The IELTS costs USD 270 at the British Council centre in Beirut, for both Academic and General Training, according to the official IELTS listing. You can book with the British Council or with IDP, and each has its own centres and dates in Lebanon. Prices can change and may carry local tax, so confirm the figure when you book.
By Al Khawarizmi Institute. Checked on 1 November 2026.
How much does the IELTS cost in Lebanon?
The official listing for the British Council in Lebanon shows USD 270 for each test, on computer. It adds that prices may vary from time to time and may be subject to country or local tax. IDP does not give a fee on its Lebanon dates page. It sends you to its test centre pages, so check there before you compare.
This is the exam fee, paid to the test provider. It is separate from any preparation course.
Who runs the IELTS in Lebanon, and how do I book?
Two providers run it:
- British Council: see its Lebanon centre on ielts.org. It lists the computer format in Beirut.
- IDP: its Lebanon page lists two centres, on Sadat Street in Beirut and in Zalka, both operated by Netcom Systems, with a choice of computer or paper. You book online or at a branch, with a passport scan and a credit card.
Test dates change, so read them on those pages. Al Khawarizmi Institute is also a certified IELTS training centre and exam venue. Ask us on WhatsApp whether a session suits you, and our team can help if you find registration difficult.
Academic or General Training?
Check the requirement first. Universities usually ask for Academic. For migration it depends on the route: Canada’s Express Entry, for example, says you must take General Training. Our guide to IELTS Academic or General Training goes through each case, and what IELTS score you need covers the bands.
Computer or paper, and how fast are results?
The IELTS site says computer results usually come within 1 to 2 days, and paper results within 13 days. If your deadline is close, that difference can decide the format for you. Computer also keeps a door open: One Skill Retake is only for a full test taken on computer.
What if I miss my score?
- Check the requirement again. Look at whether the band applies overall or to each skill.
- One Skill Retake. You resit one skill, within 60 days, one retake per test, if your centre offers it. Both IDP centres in Lebanon do. Ask the British Council before you book, and note that Canada does not accept it for Express Entry.
- Enquiry on Results. Senior examiners re-mark your papers, with the fee refunded if your band changes. The result can take up to 21 days.
- Sit the full test again after working on your weak skill.
How long should I prepare for the IELTS?
Start at least two months before the exam, and longer is better. The team will tell you whether your target band is realistic in the time you have, and we run crash courses if your date is close.
How do we prepare students?
We prepare students for Academic and General Training. Practice runs section by section until you can solve full samples alone. Your writing gets individual marked feedback, with an estimate of your band. In speaking practice, the teacher acts as the examiner. Then the teacher works through one or two full practice tests with you before a mock exam.
It starts with a free written placement test of 20 to 30 minutes. Classes are live, at our main branch in Simkanieh, in the Chouf, or online on Zoom at the same fee. Group courses start from $150 as a reference figure, exam courses vary, and we confirm the fee for your course before you enrol. There is no registration fee.
What band do I need, and how long does it last?
For undergraduate admission, universities usually ask for 5 to 6.5, depending on the university and the country. As one local example, LAU lists IELTS 6.5 and says minimums may change without notice. For migration, read the government page for your route. Canada, for example, says results must be under 2 years old both when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application, so a score that is fine today can expire mid-file.
What should I have ready before I book?
- The written requirement from your university or authority: which test, which band, which deadline.
- Your passport, because IDP asks for a scan when you book.
- A way to pay, and the fee confirmed by the provider you chose.
- A date that leaves time to resit if you need to.
Can I prepare online if I am not near Simkanieh?
Yes. Most courses run live on Zoom, including for students outside Lebanon, and class times are set with the teacher to suit the time difference. Our Beirut and Choueifat branches have paused operations, so students there study online or come to Simkanieh. There is also a branch in Aley: ask us which groups are running.
See our IELTS preparation course and IELTS for immigration, or send us your test date and target band: Enroll Now.