Two official providers, one straightforward process. Here's exactly what booking actually involves, step by step.
IELTS in Kenya is delivered by two official, separate providers — British Council and IDP — and you register directly with whichever one has a convenient centre and date for you. You don't need to register with both; a test booked through either provider is the same official IELTS result, accepted identically everywhere. This guide covers the general process; exact screens and fees change over time, so always complete the actual booking on the provider's own site.
Before registering, confirm three things: Academic or General Training (Academic for university admission and most professional registration; General Training for immigration and work purposes), whether you specifically need the UKVI-approved version (only if a UK visa category requires it), and your target test date, working backward from any application deadline you have.
British Council Kenya runs test centres in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Kisii, and Kakamega, with online registration through their own booking system — you'll need a valid ID or passport and a card for payment, or you can register through one of their authorised registration partners if you'd rather not book directly online. IDP Kenya runs its own separate booking process through its website, with a call-back option if you'd prefer help completing registration over the phone.
Once registered, you choose from the available test dates and centres shown for your chosen test type — not every centre runs every test type on every date, so check both together rather than assuming your nearest centre has the exact version you need on your preferred date.
British Council's online system accepts card or mobile money payment directly, or you can pay by cash deposit at any Standard Chartered branch in Kenya using their Virtual Account deposit slip — a genuinely useful option if you'd rather not pay online. IDP's process is handled through their own booking flow. Either way, your booking is only confirmed once payment clears — an unpaid registration isn't a held seat.
After payment, you'll receive confirmation with your test date, time, and venue details. British Council candidates can manage their booking — check details, review results, reschedule where permitted — through the Test Taker Portal. Keep the ID you registered with, since you must bring the exact same document to the test centre on the day; a mismatch between your registration ID and the one you show up with can mean you're turned away.
Get an honest read on your current band with a free essay check, then practice with AI feedback before test day.