How does IELTS on computer work?
Quick answer
On IELTS on computer you complete Listening, Reading and Writing on screen and type your answers, at an official test centre. IDP states that headphones are always provided and that the Speaking test is still a face-to-face interview with an examiner. Results are typically available within 1 to 5 days, according to IELTS.org.
Part of The IELTS Speaking test, answered
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iOS and Android
IELTS on computer is the same test in a different medium. The way you enter answers changes, and so does the way you wait for results.
What happens on screen
IELTS.org states that you complete Listening, Reading and Writing on screen and enter your answers on the computer. IDP states that all answers are typed on the screen. In Writing you can start from any task, answers are saved automatically, and the screen shows the number of words you have typed in the lower-left corner.
For reading text on screen, IDP describes tools for highlighting text and taking notes, a stopwatch that flashes 10 minutes and again 5 minutes before the end of Reading and Writing, and settings for font size and background colour.
Listening with headphones
Headphones are provided at the test centre, and you cannot bring your own. IDP states that you can write notes on a notes sheet during Listening, and the system provides a note-taking and highlight function. There is a volume control on screen.
Timing
IDP gives the section times as about 30 minutes for Listening, 60 minutes for Reading, 60 minutes for Writing and 11 to 14 minutes for Speaking. Listening, Reading and Writing are completed immediately after each other on the same day. Unlike paper, there is no extra transfer time for Listening, and IDP says you have only 2 minutes at the end to review your answers.
Speaking is still face to face
Speaking is not delivered on screen. It is a face-to-face interview with an examiner in a private, quiet room. IDP states that with IELTS on computer, Speaking is taken on the same day, before or after the other three parts, and that in some test centres it can be up to 7 days before or after your test date. Your booking confirmation gives your slot.
Results
IELTS.org states that results for IELTS on computer are available 1 to 5 days after the test, and IDP gives the same range. Plan around the full range, not the fastest case.
Before you book
IELTS on computer is offered at official test centres. IELTS.org has announced that from mid-2026 it will no longer offer a paper-based test, with exact timelines varying by market, so computer delivery is becoming the standard format. Ask your centre which formats it runs on your date, and whether the organisation you are applying to accepts the format you choose. For the differences from paper, see IELTS on computer vs IELTS on paper.
What this means for your score
If you type faster than you write, computer delivery removes a step, and the on-screen word count helps in Writing. If you have never typed a long answer under a clock, do that at home first, so the keyboard is not what you are getting used to on the day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get time to transfer my Listening answers on computer?
No. IDP states that no extra time is given to transfer your answers, because you type them in as you go. It says you will only have 2 minutes at the end to review your answers.
Can I use my own headphones?
No. IDP states that headphones will always be provided for IELTS on computer, and that you cannot use your own. You can adjust the volume on screen during Listening.
Is Speaking on computer marked by a computer?
No. IDP states that in both paper and computer tests the Speaking test is still with a real examiner. It is a face-to-face interview in a private, quiet room.
Can I handwrite Writing on the computer test?
In some countries, yes. IELTS.org describes an option called Writing on Paper, where you take the rest on computer and handwrite Writing. It is offered in select countries only, and results are given within 5 days.
Sources
- Ways to take IELTS: online, computer or paper — IELTS.org
- Computer-delivered IELTS — IDP IELTS
- How computer-delivered IELTS works — IDP IELTS
- Updates to IELTS test delivery — IELTS.org
Last verified 30 Sep 2026
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