All IELTS tests in the Chinese mainland in March will be cancelled due to the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak, test administrators said on Friday.

After consultation with the National Education Examinations Authority under the Ministry of Education, the British Council, administrator of IELTS, decided to cancel all tests in March and will return full test fees to test takers' accounts.

"We will pay close attention to the latest updates of the epidemic situation and adjust our registration and testing arrangements for tests after March," the council said.

ETS, administrator of TOEFL and GRE, and the British Council announced last month that it would cancel all TOEFL, GRE and IELTS tests in the Chinese mainland in February.

ETS has not updated its test arrangements for TOEFL and GRE tests in March.