IELTS exam fee in Thailand (2026) and how to book with IDP or the British Council

How much does IELTS cost in Thailand in 2026?

The standard fees below were checked on the official IDP IELTS Thailand and British Council Thailand pages in October 2026. Both providers list the same price for the same test, and Academic costs exactly the same as General Training.

Fees do change, and both providers publish limited-time promotions and discount codes, so the price on the checkout page on the day you book is the one that counts.

Computer or paper? Every IELTS test in Thailand is now on computer

Both IDP and the British Council announced that from 22 March 2026 all IELTS tests in Thailand are delivered on computer. You no longer choose between paper and computer, and there is no separate paper price.

The test itself is unchanged: IELTS on computer has the same format, questions and scoring as the paper test, and the Speaking test is still a face-to-face conversation with a trained IELTS examiner. What improves is everything around it — results usually arrive in one to two days, there are more test dates, you can book as late as one day before registration closes, and a computer test makes you eligible for One Skill Retake.

If an older blog post or forum thread still quotes a paper test date or price, treat it as out of date and trust the live booking system.

IDP or British Council: which should you book?

It is the same IELTS test with the same scoring and the same Test Report Form. Universities, employers and immigration authorities recognise IELTS itself, not a particular provider, so a result from IDP counts exactly the same as one from the British Council. The choice is practical: which centre is closest, which date and Speaking slot suit you, and which change-of-date rules you are more comfortable with.

• Location and dates: both run centres in Bangkok and several provinces — compare the dates actually open in your city.
• Transfer fee: IDP charges 800 THB to move a test 5–14 days before the date; the British Council charges 25% of the fee in the same window. Both allow free transfers 15 or more days ahead.
• Preparation extras: British Council test takers get IELTS Ready Premium with 40+ practice tests; IDP has offered booked candidates free extras such as e-books and a Speaking mock — check its current promotion.
• Promotions: both providers publish time-limited discounts, so compare prices on the day you book.

How to book IELTS in Thailand, step by step

• Choose the test: Academic for university study or professional registration, General Training for work or migration, and IELTS for UKVI only if a UK visa application asks for it.
• Pick your provider, city and date in the IDP or British Council online booking system.
• Enter your name exactly as it appears on your ID and upload a clear copy of the document.
• Choose your Speaking slot if offered — the British Council lets computer test takers choose.
• Pay online: IDP accepts Visa or Mastercard cards and PromptPay, and asks you to pay within 24 hours of booking to keep the seat.
• Save the confirmation emails with the venue, start time and Speaking time.

What ID do you need for IELTS in Thailand?

Thai citizens can register with a Thai national ID card or a passport. If you are not a Thai citizen, a passport is the only accepted ID. Whichever you use, bring the same valid document on test day: the British Council refuses a different, invalid or expired ID, and IDP warns that missing the required ID means disqualification with no refund.

Candidates under 18 need written consent from a parent or guardian, and the British Council does not recommend IELTS for anyone under 16. If you might use One Skill Retake later, keep the same ID valid — the retake must use the ID from your original test.

What the test fee includes

The fee covers all four skills — Listening, Reading and Writing on computer plus the face-to-face Speaking test — and your results. The British Council issues an electronic Test Report Form by default, sends your result to up to five institutions at no extra cost, charges 500 THB plus courier for each additional copy, and gives booked candidates IELTS Ready Premium preparation.

What the fee does not include is a second attempt. A full retake costs the full fee again and even a One Skill Retake costs about 5,000 THB, so it pays to practise until your mock scores reach your target before you book.

Changing or cancelling your test date

IDP and the British Council publish slightly different transfer fees but the same refund windows. Check the policy of the provider you booked with before you change anything.

• 15 or more days before the test: transfer free of charge, or cancel for a 75% refund.
• 5–14 days before: a transfer is allowed with a fee — 800 THB at IDP, 25% of the test fee at the British Council. Cancellations inside 14 days are not refunded.
• Fewer than 5 days before: transfers are not allowed.
• IDP allows only one transfer, and the new date must fall within three months.
• Illness or emergency: ask your test centre about special consideration with supporting evidence — the British Council accepts requests up to two calendar days after a missed test.

Make the fee count: practise free before you book

At 8,860 THB a sitting, the cheapest IELTS is the one you only take once. Before you pay, take a free diagnostic and practise all four skills with instant feedback at engforedu.com/journey, and use the free talk-to-progress speaking game at engforedu.com/pine-speak to build daily out-loud practice for the face-to-face Speaking test.

Book when your timed practice scores sit at or above your target in every skill — not before.