People searching for an IELTS test centre in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland usually want three things: a street address, whether the venue takes IELTS for UKVI, and whether the test is on computer. This page sets out what the official list shows. It is general information, not personal advice, and the list changes, so always check the provider before booking.
What the official list shows
The ielts.org test centre list for the United Kingdom showed 111 results when this page was written. Every venue below appears there under the British Council name. Several venues are listed more than once, with different formats on each listing, so the same address can appear as "Computer" on one line and "One Skill Retake" on another. We give addresses only and leave out the names of the buildings' other occupants.
| City | Address | UKVI Approved flag | Formats shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 9th Floor, Exchange Tower, 19 Canning Street, EH3 8EG | Yes | Computer, One Skill Retake |
| Edinburgh | 40 Sciennes, EH9 1NJ | No | Computer, Computer (Writing on Paper), One Skill Retake |
| Edinburgh | 66 Queen Street, EH2 4NA | No | Computer, Computer (Writing on Paper) |
| Glasgow | 3rd Floor, Moncrieff House, 69 West Nile Street, G1 2QB | Yes | One Skill Retake |
| Glasgow | 39 St Vincent Place, G1 2ER | No | Computer, Computer (Writing on Paper) |
| Aberdeen | 17 Albyn Place, AB10 1RU | No | Computer, Computer (Writing on Paper), One Skill Retake |
| Cardiff | 1 Kingsway, CF10 3AQ | Yes | Computer, One Skill Retake |
| Cardiff | 18 Park Grove, CF10 3BN | No | Computer, One Skill Retake |
| Belfast | 16 Cromac Place, 2nd Floor, BT7 2JB | Yes on three listings, no on one | Computer, Computer (Writing on Paper), One Skill Retake |
The flags and formats are as shown on the list at the time of writing. A listing can be added, removed or changed without notice.
How to read the flags
- UKVI Approved. The list marks some listings this way. If you need IELTS for UKVI for a visa application, check the provider's booking page and the gov.uk list below for the current position.
- Computer (Writing on Paper). Five addresses in this region show it: 40 Sciennes, 66 Queen Street, 39 St Vincent Place, 17 Albyn Place and 16 Cromac Place. Check the provider's page for exactly what this format involves.
- One Skill Retake. Some listings show this format. Check the provider's page for what is offered at that address and who accepts the result. See also our page on one skill retakes in the UK.
Glasgow: two addresses, two answers
In Glasgow, ielts.org flags West Nile Street as UKVI Approved and shows St Vincent Place without that flag. The gov.uk guidance on secure English language tests links a list of approved test centres, and says UKVI publishes the page and that centres are assessed as meeting Home Office requirements. If the two sources differ for the venue you want, check the named gov.uk page for the current rule and ask the provider to confirm in writing. Read the gov.uk SELT guidance for the current rule on when a visa or citizenship application needs a secure test.
Check the individual centre pages too
The individual ielts.org pages for the Edinburgh Exchange Tower address and the Cardiff Kingsway address, when fetched for this page, listed only Life Skills tests, while the list page shows Computer and One Skill Retake for the same addresses. We cannot tell from the pages why. Before you travel or pay, use the British Council booking link on the venue's page and confirm that the exact test, format and date you need is offered there. Fees and dates are set by the provider, so we do not give them.
Practical points
- Decide whether you need standard IELTS or IELTS for UKVI. Our page on UKVI or standard IELTS explains the difference.
- Pick the format: full computer, or computer with Writing on Paper.
- Open the provider's booking page and look for your city, address and date.
- Check the ID rules before test day. Our page on UKVI ID rules covers what to read.
For England, see the London and northern England pages, or the UKVI centre list by city.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
Mike does not book tests or choose venues for you. What he can do is prepare you for the four sections: he marks Writing Task 1 and Task 2 against the public band descriptors, runs Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format with feedback in the moment, and leaves written progress notes in your account. His own IELTS result is 8.5 in Speaking, and he has 12+ years teaching English and IELTS in Vietnam, Turkey and Iran, with a Cambridge CELTA from July 2017.
Lessons are one-to-one, live on Google Meet, in English, 60 minutes each. The booking calendar shows every slot in your own time zone. The UK is 7 hours behind Hanoi in winter and 6 hours behind in summer, so check the slot times shown before you pay. You can reschedule at no charge up to 12 hours before a slot, and there is no subscription or package. A paid 30-minute trial is available once per student on the first booking. You can book on the booking page or read more about Mike.
