Taking the IELTS in Manila

So here's the procedure and what to expect when taking the IELTS exam here in Manila.  Although I know that I already speak English fluently, we as Filipino's still have to take it regardless.  For things such as work and migration to different English speaking countries etc.  It's a reality we have to face and it's a somewhat costly one.

So the big question is: How much is it?

It's P9, 400 if taken with the British Council Philippines.  You can find their website here:  https://www.britishcouncil.ph/.  Their main office is located in Ortigas near that infamous BPI Julia Vargas Branch.

Are there cheaper options for the IELTS?  I personally didn’t find any other testing centers that where cheaper.  But I did find one that was more expensive at around P10, 000.

If you have other questions such as what to study, how to study etc., that information you can find online.  There's plenty of review material for you to take.  Generally Google and YouTube will be your best friend for this.

So the first step is to realize that you need to take this exam.  Then, go to their website and sign up.  Fill out some personal information and make sure your name is spelled correctly and that the government ID you provide has the same name with signature.  And make sure that your ID is valid as you will need to bring this exact same ID with you to the testing center.  If you lose this ID or it becomes invalid before you take the exam you will need to either reschedule your exam or you may not be able to take your exam at all.

Please note that there are several different IELTS versions, so you'll need to know which one you need to take before applying.  If you take the wrong one your results might not be recognized by the school/country/work you're applying to.

If you're going to the UK for work/immigration there is a separate exam so please read up on the website.  For the rest, such as for immigration to Australia, UK, and Canada you have two options:

General Exam

Academic Exam

Generally speaking if you want to immigrate: take the General Exam.  But if you want to go to school/take up a master’s degree or such:  take the Academic Exam.  If in doubt, check with the requirements.

What's the difference?  Not too much of a difference between the two exams really.  The speaking and listening part are the same.  The main difference is in the writing and reading part.  For the Academic exam it is more science oriented since that type of English is what you're most likely be encountering in school.

So if you want it a bit easier, take the General Exam if you can.

When you sign up for the exam make sure you’re on the right website because the website can be a bit confusing.  They will show you a bunch of dates and times you can take the exam on.  But there’s a tiny link on the top that shows you what type of exam it is for.  Make sure it’s for General or Academic, whichever you need before choosing a time.  You can then proceed to payment.  It’s cash or credit card.  There’s even an option for PayPal if I remember correctly.

After paying you will need to wait for the email confirmation.  About a week before the exam they will email you the final venue for the exam.

Exam Parts

1.       Listening

2.       Reading

3.       Writing

4.       Speaking

These are the four parts that you will be tested on.  Personally, I found the listening part to always be the hardest part of the exam because they make you listen to a lot of stuff and you have to quickly pick up some information.  That would even be hard for native speakers.

Exam Venue

The speaking exam is usually held at their main office in Ortigas.  They will send you an email with the confirmation.  As for the rest, the venues are usually at hotels such as the Heritage Hotel on Roxas Blvd corner Edsa.

Be there at least 30 minutes before the time.  Because your exam will be forfeited if you arrive late and bye bye P9, 400.

You also need to be there before the exam time because there’s a security process that needs to be followed.  Since they need to maintain the credibility of the test security is of utmost importance.  They will check your name, your ID, they will take your picture, and fingerprints.  Once inside the exam venue and the exam starts you will no longer be allowed to leave.  So go to the bathroom beforehand.  Cheating will definitely get you immediately kicked out so do not try it.

Results

Results will be released 13 days after the exam date.  You can check your results online.  You can either pick up the hard copy at their Ortigas office or have it sent by mail.  On average you want to aim for a 7.0 or higher.

Hope this helps you out.