Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation

Update: 14 April 2022

Auckland is currently at Orange in the COVID Protection Framework.

Our Exam Centre (IELTS and Pearson) is offering exams under the current Protection Framework.

Our reception team is working remotely. Test bookings can be made by clicking on "Book your Pearson test" above.

If you need to contact Pearson, please call 050 830 6723 for booking assistance.

Alternatively, for refunds, rescheduling and other exam issues, please call 0800 451 260.

ELA follows the Ministry of Education’s Guidelines for Tertiary Education Organisations on how to operate under the Government’s COVID-19 Protection Framework. ELA will respond according to the requirements of the different levels (red, orange, green) as they happen.

Update: 05 April 2022

Auckland is currently at Red in the COVID Protection Framework.

Our Exam Centre (IELTS and Pearson) is offering exams under the current Protection Framework.

Our reception team is working remotely. Test bookings can be made by clicking on "Book your Pearson test" above.

If you need to contact Pearson, please call 050 830 6723 for booking assistance.

Alternatively, for refunds, rescheduling and other exam issues, please call 0800 451 260.

Update: 25 January 2022

Auckland is currently at Red in the COVID Protection Framework.

Our Exam Centre (IELTS and Pearson) is offering exams under the current Protection Framework.

In line with the University of Auckland COVID-19 vaccination policy, all candidates and staff will need to be fully vaccinated as a condition of entry to campus.

Our reception team is working remotely. Test bookings can be made online.

If you need to contact Pearson, please call 050 830 6723 for booking assistance.

Alternatively, for refunds, rescheduling and other exam issues, please call 0800 451 260.

Update: 02 December 2021

As of 11:59 pm 02 December, all of New Zealand will operate in a new protection framework (‘traffic lights’). Auckland will move to Red. ELA will continue teaching and learning online.

ELA is intending to reopen its doors for onsite IELTS and Pearson testing from 10 January 2022.

We will provide more details on this over the coming weeks.

In line with the University of Auckland COVID-19 vaccination policy, all candidates and staff will need to be fully vaccinated as a condition of entry to campus.

Update: 18 November 2021

As of 11:59 pm, the 9th of November (Tuesday), Auckland moved to Alert Level 3 Step 2.

Unfortunately, it has been decided at this stage that our test centre is still not able to conduct PTE Testing at Alert Level 3 Step 2 until the end of November 2021.

We are currently waiting for a decision from our parent company when we can reopen under the Alert Level system and the new Traffic Light system.

For PTE Academic test inquiries:
Please contact PTE customer service at 0508 306 723.

For Pearson Vue test inquiries:
Please visit the www.PearsonVue.com website.

We will keep this section updated with information as soon as it becomes available. We are set to resume testing as soon as we are able to and look forward to seeing you back at our centre then.

Update: 21 September 2021

As of 11:59pm, Tuesday 21st September, Auckland will move to Alert Level 3.

This means the ELA, including our testing centre, is currently closed. Our admin team however is still available to answer any queries and support you in any way we can.

For PTE Academic tests:
Please contact PTE customer service at 0508 306 723.

For Pearson Vue tests:
Please visit www.PearsonVue.com website > for test-takers > schedule an exam > select their specific test > halfway down on the right-hand side is the Customer Service box in red.

We will keep this section informed with information as soon as it becomes available. We are set to resume testing as soon as we are able to and look forward to seeing you back at our centre then.

Update: 17 August 2021

As of 11:59pm, Tuesday 17th August, Auckland is at Alert Level 4.

This means the ELA, including our testing centre, is currently closed. Our admin team however is still available to answer any queries and support you in any way we can.

For PTE Academic tests:
Please contact PTE customer service at 0508 306 723.

We will keep this section informed with information as soon as it becomes available. We are set to resume testing as soon as we are able to and look forward to seeing you back at our centre then.

Update: 12 March 2021

As of midday, Friday the 12th of March, Auckland is at Alert Level 1. This means that from Monday the 15th of March, our testing centre will reopen as normal for all candidates.

Under Alert Level 1 we will be taking the following precautions to ensure our staff and test-takers remain safe at our centre:

QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer App, as well as sign in and out forms for all staff and test takers to ensure accurate contact tracing
Hand sanitsier is available on site for all staff and test-takers
Increased cleaning between tests

If you have any questions or concerns about your Pearson VUE booking with us, feel free to get in touch at ielts@auckland.ac.nz

Update: 5 March 2021

From 6am, Sunday the 7th of March, Auckland will move to Alert Level 2.

The exam centre will reopen on Monday the 8th of March for registered exam candidates ONLY.

During alert level 2, the following precautions are in place to ensure our staff and test-takers remain safe:
• QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer App, as well as sign in and out forms for all staff and test takers to ensure accurate contact tracing
• Each test is conducted on a separate floor – no intermixing of test-takers or staff
• Masks and hand sanitiser is available for test-takers and staff
• Increased frequency of cleaning between and during tests

If you have any questions or concerns about your IELTS or PTE Academic booking with us, feel free to get in touch at ielts@auckland.ac.nz

Update: 1 March 2021

As of 6 am, Sunday 28th February, Auckland is at Alert Level 3 for a period of at least 7 days.

This means the ELA, including our testing centre, is currently closed. Our admin team however is still available to answer any queries and support you in any way we can.

For PTE Academic tests:
Please contact PTE customer service on 0508 306 723.

