IELTS in Kazakhstan costs 110,250 KZT for IELTS Academic or General Training on computer. The price is the same at IDP and at British Council (checked 28 September 2026). Both run official IELTS centres across the country, and IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, so you sit the same test with either.
This guide puts the two providers side by side: every fee, the cities, how to book, and the rules that decide what a date change or refund costs. Each price and rule links to the provider's own page, so you can check it again before you pay.
How much does IELTS cost in Kazakhstan?
| Service | IDP | British Council |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training (computer) | 110,250 | 110,250 |
| IELTS for UKVI (for UK visas) | 123,000 | 123,000 |
| IELTS Life Skills A1 or B1 | 100,250 | 100,250 |
| One Skill Retake (one section again) | 69,500 | 69,500 |
| Remark (Enquiry on Results) | 53,000* | 53,000 |
| Moving an Academic or GT computer test | Free once if you ask 10+ days before | Free if you ask 15+ days before; 33,000 at 5 to 14 days |
| Cancelling an Academic or GT computer test | Refund minus 28,000 if more than 5 days before | Refund minus 33,000 if 15+ days before |
*IDP's remark page shows 53,000 KZT at the top and 50,000 KZT in its FAQ section, so confirm the amount when you apply. A remark fee is refunded if your band goes up.
The moving and cancelling rows are for standard IELTS Academic and General Training on computer. IELTS for UKVI, Life Skills and One Skill Retake have their own rules: check them on the provider's page before you book. IDP's local rules count "more than 5 calendar days", so if you are exactly 5 days away, ask the centre. A moved IDP test must stay within 3 months of the original date.
Prices change: British Council's current list applies "from 01.07.26" (fee list, PDF). Check the price on the booking page on the day you pay. Two smaller points:
- UKVI One Skill Retake costs 77,500 KZT at British Council. IDP doesn't publish this price: ask your centre.
- Extras in the fee. British Council says the fee includes preparation materials and free practice tests. More free options: IELTS mock tests in Kazakhstan. IDP IELTS Kazakhstan offers its candidates a free 14- or 30-day Macquarie University preparation course after registration.
What you pay in 4 common situations
Worked out from the fees above for IELTS Academic or General Training on computer. Remark fees are shown separately because you get them back if your band goes up.
| Situation | IDP | British Council |
|---|---|---|
| You take the test once | 110,250 | 110,250 |
| You need a later date 7 days before the test | No free move. Cancel for a refund minus 28,000 and book again: 138,250 | Transfer fee 33,000: 143,250 |
| Full test, then One Skill Retake | 179,750 | 179,750 |
| Full test, then a remark | 163,250 paid; 110,250 if your band goes up | 163,250 paid; 110,250 if your band goes up |
The IDP line uses IDP IELTS Kazakhstan's local rules. Under IDP's global page, a move 5 to 14 days before costs up to 25% of the fee instead (see the warning below), so ask the centre which applies. In both cases the new date depends on free seats.
IDP or British Council: which should you choose?
Choose by city, date and booking rules, not by difficulty. A common question from test-takers is whether one provider marks more easily. IDP's answer: "Taking your IELTS test at IDP is the same as taking one at British Council", and "the marking scheme and standards are exactly the same". Both sell the test at the same price in Kazakhstan. These are the practical differences:
| What differs | IDP | British Council |
|---|---|---|
| Where to book | IDP Kazakhstan test search | British Council booking |
| Cities | 18 cities plus Kaskelen, 24 centres | 13 cities |
| How to pay | Card online, Kaspi, or at an IDP registration centre | Card, Kaspi, bank transfer, Halyk invoice, or card at the Almaty or Astana office |
| Speaking day | Same day as the other parts, before or after them | Same day, up to 2 days before, or the day after |
| Computer results | 1 to 5 days | Usually 1 to 2 days; its FAQ says 3 to 5 |
| Remark with a retake | Apply within 2 weeks if you also plan One Skill Retake | Apply within 6 weeks |
One Skill Retake (OSR, retaking just one of the four sections) works the same way with both: you book it from your online account, and you must book and take it within 60 days of your original full computer test. The full test must have been at a centre that offers OSR, and not every university or agency accepts OSR results, so check with yours first. IDP adds that you must take it with the same company as your full test, so an IDP result can't be retaken at British Council. The full rules are in our guide to IELTS One Skill Retake.
