Chartered Institute
of Linguists

Candidate Information – before an exam

Candidate Information

Candidate Information index

Before an exam

How to register

Exam dates are published on our website approximately twelve months prior to each exam. Please refer to the qualification Key Dates document for detailed information on Exam Entry Period, deadline for Reasonable Adjustments and Exam Entry Deadline dates. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of the correct date of the exam prior to registration and that they are able to attend all relevant exam sessions. CIOLQ does not accept responsibility for any timetable clashes.

To register, candidates must complete an Exam Entry Form which can be downloaded from the relevant qualification section of the website. Where appropriate, candidates will be directed to the online shop to register.

Candidates should submit their forms directly to CIOLQ using the email addresses provided on the form. 

Please refer to the Exam Fees, Invoicing and Billing Policy for information on fees. Candidates entering for Level 6 and Level 7 exams are required to register for CIOL membership at the grade of IoLET Affiliate. A mandatory centre fee is payable by all candidates who register to take exams at the CIOLQ Virtual Centre (online).

CIOLQ is not obliged to accept late entries, but may do so at their discretion in which case an Extended Exam Entry exceptional fee will apply.

Payment options

CIOLQ accepts payment via debit/credit card or bank transfer only.

Should a payment be declined, the registration process will not be completed and the exam entry form will not be processed.

CIOLQ reserves the right not to release exam results to candidates whose exam fees have not been paid in full. 

Candidate details

Candidates are responsible for ensuring that all information on the exam entry form is correct. Exam results and certificates will only be issued in the name stated on the entry form. The Client Services Team and your exam centre must both be notified, in writing, of any change of address or other contact details at the first available opportunity prior to results or certificates being released.

Exam centres

Please note that until further notice all exams are conducted online via the CIOLQ Virtual Centre.

Cancellation of the exam by candidates

In the event of candidate withdrawal (cancellation), the candidate will forfeit the full exam fee paid and the CIOLQ Virtual Centre fees.

Examination completion timeframe

For all exam sessions which take place after 01 February 2021, candidates have a three year timeframe to complete all parts of the exam. The three year full exam completion period applies from the first year that a candidate receives a unit certificate. Therefore, once a candidate has received a 'pass' in any part of an exam, they have two more years to successfully complete all outstanding parts of the exam.

Candidates who registered and passed a unit of the qualification between 2017 and 2020 continue to have hte previous timescale of five years in which to complete the full qualification.

CIOLQ does not guarantee that a specific exam will be set each year and candidates are urged to check exam availability with the Client Services Team before embarking on a course of study extending over several years. If CIOLQ is unable to provide a required re-sit exam during the three or five year completion period (whichever is applicable), the timeframe will be extended until the first available session.