IELTS

IELTS has cemented its position as the world’s most popular high stakes English language
test with latest figures revealing a record 1.5 million tests were taken around the world
in 2010.

IELTS measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.

Since 1989, IELTS has been proven and trusted worldwide to provide a secure, global, authentic and customer-focused test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English. More than 6,000 education institutions, faculties, government agencies and professional organisations around the world recognise IELTS scores as a trusted and valid indicator of ability to communicate in English.

PIBT is an official testing agency and offers examinations on ECU’s Mt Lawley and Joondalup campuses.

New Courses

PIBT offers one new short course. The course is taught by qualified English language teachers experienced in IELTS preparation.

The Preparation Course for IELTS is a 16-hour course (over 4 weeks). It provides strategies on how to approach each of the test components and helps candidates improve the skills that are required in the IELTS test. The course is taught by qualified English language teachers experienced in IELTS preparation.

PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY: if you apply at Joondalup, your test will be at Joondalup Campus. If you apply at Mt Lawley, your test will be at Mt Lawley Campus. There are no exceptions to this rule. Please click on the link for the campus where you want to take your test:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What documentation do I need to apply?

A :

  • Completed IELTS application form (please answer all questions).
  • 2 identical passport sized photos (colour) not more than 6 months old – see guidelines in the Information Flyer.
  • You must have an original and valid passport to apply – expired passports not accepted. National Identity Cards are not accepted as they are not a valid document in Australia. For candidates applying in person, you MUST bring with you your original and valid passport. Your passport must be valid on your test date.
  • For Western Australian postal applications, you MUST include a clear photocopy of your passport including both the photo page and the signature page.
  • For interstate postal applications, you MUST include a certified photocopy of your passport including both the photo page and the signature page. Photocopies can be certified by a Police Officer, Pharmacist, Lawyer, Justice of the Peace/Public Notary, Post Office Manager. Priority is given to West Australian candidates, but interstate candidates are accepted and welcome to apply by post.

NOTE: National Identity Cards are not accepted as they are not a valid form of identification in Australia.

Q: Can I apply to sit a test at Mt Lawley or Joondalup if I live in another state?

A : Yes. We take applications from interstate based candidates. See the Joondalup or Mt Lawley Information Flyer for information. Priority given to WA based applications.

Q: Can I put my name on a list if I want to get an earlier test date?

A : No. We do not keep any cancellation or waiting lists.

Q: What sort of photo do I need to have taken?

A : Follow this link for more information.

NOTE: A photo booth which takes passport photos is available on Mt Lawley campus in Clusters Cafeteria in Building 12, and on Joondalup Campus in the Bookshop in Building 31 (near the library). Passport photos cost $10 for 4. The booth does not give change; you must insert the correct money. PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

Q: How much does it cost to take the test in 2012?

A : The test fee is $330 for all tests.
PIBT accepts EFTPOS, various Credit Cards (but not Amex or Diners) and Australian Money Orders (made payable to PIBT). The test fee is exempt of the 1.5% credit card surcharge. Cash and cheques are not accepted under any circumstances.

Q: What other information do I need to know to apply with a postal application?

A : Please use the Credit Card Payment form (available here) or an Australia Post Money Order (available from any Post Office and made payable to PIBT) and post together with your completed Application Form and other required documentation.
Please note that if you do not include the required documents, passport photos, copy of your passport (certified for interstate applications) and the payment (Money order made out to PIBT OR a completed Credit Card Payment form), your application will not be processed and it will be returned to you. Cash and cheques are not accepted. It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide all the stated documents.

Q. What do I need to do if I have special needs such as dyslexia, seeing or hearing difficulties?

A : Candidates with special needs must inform the PIBT IELTS Test Centre a minimum of three months prior to their preferred test date. Supporting (current) medical evidence from the candidate’s medical specialist must accompany the Application Form. A medical certificate from a general practitioner (G.P) will not suffice.

Q: Which test do I take?

A : There are two types of IELTS modules, Academic and General.
Academic Reading and Writing modules should be taken by those applying for tertiary, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses and for professional registration. General Training Reading and Writing modules should be taken by those who are going to study secondary education, undertake work experience, or for immigration purposes.
Staff members at the IELTS Test Centre are not able to advise you about which test to take. It is your responsibility to select the module that best meets your needs. Please consult your prospective receiving institution/sponsor if you are uncertain which test to take.

Q: What happens if I want to cancel or get a refund?

