Should I take a computer-delivered or paper-based IELTS? IDP IELTS

If you choose to complete your IELTS test on a computer, you will do the Reading, Listening, and Writing parts of the test using a computer. The IELTS Speaking test remains the same, with a face-to-face interview with an examiner. The Speaking test will be completed either just before, or just after the Reading, Listening, and Writing test.

If you take IELTS on paper, you will complete the Reading, Listening and Writing parts on paper. The Speaking test is completed in a face-to-face interview with an IELTS examiner, and this can be done one week before or after your test date. In the paper-based IELTS test, the Writing, Reading, and Listening tests are all completed on the same day with no breaks between each test.

We'll share some free sample questions to help you decide whether you want to take IELTS on paper or computer. But first, let's take a quick look at the difference between paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS.

A quick comparison of IELTS on paper and computer

	IELTS on computer	IELTS on paper
Delivery format	Complete the Reading, Listening and Writing parts of the test using a computer and the Speaking test face-to-face with an IELTS examiner	Complete the Reading, Listening and Writing parts of the test on paper and the Speaking part face-to-face with an IELTS examiner
Results	Results will be available 3 to 5 days after taking your test	Results will be available 13 days after taking your test
Booking	Look for the computer icon when you book your test	Look for the paper icon when you book your test
Test availability	Testing up to 7 days a week and 3 times a day	Testing up to 48 days per year (Thursday and Saturday)

Practice Listening on computer

Try these free Listening sample questions and get a feel for what it's like to take IELTS Listening on a computer.

The computer-based IELTS Listening practice test is made up of 6 question types and 24 questions including:

Multiple choice
Matching
Plan, map, diagram labelling
Note completion
Short answer questions

Start the free practice questions on computer

Download the answer sheet

Practice Listening on paper

Download our free sample questions for IELTS Listening and see what it's like to take IELTS Listening on paper.

Multiple choice

Matching

Sample 1

Sample 2

Plan, map, diagram, labelling

Form completion

Note completion

Sentence completion

Short answer question

Sample 1

Sample 2

Practice IELTS Reading on computer

Try some IELTS Reading sample questions on computer to see if it is for you. It's also a perfect addition to your IELTS study plan.

The Reading sample questions for IELTS on computer are made up of 11 question types and 41 questions including:

Multiple choice
Identifying information
Note completion
Matching headings
Matching sentence endings
Summary completion
Sentence completion
Flow-chart completion

Start the sample questions for Listening by clicking on the link below

Download the answer sheet to see how you went.

Practice Reading on paper

Try these free sample questions for IELTS Reading on paper to see if paper-based IELTS is for you.

Sample questions

Flow chart completion

Identifying information

Multiple choice

Summary completion

Practice IELTS Writing on computer

Try our sample questions for IELTS Writing test on computer to see if it is for you. And if you have booked a computer-delivered IELTS test, add it to your study plan.

The sample questions for IELTS Writing test consists of 2 tasks.

Task 1: You will be asked to write 150 words and spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Task 2: You will be asked to write 250 words and spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Start your Writing practice test by clicking on the link below:

Download the answer sheet to see how you went.

Practice Writing on paper

Download these free sample questions for IELTS Academic Writing to get better idea of how IELTS Writing works in the paper-based IELTS test.

IELTS Academic

Writing Task 1:

Writing Task 2:

IELTS General Training

Sample question