What to Carry for IELTS Exam: Experts’ New Checklist 2025

One of the most frequently asked questions is what to carry for IELTS exam by people who will take their test. If you forget one of the basic things, you will fail to take your exam and lose your preparation time and your test fee. This guide will take you through what to carry for ielts exam, what documents to carry for IELTS exam, what we need to carry for IELTS exam, what do i need to carry for IELTS exam and more.

What to Carry for IELTS Exam? The Complete 2025 Checklist: Updated

That is your complete, updated list of what to carry for IELTS exam so that you will not have any last-minute surprises and stress:

• Original ID: Present the original ID (passport or national ID) you used during registration. You cannot enter the test room if you cannot bring this.

• IELTS Confirmation Email or Letter: This can be printed or ready on the phone to be checked at check-in.

• Passport-sized Photograph: Even though you can manage without this at some test centers, you are advised to find out in advance and carry a photo with you so you do not turn up empty-handed.

• Having a Clear Label-Free Water Bottle: Drinking water is good, but make sure the bottle does not contain labels and texts (as per the test requirements).

• Vision: If you need prescription glasses, it is recommended that you bring them, but not in a case, since they are not allowed in the exam room.

• Medication: It is important to carry only the essential medicines, and the test center must give you prior permission to take them inside the exam room.

• Face Mask: In some centers, visitors might still have to wear a mask; these are determined on a local health basis, so it is always good to have one in an emergency.

• Stationery: Do not carry your pens or pencils; the test center will supply all the stationery you need, including black ballpoint pens to work on paper-based tests.

What to carry for IELTS exam? Avoiding more than permitted will also ensure you know you need not worry about anything at the last minute on the test day, as you will already carry everything.

What Latest Documents to Carry for IELTS Exam?

What documents to carry for IELTS exam? The IELTS exam is your ticket, and you need your documents. You can be disqualified by forgetting just a single one, and the other is that you waste your test fee and preparation.

The following is what documents to carry for IELTS exam to facilitate entry:

• Original ID: This should be a copy of your ID and the ID you used when registering for a passport/national ID. Without one, you cannot take the test.

• IELTS Confirmation Email or Letter: This may be printed or saved on your phone so you can check in at the check-in desk quickly.

• Passport-Sized Photograph: In some test centers, additional photo verification is required, in which case, one should be prepared with the extra photo.

• Special Arrangement Documents: If you have made requests regarding accommodations (e.g., extra time, medical arrangements), include the approval and documentation for the exam.

What to carry for IELTS exam? Revising these must-have papers, you would not feel the last-minute panic and could concentrate securely on your performance and behavior during the test.

What We Need to Carry Current for IELTS Exam – Personal Items

What we need to carry for IELTS exam? The following are personal items that you are permitted in what to carry for IELTS exam room with, which will enable you to be more content in the examination room:

• Silent, No Labels Water Bottle: As much as hydration is essential, the bottle should not bear any labels or words since they are considered against the test requirements.

• Prescription Glasses (No case): If you need to wear glasses, you can use them during the examination, but not in the case.

• Essential Medication: It is only allowed to bring medication that the test center has previously approved. Never speak to the employees.

• Face Mask: There is a possibility that face mask is still defined in some centers by local health regulations; in this case, it is better to have one in your case.

What we need to carry for IELTS exam? With only these approved items, you can be sure that you will be comfortable, yet you will have done what is expected of you to carry in the IELTS exam on the test day.

Also Read: New Glacier IELTS Reading Answers: Latest Guide & Tips

What Do I Need to Carry for IELTS Exam – Prohibited Items in 2025

What do I need to carry for IELTS exam? These are the items you should never take under what to carry for IELTS exam room in order not to be disqualified or delayed during check-in:

• Smartwatches, phones, fitness bands, calculators: All are forbidden and must be put outside the exam room.