Where can you take IELTS in Kazakhstan?
IDP lists 24 test centres in 18 cities plus Kaskelen (SDU University, Almaty region); 12 of them offer One Skill Retake on site. British Council lists 13 cities. In five cities only IDP is present. Test dates change every day, so check the live search before you plan travel.
| City | IDP | British Council |
|---|---|---|
| Almaty | Yes, OSR (also SDU in Kaskelen) | Yes |
| Astana | Yes, OSR | Yes |
| Shymkent | Yes, OSR | Yes |
| Karaganda | Yes, OSR | Yes |
| Aktau | Yes, OSR | Yes |
| Aktobe | 2 centres, OSR | Yes |
| Atyrau | 2 centres, OSR | Yes |
| Kostanay | 2 centres, OSR | Yes |
| Ust-Kamenogorsk | 2 centres, OSR | Yes |
| Pavlodar | Yes | Yes |
| Taldykorgan | Yes | Yes |
| Taraz | Yes | Yes |
| Turkestan | Yes | Yes |
| Uralsk | Yes, OSR | No |
| Kyzylorda | 2 centres, OSR | No |
| Kokshetau | Yes | No |
| Petropavlovsk | Yes | No |
| Semey | Yes | No |
IELTS for UKVI (the version for UK visas) is run by IDP in Almaty and Astana; British Council lists UKVI sessions in Almaty. For UKVI in another city, ask the provider before you book. Which UK visas need it: IELTS for UKVI vs Academic.
How to register with IDP
- Choose the test. Academic for university study, General Training for work or migration (IELTS Academic vs General Training), UKVI only if a UK visa application asks for it. The university or agency sets the requirement, so check with them first; typical requirements are in what is a good IELTS score.
- Find a date. Open the IDP Kazakhstan test search, pick your city, test type and session. Computer tests run 1 to 7 times a week, depending on the city.
- Fill in the form and upload your ID. Kazakhstan citizens can use the national ID card; other nationals need a passport. The document must be valid on test day, and you must bring the same original. IDP recommends a document that stays valid for 2 years after the test, because your certificate shows its number.
- Pay. By card online, in the Kaspi app (Payments, then "IELTS KZ"), or at an IDP registration centre.
- Read the confirmation email. After payment you get a Payment Confirmation with important details about your test. Read all of it.
Under 18? IDP asks you to register with a parent present, and on test day you bring a signed consent form for minors.
The IDP booking link is a partner link: GoPrep may earn a commission, and the price for you stays the same.
How to register with British Council
- Find a date. Open British Council booking, choose Kazakhstan, your city, the test type and the date.
- Create an account and upload your ID. Enter the details exactly as they appear on your Kazakhstan ID card or passport. Non-citizens need a valid foreign passport; a residence or work permit is not accepted as ID.
- Pay in tenge. By card during booking, in the Kaspi app (the "IELTS on Computer" service), by bank transfer, which can take up to 5 working days to arrive, or by a Halyk Bank invoice. There is no cash option, but you can pay by card at the Almaty or Astana office.
- Read the confirmation email. It lists the start time, the venue address, your Speaking date and time, and access to IELTS Ready Premium, British Council's preparation platform.
- Manage the booking online. In the Test Taker Portal you can change the Speaking slot and move the test date, up to 5 times.
Under 18? A parent registers on the portal and chooses "my child". British Council does not recommend IELTS for anyone under 16.
Not a Kazakhstan citizen?
- Book with your passport. Both providers need a valid passport from non-citizens; British Council does not accept a residence or work permit.
- Pay in tenge from an allowed bank. British Council accepts only KZT and says it can't accept payments from banks under UK or other relevant sanctions: it freezes such payments. If your card is from such a bank, use another payment method listed above.
- Wait for the confirmation email before you buy tickets or book a hotel. It confirms your seat, venue and Speaking time.
- Check the Speaking date. With British Council it can be up to 2 days before or the day after the main test, which may mean an extra night in the city.
How far ahead should you book?
