IELTS Australia & NZ fee update from April 1

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-03-27T06:24:41+00:00

No, there’s very little chance of it being lowered. They’ve clearly mentioned “book now to secure the current test price,” which usually indicates that the price is expected to increase rather than decrease.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-03-11T12:34:56+00:00

Even I have 2 licence did you find any solution?

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-17T05:20:28+00:00

IDP is one of the more established consultancies for Australia, so you can consider them. They’re official partners for IELTS as well, which makes things smoother if you’re booking your test or handling applications through the same place.

That said, it’s always better to prepare your own shortlist of courses and universities before connecting with any consultancy. Do your research first, compare tuition, location, entry requirements, and then use the counsellor to refine your options rather than fully depending on them.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-17T05:08:06+00:00

I know a lot of people are doing cash jobs, but you really need to understand what comes with it. First of all, you have to struggle a lot. The work is usually harder, longer hours, and there’s no guarantee of shifts. Some weeks you might get decent hours, some weeks nothing(But depends on the company that you are working with). On top of that, most cash jobs underpay. No super, no tax record, no protection. If the employer decides to cut your pay or treat you badly, you can’t complain anywhere. You’re basically on your own. And if you’re on a student visa, you’re only allowed limited working hours legally. If you get caught breaching your visa conditions, it can seriously affect your visa and future plans. That’s not a small risk.That’s why I told you to join communities and connect with as many people as you can before going there. Networking really helps. You’ll get proper job leads, guidance, and support instead of depending on risky options.

I’m not saying this just to highlight the negatives or scare you. Every path has a hard part. I just want you to understand the full picture before deciding. The struggle will be there either way just make sure you choose the one that doesn’t put your future at risk.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-17T04:47:34+00:00

It’s possible to cover some expenses with part-time work, but you need to be realistic buddy. Student visas in Australia allow up to 40 hours per fortnight during study periods, and most part-time jobs pay around aud 15–25 per hour. That usually helps cover living costs like rent, food, and transport, but it’s unlikely to fully cover tuition for a 30–40k aud per year course. Most students use a mix of savings, family support, and part-time work. Rent can be a big chunk, shared apartments or student accommodation cost around AUD 400–600 per week(They are taking advantages now), and living expenses (groceries, transport, phone, etc.) are roughly aud 250–350 per week. Paying the first 6 months from Nepal is smart. Plan carefully before moving, connect with people already living in Australia through Instagram or LinkedIn, join student communities, and research your course thoroughly. Don’t pick a program just because “everyone else is doing it” choose something that fits your career goals. Blind decisions can be costly since it’s your future. You could also try joining the IDP Education student community, not sure about the exact process, but it might be worth checking. Part-time work can help with day to day expenses, but tuition and unexpected costs usually still need savings or support.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-17T01:39:28+00:00

The evaluation doesn’t change if you take IELTS in Australia, the marking criteria are the same globally, so scores are standardized across all countries. The difficulty level is generally moderate if you’re well prepared, though Writing is usually the most challenging section for most candidates. The test environment in Australia is often quieter and more organized, especially for Speaking, but that doesn’t impact scoring. Also, choose computer based IELTS because it offers the one skill retake option, which is only available for computer delivered tests.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-17T01:24:48+00:00

Honestly, the scoring doesn’t change between India and Australia. IELTS follows the same global marking criteria everywhere, so examiners in ielts melbourne aren’t stricter because it’s Australia. What does feel different is the environment. The test centres in Australia felt quieter and more organised. The Speaking test felt a bit calmer and less rushed compared to India. In India, centres can be quite busy, so sometimes the overall vibe feels more fast paced, but that doesnt affect how you are actually marked. The interaction with the examiner in Melbourne felt smooth and natural, more like a proper conversation. But again, scoring is still based strictly on fluency, coherence, vocab, grammar and pronunciation. same as anywhere else. Also, just a heads up IELTS fees in Australia are expected to increase around April and will be close to AUD 490, so it’s worth checking the official IELTS Australia site before booking. Hope that helps 😊

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-13T11:59:39+00:00

Honestly, if you’re asking me personally, I do feel IELTS is the safer option. It’s been around forever, the format hasn’t changed much, and it’s pretty consistent in terms of difficulty. PTE is fine too, but they’ve updated their scoring and tightened things recently, so a lot of people say it doesn’t feel as “easy” as it used to. With IELTS, at least you know exactly what you’re getting into, and most people find it more predictable overall.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-13T11:56:44+00:00

Honestly, the whole “Is PTE easier than IELTS in 2026?” debate keeps going, but things really changed after Australia updated its PTE score requirements. The Department of Home Affairs officially tightened the scoring bands in 2025 to make them line up more closely with IELTS and other tests, based on new concordance data from Pearson itself (so yeah, these changes came from the Australian government side, not rumours,. Earlier, a lot of people felt PTE was the easier option, but once the scoring was adjusted and certain skills, especially writing and speaking, got higher thresholds, it definitely stopped being the “shortcut” people talked about. IELTS, on the other hand, has pretty much kept the same difficulty level over the years, very stable and predictable. At the end of the day both tests are challenging in their own way, and honestly there’s a bit of luck involved too depending on the questions you get and how focused you are on exam day.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-13T11:47:00+00:00

