. A picture of three you people walking and smiling.

British Council and IELTS

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) has been developed by leading experts across the globe. The test assesses the English Language proficiency of those who wish to study, work, or immigrate within an English-speaking environment.

IELTS tests four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking

Global recognition

Due to its outstanding international reputation, IELTS is accepted worldwide by over 11,000 organizations, including schools, universities, employers, immigration authorities and professional bodies.

IELTS is the most widely recognized high-stakes English language test system for visa and citizenship purposes in Canada as well as Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

For more information about IELTS in Canada, visit the IELTS Canada website.

Book a test

The Language Centre at Saint Mary's University offers both paper-based and computer-based tests across Atlantic Canada! 

For a list of our upcoming test dates please see the online registration page for Saint Mary's University.

To register for the IELTS Test in at Saint Mary’s University you should:

  1. Complete the on-line application – apply here. Please bear in mind that sessions will not be visible in the system after the registration deadline. Once your application has been submitted, you cannot go back to change your details.

  2.  After you have entered your details in the Online Registration System, the following documents must be uploaded to the Test Taker portal, or sent via email to ielts@smu.ca:

    • Clear photo of your valid Passport Information Page

     OR 

    • Clear photo of your Permanent Residency Card

     **Please note that your place is not guaranteed until a payment has been made**

  3. Along with your ID document, you will need to submit your test fee immediately after registering for the test.

    HALIFAX, NS - $354

    CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI - $374

    SAINT JOHN, NB - $374

    You can pay for your IELTS registration using the following methods:

    • In person – Visit us at the Language Centre at Saint Mary’s University on the 3rd floor

If you prefer to use post, please see our mailing address below.

IELTS Administrator - CA099
The Language Centre - Saint Mary's University
923 Robie Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada B3H 3C3

  1. Your registration will not be confirmed until both your payment as well as a copy of your valid Passport or valid Permanent Residency card have been received. You MUST have this original ID with you on the test day. You will not be able to write the test without your passport or PR card.

  2. You will receive a registration confirmation and further test day information after receipt of your documents and payment. This information will be sent to you by email.

  3. Please note you must bring your passport or Canadian Permanent Residency Card on the test day. No other form of identity will be accepted and no exceptions will be made. Without your ID, you cannot sit the test. Please bring whichever ID you used on the application form.

NOTE!! Please note that, as part of our ongoing commitment to test security, all IELTS candidates will have their photograph taken by IELTS staff just before the test. This photo will then appear on the candidates’ Test Report Forms (TRF).

You must bring the original proof of identification that you submitted with your application on test day.

Test Result Report Forms (TRF)

Paper based IELTS test results are available 13 days after the test date.

Computer delivered IELTS test results are available 3 - 5 days after the test date.

Hard copies of the Test Report Form are posted to the mailing address provided on the application form through Canada Post via regular postage on the result release date. Should you require a courier please contact ielts@smu.ca

Details regarding in-person Test Report Form pick up will be emailed to test takers on the result release date.

Additional test report forms can be requested by sending this completed Additional TRF Request Form to ielts@smu.ca

The fees are as follows:

Additional Test Report Form Application Fee - $25 (Regular postage)

Local Courier ($25) International ($60)

Candidates may request up to five additional TRFs to send to different institutions or organizations free of charge. An admin fee of $25 is applied to all applications. Submissions must be made in writing, using the form above, to the Test Centre with a copy of the ID used on test day. Fees listed above apply.

IELTS Test Results are valid for 2 years.

Enquiry on Results (EOR)

IELTS at Saint Mary's University guarantees that all of our staff are standardized to the global IELTS training standards and adhere to all necessary marking standards. That being said, we do have a formal process for the appeal of results. It is called an Enquiry on Results. This inquiry must be made within 5 weeks of your test date and will take 2-21 days to be returned. The time depends on several factors including the number of sections requested to be remarked. There is a $250.00 fee for this service. If the test results improve, a partial refund less an administrative fee will be issued, however you will be required to return your previously issued Test Report Form (TRF) prior to a new one being issued. 

For further information, please email Ielts@smu.ca 

The IELTS test comes in two formats:

  •  IELTS Academic: If you want to study at university, at an undergraduate or postgraduate level, or join a professional association where English is a prerequisite.

  •  IELTS General: If you want to apply for Express Entry or any other immigration program in order to establish anywhere in Canada.

Please check your requirements to ensure you have registered for the correct version of the test for your needs.