We did not find a booking deadline on either provider's pages, so check the registration deadline and free seats for the session you choose. Big cities run computer sessions several times a week. The date that matters most is your last free change: your request must reach British Council 15 or more days before the test, or IDP 10 or more days before under its local rules. Book when you are sure you can keep the date, or early enough to move it for free.
How much time do learners give themselves? Among 687 learners in Kazakhstan who joined GoPrep between 28 July and 26 September 2026 and entered a planned exam date, 176 had 30 days or less between signing up and that date, 108 had 31 to 60 days, 90 had 61 to 90 days, 165 had 91 to 180 days and 148 had more than 180. The median was 80 days. This shows the time between joining GoPrep and the date learners entered, not when they booked IELTS. Kazakhstan here means a Kazakhstan time zone on the learner's device.
Then plan backwards from your application deadline:
- Results: 1 to 5 days after a computer test. See how to check your IELTS results.
- Remark: apply within 6 weeks; the answer takes from 2 hours to 21 days. See when a remark is worth it.
- One Skill Retake: book and take it within 60 days of the full test, if one section falls short.
Paper IELTS has ended: what it means in Kazakhstan
IELTS announced in March 2026: "from mid-2026, we will no longer offer IELTS as a paper-based test. All IELTS tests will be delivered on computer. Exact timelines will vary by market." In Kazakhstan:
- British Council says it no longer runs paper IELTS, and since 1 June 2026 it issues only electronic certificates (e-TRF).
- IDP's Kazakhstan search showed only computer sessions for Academic and General Training on 28 September 2026, all with "Writing on computer". We did not find the new "Writing on Paper" option, which IELTS is introducing in selected markets.
- Speaking is still a live conversation with an examiner: face to face, or by video call from a room at the test centre.
- Old paper results stay valid for the usual two years.
What the screen looks like and how to practise for it: computer-delivered IELTS.
Test-day checklist
- The same original ID you booked with. Without it you can't take the test. IDP Kazakhstan's test-day page also asks for a second ID document, such as a passport, ID card or driving licence.
- Under 18 with IDP: the signed Consent Form for Minors, a copy of your parent's ID and a copy of your birth certificate.
- Arrive early. British Council asks you to arrive 60 minutes before Listening, Reading and Writing and 20 minutes before Speaking. IDP Kazakhstan opens check-in 20 minutes before: for a 9:00 session, arrive by 8:40. Late candidates are not let in.
- Water only in a clear bottle without a label. No watches; phones and smartwatches are switched off and left outside the room.
- No need for pens. On a computer test the centre gives you pens and paper for notes.
- Eat and use the toilet first. Listening, Reading and Writing take 2 hours 40 minutes with no breaks.
Check yourself: 4 booking situations
FAQ
How much does IELTS cost in Kazakhstan in 2026?
110,250 KZT for IELTS Academic or General Training on computer, with both IDP and British Council. IELTS for UKVI costs 123,000 KZT and One Skill Retake 69,500 KZT (official pages, checked 28 September 2026).
Is IELTS easier with IDP or British Council?
No. IDP states that taking IELTS with IDP is the same as taking it with British Council, and that the marking scheme and standards are exactly the same. Choose by city, date and booking rules.
Can I still take paper-based IELTS in Kazakhstan?
Not for Academic or General Training. British Council Kazakhstan says it no longer runs paper IELTS, and IDP's Kazakhstan search showed only computer sessions for these tests on 28 September 2026.
Can foreigners, such as Russian citizens, take IELTS in Kazakhstan?
Yes. Non-citizens book with a valid passport: IDP accepts the Kazakhstan ID card only from Kazakhstan citizens, and British Council does not accept a residence or work permit. Bring the same passport on test day.
Next steps
When you are ready, book on the IDP Kazakhstan test search or through British Council booking: the test is the same, so pick the city, date and rules that suit you. Before test day, check how your overall band is calculated and which section total gets you to your target. If you plan to pay for preparation, compare IELTS courses in Almaty and Astana and go through the 9 questions to ask before you pay for a course.
GoPrep Team
GoPrep guide authors
We write about IELTS preparation using platform data and official exam materials.
All articles by GoPrep Team