Test day at DCU

Test day information

Double check the time, date, and location of your test, and make sure you arrive at the test centre early. If you are late you may not be allowed to sit the test.

Location

DCU IELTS Test Centre
Invent Building
DCU Glasnevin Campus
Collins Avenue Extension
Dublin 9
D09 PH2K

Public Transport and Parking

The university is located 5km north of Dublin City Centre and serviced by 19 different buses routes.

There are a number of parking spaces available on Glasnevin campus. Check DCU parking for details.

Facilities

Cafe facilities are available on campus. Please note that these facilities may be limited on Saturdays. Check DCU cafes for opening hours. There are also off-campus restaurants in the local area.

Identity checks

Strict identity checks will be carried out on the day of the test. You must bring the identification document (ID) which you used to register. Photos and fingerprint scans will be taken of all candidates. Please note that this is a requirement.

Rules and regulations

Read the IELTS rules and regulations before the test.

What to bring

Remember to bring your identification document (ID) on the day of the test, as you will not be allowed to sit the test without it.

Have something to eat before the test, as you will not be allowed to bring any food into the test room. You can only take water in a transparent bottle without any labels.

What not to bring

Leave valuable personal items at home, as you will not be allowed to take any personal belongings into the test room. You can only have a pen or pencil, an eraser and your identification document on your desk.

Watches are not allowed in the test room. There will be a clock on the wall.

Test Day

Your journey

Be prepared

We recommend that you prepare for the test beforehand using the resources available to you here.

Arrive early

Test day registration starts at 7:30 am. Make sure you have your ID with you. Leave your belongings in the designated area, register for your ID check, get your photograph taken and fingerprint scanned and go to your test centre.

If you arrive late for test registration you will not be allowed to take the test and you will lose the full test fee.

Test

The test starts at 9 am. The Listening, Reading, and Writing parts of the test take place on the same day with no breaks. The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

The Speaking part of the test can take place up to seven days before or two days after the other parts of the test. You will be notified of your Speaking test date in advance by email.

Test ends

Once the test is over, stay in your seat until the invigilator gives you permission to leave. You can then collect your belongings and leave.

If you think that there have been any issues that may have affected your performance, tell the invigilator straightaway.

Test results

Your Test Report Form will be available 13 days after your test. This will be sent to you in the post or you can collect it in person.

You can also check it online here.

After test

You will receive a score from 1 (Non-user) to 9 (Expert user) for each part of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Your overall band score is calculated from the average of these. You can score whole or half bands.

For more detailed information, see here.

Lateness and absence

Please check your travel arrangements carefully and arrive at the test centre early. If you arrive late for test registration you will not be allowed to take the test and you will lose the full test fee.

If you are absent for your test because of a medical emergency, you must provide us with an authorised medical certificate in English within five days of the missed test.