For more information, visit: www.ielts.ca & www.takeielts.org.

Cancellations

You can cancel your IELTS test registration at any time before taking your test by notifying your Test Centre. Refund terms depend upon when you cancel and whether exceptional circumstances apply.

 

1. Time to test date

1.1  More than 14 days before the test (not including test day):

If you cancel your IELTS test registration more than 14 days before the test you will receive a 75% refund of the total test fee

1.2  Within 14 days but more than five days before the test (not including test day):

If you cancel your IELTS test registration within 14 days but more than five days before the test you will receive a 50% refund of the total test fee.

1.3 Within five days of the test (not including test day):

If you cancel your IELTS test registration within five days of the test you will not receive any refund.

         A. Transfers

Test day transfers are subject to a $75 admin fee and the fully filled out forms must be submitted to us at least 14 days prior to your test date.  For a transfer form please contact ielts@smu.ca

 

2. Test taker exceptions

You may make a case for exceptional circumstances to your test centre before the test and up to five days after the test date if you did not attend the test. Your test centre will respond to you within seven working days of receiving your case in writing. Your test centre will assess your case for exceptional circumstances.

All cases for exceptional circumstances and supporting evidence must be received by your test centre no later than five days after the scheduled test date.

If your test centre approves your case, you will receive a full refund less an administration fee of no more than 25% of the test fee.

If your test centre does not approve your case, then the terms given in Section 1 will apply.

We define exceptional circumstances as:

  • serious medical conditions which prevent you from attending or performing normally on test day; such conditions require supporting evidence of a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner
  • evidence of bereavement, trauma or other forms of significant hardship
  • military service

 

3. Test centre exceptions

Under certain circumstances outside test centre control, we may have to cancel your test. These circumstances include, and are not limited to, extreme weather conditions, natural disaster, civil unrest and industrial action.

In these circumstances, your test centre will provide you with as much notice as possible and give you the choice of either:

  • a full refund, or
  • a transfer to a future test date convenient to you.

In cases where your test centre cancels a test under circumstances within its control then in addition to a full refund or transfer to another test date, you may be eligible to apply for compensation for expenses incurred. Your eligibility will be assessed as a reasonable claim or not by the test centre and any compensation will be awarded depending on the following conditions:

  • The test centre will assess whether the decision to cancel is within or outside its control.
  • Any compensation awarded will be limited to travel and accommodation expenses only and which are:

- directly incurred as a result of planning your attendance on test day
- evidenced by payment receipt(s)
- evidenced that cancelled travel and/or accommodation charges are non-recoverable from vendor
- benchmarked against lowest reasonable market rates for the expenses in question (this will be carried out by the test centre).

  • If you travel further than the closest test venue to your normal place of residence then the test centre will not find your claim reasonable.

Registration

On the test day, please arrive 30 minutes prior to your individual speaking test time. You will receive your individual speaking test schedule via email one week prior to the test date. The Listening, Reading and Writing sections of the paper based IELTS test will take place from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM without a break. Any candidates that arrive for the afternoon session later than 12:30 PM will not be permitted to take the test. Start times for Computer Delivered IELTS sessions vary. Speaking tests may be offered before or after the Listening. Reading and Writing Computer Delivered IELTS test. Missed tests will only be considered for refund if the absence was the result of serious illness, death or hardship.

Stationery and possessions (Test day)

  • The Test Centre will supply you with a pencil and eraser. 

  • Cellular phones and other electronic devices are not permitted in the test room. A secure cloakroom will be provided, however, you are encouraged to leave valuable items at home.

  • If you bring drinks, such as water, please make sure they are in a clear container and that any labels have been removed.

Your test day satisfaction is important to us and the integrity of the IELTS exam as a whole. If you have a complaint related to the conduct of your IELTS exam, please contact the IELTS test centre directly.

Contact

IELTS Office - CA099
The Language Centre - Saint Mary's University
923 Robie Street | Halifax NS, B3H 3C3
Tel: 902-491-8683  |  ielts@smu.ca

Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Subject to SMU holiday closures)

For more information about IELTS in Canada, visit the IELTS Canada website.

We encourage and welcome all registrants, candidates, and/or test takers.

In playing our part to address under representation, we encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of disability. We welcome requests for specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities. Our partner, the British Council, is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity, and inclusion across all our collaborative endeavours. For more information, please visit https://www.britishcouncil.org/about-us/our-values/equality-diversity-inclusion.

IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.