A : The cancellation or transfer of a test date must be made in person, via email or upon receipt of completed Refund Request Form by post or fax. The date that IELTS Administration receives the Refund Request Form is deemed to be the date that you have cancelled/transferred. Please note that if the 5 week deadline falls on a Saturday, then the form must be submitted on the Friday (the day before).
You must provide 5 weeks notice as outlined in the table below. If posting the Refund Request Form, please allow sufficient time for the form to reach our office. The Refund/Cancellation/ Transfer Form is available under Documents and Forms or from PIBT reception. Please attach your original receipt when applying for a refund.

 

Overpayment of fee, i.e. candidate included GST in payment when using a cheque or Australian Money Order. Candidate eligible for the full amount of over-payment.
Cancellation more than 5 weeks prior to the test date. Candidate eligible for refund; will incur administrative fee of $77.50
Transfer to another test date more than 5 weeks prior to the original test date. Administrative fee of $77.50 will apply.
Cancellation or no show on the test day, candidate will only be eligible for a refund if they can provide evidence of a serious illness* or exceptional circumstances. An application for a refund must be lodged within 5 working days after the test. If the refund is approved, an administrative fee of 25% of the full test fee will apply.

 

Please note: It is not permissible for the candidate to transfer to another test date within the 5 week period (prior to the test date); and/or if the candidate wishes to cancel the test within the 5 week period (prior to the test date), then both requests will be treated as a cancellation and the full test fee will be forfeited. (IELTS transfer policy).

*In case of serious illness, please have your G.P. or medical practitioner complete the IELTS Medical Evidence form which is available as a download on the website. This form MUST be completed and submitted to IELTS Administration, with the medical certificate, within 5 working days after the test.

Q: Does PIBT offer any courses to help me when I take the IELTS test?

A : PIBT offers 1 short courses. Please follow the link for further information.

Q: Where do I take the test?

A : You will take the IELTS test on the same campus where you applied for the test.

Q: How do I get to the campus on public transport?

A : Bus and train You can get timetables from a Transperth Information Centre or via the Transperth website.
If you are driving to the Campus please always use Visitors Parking and purchase a ticket. Tickets required Monday – Fridays. Parking Inspectors patrol the car parks and will issue a fine if no valid parking ticket is visible on your vehicle. Check maps for Visitor Parking bays.
Parking on test days (Saturday only) is free. Please observe campus signage or other directions as required.

Q: What is the confirmation email?

A : A confirmation email will be sent to all candidates 10 working days before the test date. This email will confirm the test date, time, location and information regarding what to bring with you on the test day.
You must print and bring the confirmation email with you on your test day or you will not be admitted to the test.
If you do not receive your confirmation email by the Wednesday before the test, it is your responsibility to contact the centre by sending an email to ielts@pibt.wa.edu.au (for tests at Mt Lawley test centre) or ieltsjo@pibt.wa.edu.au (for tests at Joondalup test centre).

Q: What happens on the test day?

A : On the day of the test you need to arrive at the test venue by 8.15am at the latest to have your identity checked before entering the test room.
You must bring your passport and the confirmation email with you on your test day or you will not be admitted to the test.
Testing starts promptly at 9.00am. Late arrivals will not be admitted. The test consists of four sections:

  • Listening (40 min)
  • Reading (60 min)
  • Writing (60 min)
  • Speaking (approximately 20 min)

Listening, reading and writing tests will be completed in the morning. The speaking test will be held in the afternoon and candidates may need to be available until 6.00pm.

Q: When will I get my results?

A : Test Result Forms are produced and usually posted out to candidates 13 days after the test day. The 13th day is always a Friday. It can take up to 4 working days, after posting, for you to receive your results (at the address that you supplied on your application form).
As per the Information for Candidates booklet, “results will not be given over the phone nor by fax or email”. Results may not be collected from the office.
Important note: For reasons of test integrity, IELTS Test Centres are sometimes unable to release results until authorised to do so by IELTS Australia. This may mean that results are released later than the 13 days. The Test Centre has no control over this release date.

Q: What do I do if I want to query my results after I take the test?

A : The Enquiry on Results form can be obtained from the IELTS Test Centre. A fee of $176 (GST included) applies.
The Enquiry on Results form has to be lodged within six weeks of the test date. Candidates MUST apply in person (at the campus where the test was taken) and attach the original Test Result Form (TRF).
Remarks are sent to IELTS Australia in Canberra and take up to 6 weeks to be completed (from the date of application). IELTS Australia notifies candidates of the outcome.