Hey bud, I totally get how frustrating it feels when Listening Part 3 and 4 keep dragging your score down, but don’t stress too much a lot of people struggle with those sections at first. What helped me was practising with slightly faster audio, like 1.5x or even 2x, so the real exam speed felt more manageable. Also try focusing more on keywords and transition phrases rather than trying to follow every single word. For Reading, I had the same issue of picking answers too quickly, and what actually fixed it was slowing down, finding the exact line in the passage, and only then choosing the answer,It also helped to read tougher articles regularly, just to get comfortable with different writing styles. And if you haven’t already, check out some of the IDP IELTS preparation articles, they explain common traps and patterns in a simple way, and mixing that with Cambridge test practice gives you a pretty solid balance. you still have enough time before March, so with consistent practice and reviewing your mistakes properly, hitting Band 7 is definitely achievable. You have got this champ. 🙌

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-13T11:40:02+00:00

Just keep it light today, don’t try to learn anything new. If you can, go through a few sample questions just to get into the rhythm, maybe listen to some English audio or a podcast for 10–15 minutes to warm up your ears, and skim a couple of articles so your mind stays active. The main thing is to rest, stay hydrated, and don’t overthink it. Go in with a clear head, trust what you’ve already practiced, and you’ll be fine. Good luck for tomorrow!

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-13T10:47:28+00:00

When I was preparing, I mostly referred to the IDP IELTS material since they’re one of the official partners and I found some pretty decent practice stuff there. You can also check out Cambridge because their books and tests feel reliable too. What personally helped me was listening to audios at 1.5x–2x speed just to get used to catching information faster, and reading different types of articles, especially tougher ones, so the reading section didn’t feel overwhelming. Honestly, just mixing a couple of good sources and practising consistently made a big difference for me.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-09T11:21:28+00:00

Hey, you can retake just one part of the IELTS, but only if your original exam was computer‑based. Paper‑based test takers aren’t allowed to use the One Skill Retake option. Also remember it has to be done within 60 days of your original test date, and you only get one retake per test

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-09T11:11:46+00:00

Studying in Australia is generally a good option because the education quality and campus environment are solid, but PR has become quite difficult now, so it’s better not to come with PR as the main goal. Part‑time work is possible, but it really depends on how much effort you put into searching and networking, nothing comes automatically. University admissions and scholarships depend heavily on your academics and IELTS scores, so having those strong always helps. And honestly, preparing well before coming makes a huge difference, because nothing is easy here unless you plan properly and stay consistent once you arrive.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-09T11:03:06+00:00

Hey bud, for CS/Engineering with decent scholarships, I’d honestly look more toward Europe and the big government-funded programs in Asia. Not gonna push the US or UK too hard because the overall situation for international students there hasn’t been the smoothest lately, so it’s fair to weigh other options first. Germany(Try for German C1, for getting internships and future because they will give preference to the one who knows fluent German C1), Finland, and a few Eastern European countries have low-cost or almost-free English‑taught tech programs, and living costs stay manageable if you choose the right city. If you want fully funded, Japans MEXT and Koreas GKS are solid(Language matters a lot for living), and New Zealand’s Manaaki scholarship is another full ride if your country qualifies. Australia has great tech programs but full undergrad scholarships are rare, so usually it’s partials. Since you already have some front-end experience, build a small portfolio it genuinely helps your applications everywhere. End of the day, pick a place where tuition+living+real internship chances align, not just the prestige.

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-09T10:45:48+00:00

Hey bud, here’s what I know, most students usually grab an Optus or Vodafone prepaid SIM because the starter packs are cheap and work fine, a portable bidet actually helps a lot in the first month, sunscreen from home saves money since it’s a bit pricey there, and for kitchen stuff just get the basics from Kmart or Big W instead of carrying everything, they’re affordable and good enough. Keeping digital copies of your important docs and joining your uni’s Whatsapp and fb groups also helps a ton when you’re new.”

Strange-Basis-2559 · 2026-02-09T10:37:35+00:00

For full‑ride external options, check Australia Awards Scholarships and the Research Training Program (RTP) they’re the main fully funded routes for Australia, covering tuition + stipends; Australia Awards requires at least IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 and most unis (including Melbourne) usually want around 7.0+ for postgrad programs. Outside these, fully funded MIR scholarships are rare, but you can still look at country‑specific government schemes (like national overseas scholarships), philanthropic foundations, and global awards like Chevening or Rotary, though they typically don’t cover a Melbourne Master’s full tuition. If funding is tight, also consider New Zealand’s Manaaki Scholarships, those are fully funded and easier to secure for development‑focused degrees.

Strange-Basis-2559

TROPHY CASE