Easy Arrangements for IELTS Aspirants Due to COVID 19 Outbreak

Things have changed drastically for those who are planning to take IELTS due to COVID 19 outbreak. Amidst the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the aspirants of IELTS are literally confused, and to release them from their confusion, the conducting authority is trying their best. Here is an important announcement from the British council towards the candidates.

Announcement

This year, IELTS exam will take place just like every other year but this year special attention will be given to the safety guidelines from the national and state governments. By every means the conducting authority of IELTS is ensuring the safety of the candidates.

The conducting authority of IELTS - Cambridge ESOL, the British Council & IDP, in their latest announcement confirmed that the safety and security of the test-takers will always be the first and foremost concern of them. To implement more safety they will ensure no candidate with any symptom of COVID-19 will come in contact with the other test-takers in the exam center.

This year the candidates of IELTS will have to inform the conducting authority via mail in case

• They are in home-quarantine for 14 days as per the guidelines of the Indian government
• They came in contact with any suspect of COVID-19 or positive cases of COVID-19
• They have any symptom like cold, flu or fever for the last few days

In case the conducting authority receives any mail regarding these from the IELTS candidates, they will probably take some steps to make sure that these candidates do not come in contact with other test-takers. On the day of the test, the candidates will need to sign a form with the declaration of the above before taking the test.

IELTS Rescheduling and Refund

Well, that's a brilliant step taken by the conducting authority of the exam and announced that the candidates with any or all the scenarios mentioned above will be able to reschedule IELTS. On the date of the rescheduled exam, the candidates will be given a health declaration form where the reason for rescheduling will be mentioned and the candidates need to confirm that by signing that form.

It is also mentioned that the candidates will be able to get a refund of their exam fees in case the rescheduling facility is not available. In this matter, the candidate may need to cancel the exam and get a money refund for that.

For more details about this, the candidates just need to send a mail to examscustomercare@britishcouncil.org and they will get the instructions regarding this. The candidates are also requested to drop a mail to this email ID in case any of the 3 points are applicable for the candidate.

Please note that there will not be any change in IELTS syllabus and exam pattern. 

Important Announcement for the Day of the Exam

The conducting authority is trying their best to syncopate the state and national health guidelines and due to this, they have announced a few rules to be followed on the day of the exam. These rules include:

• A health check up on the day of the exam
• Compulsory use of a mask
• Maintenance of minimum 2-meter distance from everyone (examiners or the test-takers) in the test center
• Proper maintenance of hygiene with sanitizer
• Proper use of the bins to dispose of the masks
• Taking all the stationery with them after the exam

The candidates may need to take off their masks during the identification and verification process. Verification, in the same way, will be done in case the candidates take a break for the toilet. The mask needs to cover the mouth and nose of the candidates.

In terms of hygiene, it is also announced that a hand sanitizer will be available in the test center which the candidates can use to wash hands. It is, however, not mentioned in the announcement whether the candidates are allowed to use or bring their hand sanitizers in the test centers.

The conducting authority of IELTS has confirmed that not only the safety of the candidates is important to them but also the safety of the examiners equally matters to them. This is why they are sanitizing all the test centers right now. This sanitizing process includes computers as well.

The staff will receive a facemask on the day of the exam too so that no germs can affect them. Along with this, it is also mentioned that the test-takers or the examiners will not remove the masks at any cost even during the speaking test of IELTS.

After-Exam Guidelines

In case a candidate is diagnosed with Covid-19 within 14 or fewer days of the exam, they are requested to inform this via mail. Alternatively, they can mail and inform this directly to the test center as well. In case something like this happens the test-takers and staff and examiners of that day will be informed as per the regulations of the government.

It means that there will be no compromise regarding health and safety even though the candidates with the test will be one step closer to their dreams of studying aboard.

Please be informed that the conducting authority may take some time to respond to your queries results, report forms, rescuing exam, cancellation of the exam, and refund, but they will surely get back to the candidates. Till then take the best preparation for IELTS. Best of luck!