How much does IELTS cost in Seoul?

KRW 290,000 (~USD 215) for Academic or General Training, with the same fee for British Council and IDP.

Where is the British Council IELTS centre in Seoul?

Jongno-gu, central Seoul, near Gwanghwamun station — the building is shared with the British Council Korea office.

Can I take IELTS One Skill Retake in Seoul?

Yes — IDP Korea offers One Skill Retake at all computer-delivered Seoul sessions.

East Asia · South Korea

IELTS in Seoul

Seoul is the largest IELTS market in South Korea, with high test volume driven by graduate-school applications to the UK, Australia, and Canada, plus a growing share of skilled-migration candidates.

Build my study plan Practice Speaking

IELTS Academic

KRW 290,000 (~USD 215)

IELTS General Training

KRW 290,000 (~USD 215)

Test providers & formats in Seoul

Providers

• British Council Korea
• IDP Education Korea

Formats available

• Computer-delivered (multiple per week)
• Paper-based

Test centres in Seoul

British Council Seoul (Jongno)
IDP IELTS Test Centre Gangnam
IDP IELTS Test Centre Sinchon

Booking notes: Computer-delivered tests run almost daily during peak season. Pay by Korean card or international card; refunds take 14 days.

IELTS score requirements for popular destinations from Seoul

Most Seoul candidates apply to: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada.

United States (graduate school)

Overall 7.0

Component minimums: 6.5 in each band

Many US graduate programmes still prefer TOEFL but accept IELTS at 7.0+.

United Kingdom (postgraduate)

Overall 6.5

Component minimums: 6.0 in each band

Russell Group masters often require 7.0; visa needs UKVI Academic IELTS.

Australia (postgraduate)

Overall 6.5

Component minimums: 6.0 in each band

G8 universities typically 7.0 for arts and humanities.

Requirements change. Always verify directly with the institution before booking your test.

Preparation tips for candidates in Seoul

1Korean candidates typically score lowest on Speaking — focus on linking phrases and avoiding overly memorised answers, which examiners detect easily.
2British Council Jongno offers free 'Road to IELTS' online portal access on registration; use it before booking expensive prep courses.
3Speaking tests in Seoul are often scheduled in the afternoon of test day; eat lightly at lunch — fatigue affects fluency.
4Practice IELTS-specific Writing Task 2 essays — many Korean candidates over-rely on TOEFL essay structure, which is penalised in IELTS.

Useful tools & practice

Speaking Part 2 Cue Cards

30 cards with band 7.5 sample answers

Band Score Calculator

Convert raw scores to IELTS bands

Writing Band Descriptors

Official Task 1 & Task 2 criteria

Speaking Question Randomizer

Random Part 1, 2, 3 prompts

Frequently Asked Questions

IELTS in other East Asia cities

Tokyo

Japan

Osaka

Japan

Busan

South Korea

Hong Kong

Hong Kong SAR

Taipei

Taiwan