We will keep this section informed with information as soon as it becomes available. We are set to resume testing as soon as we are able to and look forward to seeing you back at our centre then.

Update: 22 February 2021

From 11:59pm Monday the 22nd February Auckland will move to Alert Level 1. This means our testing centre is open as normal for all candidates.

Under Alert Level 1 we will be taking the following precautions to ensure our staff and test-takers remain safe at our centre:

QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer App, as well as sign in and out forms for all staff and test takers to ensure accurate contact tracing
Hand sanitsier is available on site for all staff and test-takers
Increased cleaning between tests

If you have any questions or concerns about your Pearson VUE booking with us, feel free to get in touch at ielts@auckland.ac.nz

For more information on the COVID-19 situation, see HERE

Update: 18 February 2021

Auckland moved to Alert Level 2 at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 17th February.

The exam centre is now open for registered exam candidates only.

If you have any questions or concerns about your IELTS or PTE Academic booking with us, feel free to get in touch at ielts@auckland.ac.nz

For more information on the COVID-19 situation, see HERE

Update: 13 November 2020

All of New Zealand including Auckland remains at Alert Level 1 and the CBD can now reopen. From Saturday 14th November our Testing Centre will reopen as normal.

We want to assure you we are taking every precaution to keep our test takers and our testing team safe and under Alert Level 1 we will be taking the following precautions to ensure our staff and test takers remain safe at our centre:

We will return to usual numbers allowing 1-meter social distancing
Signing in and out forms for all staff and test takers to ensure accurate contact tracing, as well as QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer App
Hand sanitsier is available onsite for all staff and test takers
Increased cleaning between tests

If you have any questions or concerns about your Pearson VUE booking with us, feel free to get in touch at ielts@auckland.ac.nz

For more information on the COVID-19 situation, see HERE

Update: 12 November 2020

The Ministry of Health has provided an update on COVID-19 after a community case was confirmed in Auckland.

As a precaution those who work in the Auckland CBD have been advised to work from home today, Friday the 13th November, where possible. If you must go into this area wear a face covering and practice social distancing. This advice will remain while health authorities continue to work to trace the source of this infection.

For this reason the ELA will be closed today to all students and staff. This unfortunately means that any Pearson Vue exams which were to be held today have been postponed. Those affected have been contacted, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.

For more information about COVID-19 and the situation in Auckland, see HERE

Update: 13 October 2020

New Zealand is now at Alert Level 1 which means our Testing Centre is open as normal.

We will return to usual numbers allowing 1-meter social distancing
Signing in and out forms for all staff and test takers to ensure accurate contact tracing, as well as QR code posters for the NZ COVID Tracer App
Hand sanitsier is avaiable onsite for all staff and test takers
Increased cleaning between tests

If you have any questions or concerns about your Pearson VUE booking with us, feel free to get in touch at ielts@auckland.ac.nz

Update: 11 May 2020

The ELA is delighted to announce our Testing Centre will re-open for Pearson VUE testing from Friday 15th May 2020.

We want to assure you we are taking every precaution to keep our test takers and our testing team safe during Alert Level 2. Our team has planned for our opening very carefully and will be taking the following precautions to ensure our staff and test takers remain safe at our centre:

Reduced testing numbers for our first week to allow 2 meters social distancing
From Friday 22nd May, we will return to usual numbers allowing 1-meter social distancing
Signing in and out forms for all staff and test takers to ensure accurate contact tracing
Separate floors for all tests – no intermixing of test takers or staff
Masks and gloves available for test takers and staff (though wearing of masks and gloves is optional, you do not need to wear these to take a test)
Increased cleaning between and during tests

If you have any questions or concerns about your Pearson VUE booking with us, feel free to get in touch at ielts@auckland.ac.nz

Update: 1 May 2020

New Zealand has been in Alert Level 3 since Monday 27 April 2020. This, unfortunately, means that we have found it necessary to suspend testing further. We hope to resume testing as soon as we are able to. Once testing resumes, additional precautions will be put into place to ensure a safe testing environment.

Please stay safe and follow government advice.

Update: 24 March 2020

Following our government’s escalation in response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation, our test centre has suspended testing from 24th March 2020, to 20th April 2020. Our admin team however is still available to answer any queries and support you in any way we can.

For Pearson Vue tests:
Please visit www.PearsonVue.com website>for test takers > schedule an exam > select their specific test > halfway down on the right hand side is the Customer Service box in red.

We will keep this section informed with information as soon as it becomes available. We are set to resume testing as soon as we are able to and look forward to seeing you back at our centre then.

Pearson VUE test candidate support around Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We wanted to take this opportunity to let you know we understand how stressful the unfolding Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation must be for you all. We want to do the best we can to support you during this team.

Your health and wellbeing are of the utmost importance to us, and we have taken extra measures such as:

Wiping down all surfaces before and between tests.
We are also having our labs cleaned more often, and for paper based tests have increased the spaces between desks.
For computer based testing, where we can, we will provide spaces between candidates.
We ask that during this time you mitigate your own risk by not turning up too early to your test – half an hour before your test time is plenty of time and will minimise your interaction with others.

Please also ensure you are taking measures to wash your hands carefully, and practice personal care measures as recommended by the World Health Organisation.You can find out more about these HERE.

If you are still have questions please contact our friendly team at ela@auckland.ac.nz