WIB, WITA or WIT: how far ahead of Hanoi you are
Hanoi is on UTC+7. According to the IANA time zone database, Indonesia has three time zones, and neither Indonesia nor Vietnam currently uses daylight saving, so the gaps stay the same all year. Areas follow its zone descriptions, with some wording added or respelled for clarity (for example Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of New Guinea, and the spelling Nusa Tenggara).
| Zone | Offset | Areas (from IANA, reworded) | Compared with Hanoi |
|---|---|---|---|
| WIB (western) | UTC+7 | Java and Sumatra, including Jakarta; west and central Borneo (Kalimantan), including Pontianak | Same clock time |
| WITA (central) | UTC+8 | East and south Borneo (Kalimantan); Sulawesi, including Makassar; Bali; Nusa Tenggara; west Timor | 1 hour ahead of Hanoi |
| WIT (eastern) | UTC+9 | Papua (the Indonesian part of New Guinea), including Jayapura; Maluku | 2 hours ahead of Hanoi |
For example (not a promised slot), 19:00 in Hanoi is 19:00 in Jakarta, 20:00 in Denpasar and 21:00 in Jayapura. The booking page calendar shows open slots in your own timezone. Open times depend on Mike's calendar and no particular hours are promised.
Lessons in English, not Bahasa Indonesia
Sessions run 60 minutes in English only, not Bahasa Indonesia, with a paid 30-minute trial on your first booking. Prices differ by region and Indonesia pays the same as Vietnam; the booking page shows the price in your own currency before you pay. See about Mike, how the lessons work and tutor versus group course (written for Hanoi).
The IELTS test in Indonesia: providers, format and IELTS Online
Band Booster IELTS is a private tutor, not the exam board or a test centre. It does not register students, set exam fees or choose test dates, and it is not affiliated with IDP or the British Council. This page quotes no exam fees or dates because they change; its facts come from the providers' Indonesian pages and ielts.org, read in October 2026.
Where to book
- IDP. IDP IELTS Indonesia lists IELTS Academic, General Training, IELTS for UKVI and One Skill Retake. Its test locations and dates page lets you find a centre.
- British Council. In Indonesia, the British Council says its exams are offered with its sister organisation, the Yayasan Dewan Inggris Indonesia (British Council Indonesia Foundation), whose IELTS pages cover dates, fees, locations and booking.
The British Council lists IELTS on computer test centres in Medan, Padang, Jakarta, Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, Bandung, Tangerang, Semarang, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Manado and Denpasar. The ielts.org test-centre finder shows centres across the country.
On computer, with a live examiner for Speaking
Both providers announced changes that move IELTS in Indonesia to computer from mid-2026: the British Council says it will no longer offer IELTS on paper there, and IDP says all its IELTS tests will be on computer, with IELTS Life Skills staying on paper. ielts.org likewise announced the end of paper-based IELTS from mid-2026, with timelines varying by market. Some provider pages still mention paper, so confirm the format when you book.
For computer-based IELTS, IDP Indonesia describes Listening, Reading and Writing as taken on computer. ielts.org says it will offer a handwritten 'Writing on Paper' option in selected markets, so check at booking whether it applies in Indonesia.
Speaking is with a live examiner, but the providers describe it differently. IDP Indonesia says it stays face to face, before or after the other three parts. British Council Indonesia says some of its test centres hold Speaking by video call with an examiner, with the same content, scoring, timing and format as in person. Its test-day page says Speaking may be on the same day as the other sections or up to a week before or after, and that you will be told in advance if it falls on a different day. Its dates page also says you can choose your Speaking test slot, so check the Speaking date when you book.
IELTS Online, the test taken at home, is not currently offered in Indonesia, according to both providers.
How quickly results arrive
ielts.org says most IELTS on computer results are issued within 2 days, and British Council Indonesia gives 1–2 days for IELTS on computer and 1–5 days for IELTS for UKVI. IDP Indonesia's own pages give different ranges, up to 5 days. These are typical timings, not promises, so check with the provider you book with.
Which version you need, and UKVI in Indonesia
Whoever receives your result (a university, employer or immigration authority) decides which test and score you need, so confirm both with them; IELTS Academic vs General Training explains how the two differ. Both providers offer IELTS for UKVI in Indonesia; the British Council's UKVI page says UK Visas and Immigration only accepts tests taken in person at an IELTS for UKVI test centre, so check which centres offer it.
Retaking the test, or just one skill
British Council Indonesia's results page says there are no restrictions on retaking IELTS, but that your score is unlikely to rise unless you make a significant effort to improve your English first.
If one skill let you down, IELTS One Skill Retake may be an option. IDP says it is available at selected test centres in Indonesia. British Council Indonesia's One Skill Retake page says you need a recent full computer test with results from a centre that offers it, and that you can retake one skill once per original test, within 60 days. See One Skill Retake or a full retake for how to choose; sessions can focus on that one skill.