• Personal pens, pencils, erasers: All the necessary stationery is available in the test center, and you should not bring any of your own.

• Bags, Wallets, Valuables: These cannot be carried into the facility; please put them in the available locker or leave them at home.

• Food and Drinks (Except Clear Water): Clear water without labels on the bottles is the only food and drink allowed into the exam room.

• Notes, Books, Study Materials: No study materials are permitted and should be handed out before entering the exam hall.

What to carry for IELTS exam? It is also essential to know what do I need to carry for IELTS exam not, as it is to know what to bring, making the entry to a test day clear and less stressful.

Latest IELTS Exam Day Process & Tips in 2025: Experts Insights

Your clear plan will make you remain composed on the test day. Knowing what to carry for IELTS exam and the procedure to be undertaken will eliminate the urgency associated with preparation; thus, you enter the exam room with confidence and a prepared mind.

Everything is essential, from verifying your ID to getting to the test center in time. Another way you will need is planning that will save you the trouble of going without key documents or missing out on the traffic that will distract your concentration in the exam.

This is what you should do, step by step, to prepare yourself on the IELTS exam day to give your best:

Before You Leave Home

Relax on the day of your exams by ensuring ample preparation. By doing such simple things, you can shun last-minute pressures and be poised to work at the right place and time.

• Remember to ensure that your original ID (passport or national ID) and your IELTS confirmation email or letter are printed or saved on your phone.

• Check the actual location of your test center and plot your travel route and schedule that will not delay you or cause you to be lost.

• Only allowed personal belongings like a clear water bottle (empty, with no label), without a case, and any accepted medication should be prepared.

• A light meal before the test is recommended to avoid feeling sluggish at all times.

These steps will leave you feeling calm and confident on what to carry for IELTS exam.

Also Read: Vocabulary Words for IELTS: 1000+ Crucial Words & Meanings

At the Test Center

By coming early and abiding by the test center rules, you will be prepared to be stress-free and 100 percent focused on your IELTS. This is what you should do when you get to the center:

• Be at least 30 minutes early so that there is ample time during check-in and security checking without being under pressure.

• Pass the ID verification and biometric authentication, such as fingerprint scan and photo record, which is essential in exam security.

• Put the forbidden objects, such as phones, bags, and personal stationery, in the lockers available at the testing center.

• Be attentive to the instructions of all the staff members, including where to sit and the issuing of your test materials, so that your start can be effective.

When you are there on time and cooperate reasonably, you create a good atmosphere for the rest of the day during the test.

During the Exam

Remaining calm and looking at the rules of what to carry for IELTS exam will help you manage time perfectly and concentrate on every single part. During the test, don't forget about the following essential points:

• Always leave your original ID on the table so it will be easy to verify.

• Testing material as only the writing material issued by the test center (no personal writing instruments such as pens and pencils).

• If you need help, you should raise your hand so the invigilators can assist you as soon as possible.

• Control the time to take as the sections have no breaks- concentrate and take it slowly.

• Never fail to obey any request the invigilators make because this will make the test fair and smooth for all.

These tips and staying cool during the test will give you the best possible chances of doing your best on the exam day.

Also Read: IELTS Band Score Table: New Academic & Listening Guide

Current Special Considerations for IELTS Test Takers in 2025

In case you have special needs or disabilities, the list of what to carry for IELTS exam also includes your medical/arrangement papers so that your special arrangements can be made with ease on the exam day.

This is what you should do:

• You must request accommodations with your test center early enough to ascertain approval.

• Take supporting medical documentation to confirm your needs.

• Be at the airport early enough to undergo other checking-in processes for your arrangements.

• Do not be afraid to explain what you need to the staff so they can help you.

What to carry for IELTS exam? Pre-planning will make you worry less about your test and ensure that all your needs will be met in the exam.

Common Mistakes to Avoid on IELTS Exam Day in 2025

What to carry for IELTS exam? Avoid all these common mistakes to make the day of the IELTS test smooth and not forfeit your entry:

• You cannot take the exam if you lose your original ID that you used to register.

