IELTS Official Test Centre, English Testing Canada - Prairies

I took the test in March of 2022. The test center is super clean and I liked that they had free parking and free lockers. The ladies that were there were super friendly and professional! I took the EILTS academic and I was able to complete everything on their computer, besides the speaking test (face to face, which was great). I had lunch at Earls, it's convenient and around the block. Overall, I highly recommend this test center.

That said, they had very strict COVID-19 rules (even though it was not required anymore), I took the French language test in another establishment the day after and they didn't make us wear masks and we could have all our stuff with us. At ETC prairies, mask was required, even for the speaking test (how convenient), and we couldn't take anything with us in the room besides a pen and a transparent water bottle. I think we should be allowed to come with a few more items like tissues and tampons or whatever we need for our personal hygiene, but surely they have their reasons.

Clean and enough space.
Staff did their best to support and help all test takers.
Thanks

Staff was friendly.

However please keep in mind a few things…
At this location you will not be allowed to bring literally anything with you. They took my hoodie (it had a zipper) , they said it was warm enough inside, which it wasn’t so I was sick for another week after. So wear something that you put on over your head and it doesn’t have a zipper or buttons.
Other thing was I brought a bottle of water which was not transparent, so they made me leave it behind too. Of course they do not provide test takers with any water (like a case of water from Costco would cost a fortune). I’ll leave it up to your judgement whether it’s ok to go for 3 hours without a single sip of water in a stressful environment. So bring a transparent bottle.
Last but not least, I could not even take any of my feminine hygiene products with me, let alone Tylenol. Considering that 3 out of 4 staff members were women, that was super strange to find out. So girls, if you are on your period and taking your IELTS at Prairies, it is your problem alone. Apparently you’ll have to hold it or whatever…

To some point I understand they do not make the rules but some of that was kinda brutal. I have taken IELTS before, and it was nothing like this.

P.S.: Even thought it is not illegal for them to ask everyone to leave a 5-star on google yet I think you guys deserve to know the truth.

I took a paper-delivered Academic IELTS exam at ETC Prairies in Calgary on June 19, 2021. I am happy with their communication approach before, during and after the exam. The invigilators' team were working cohesively and professionally. I commend their due diligence, too. All the above items helped me to take the listening, reading and writing exams in a bit more relaxed way.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the smooth administration of the speaking exam by my examiner.
Last but not least, thank you very much for the appropriate amount of refund within a couple of days following the cancellation of another exam that I had to do because of my overlapping commitments. Keep up the wonderful job, ETC Prairies!!

Binyam

Exceptional service with quiet and clean environment. All staff members were so professional and understanding. I will surely recommend..!