• Bringing the banned items like phones, notes, or other materials that cannot be brought into the exam can be disqualifying.

• Coming late to the test center can lead to refusal of admission.

• Refusing to obey or failing to follow the instructions issued by the invigilator may result in a penalty or be disruptive.

• Non-verification of COVID-19 regulations in the respective local jurisdiction, such as mask use or vaccinations, as required by some locations.

• You may fail to ask for special accommodations early enough when you have special needs.

• Failing to read the guidelines of your specific test center, which may vary by location.

These avoidable pitfalls will ensure you do not feel stressed and only concentrate on performing your best during the test day.

IELTS Exam Rules & Regulations in 2025: Updated

Identifying what to carry for IELTS exam also implies that you are aware of the rules that you should remember at the time of taking the test, in order not to be disqualified:

• There shall be no discussion/communication with other candidates at any moment during the exam.

• It is impossible to leave the exam room at will and without the express authority of the invigilator.

• In the case of paper-based tests, answers should be written with a ballpoint pen in black only.

• Correction fluid/ Correction tape would never be used.

• Bags and all the other personal items, such as electronic devices, must be stored outside the exam room.

Adhering to these rules creates a level playing field and ensures that your exam operates normally.

Also Read: Idioms for IELTS Speaking: Latest Guide & Expert Tips

Current IELTS Speaking Test – What to Bring for Your Examination in 2025?

In the case of the IELTS Speaking Test (sometimes booked as a separate test), it is helpful to understand what to carry for IELTS exam so that one does not face any problems during the day.

This is what you should keep in mind:

• Also, you should carry the same original ID you used when registering because it shall be cross-checked against your test.

• You should not be late and miss the appointment, or reschedule it.

• You do not usually need other documents, but your test center may advise otherwise.

Preparing will enable you to get into your speaking exam and give the best performance confidently.

IELTS Paper-Based vs Computer-Based Test – What to Carry in 2025

The necessities that what to carry for IELTS exam are the same, regardless of whether you take the paper-based or computer-based test:

• To enter, come with a copy of the original ID provided during registration.

• Bring your confirmation documents in a printed letter, by phone, or email.

• Do not worry about carrying stationery as everything will be given by the test center.

• They provide headphones and computers for computer-based tests, so you do not need to carry your own.

Knowing this, you lighten your load and concentrate on your test with no last-minute hitches.

Latest Facts & News: IELTS Exam Essentials (2025)

• ID Policy Update: As of May 2025, only the original ID used for registration (passport or national ID) is accepted for entry.

• Stationery Change: Black ballpoint pens are mandatory for paper-based tests; pencils are no longer allowed.

• No Personal Stationery Needed: Test centers now provide all required writing materials for both paper and computer-based exams.

• Strict Electronic Ban: All electronic devices, including smartwatches, must be stored outside the test room.

• Water Policy: Only clear, label-free water bottles are permitted in the exam room.

• No Food Allowed: Food and beverages (except water) are strictly prohibited in the test room.

• Photo & Biometric Verification: Test centers take your photo and may require a finger scan for security.

• No Family Entry: Family or friends cannot enter the test venue; they must wait outside.

• COVID-19 Precautions: Some centers may require proof of vaccination or masks, depending on local guidelines.

• Test Duration: The test lasts 2 hours and 40 minutes with no breaks between sections.

Did you know that forgetting a single document can bar you from taking the IELTS? Read on for a foolproof checklist and insider tips to ace your test day!

Conclusion

What to carry for IELTS exam? It is essential to arrive without stress and unease on the test day. Caring about all your documents and items allowed to enter the testing room and realizing how it will go on the test day, you will stop focusing on the process of the test introduction and concentrate on your results only.

Contact TerraTern for more information on what to carry for the IELTS exam.