Is IELTS on Paper or Computer? This may be the question on your mind. A lot of people are confused about whether the test is manual or computer-based. Well, this is what the article is here to explain to you. The IELTS test can be taken both on paper and computer. The IELTS means the International English Language Testing System is the world’s highest English language test for people who are applying for study, work, and migration to countries where English is the language of communication. This would depend solely on the test location and the test center. Some of the test centers have the facilities needed to make the test computer-based while other centers do not and therefore, take this test manually. The paper-based test and computer-based test covers only three sections of the test.
IELTS On Paper Or Computer
The test is the same for both the paper and computer-based. The three sections of the test that was earlier mentioned are; the listening, the reading, and the writing sections of the test. The difference between the two bases is that for the computer-based you sit facing a computer screen assigned to you, your questions and task would be displayed on the screen and you would be required to enter your answers into the computer while for the paper-based is that the questions are handed to you on paper alongside an answer sheet where you would enter your answers.
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Another difference is that in the listening section, for the paper-based test, you have 10 minutes at the end of the test to transfer your answers from your question paper to your answer sheet while in the computer-based, you type in your answers directly and have only 2 minutes to crosscheck your answers.
The speaking section where the test taker has to be face to face with an examiner remains the same for both. There is no option for speaking with an examiner on your computer screen for those taking the computer-based exams.
Another thing that is the same for both bases of the test is the content and scoring. It is no different from each other. The computer-based test taker and that of the paper-based faces the same content of the test questions and tasks are examined, assessed, and are scored in the same way.
Paper-Based IELTS
The paper-based IELTS makes use of papers and a pencil or pen. A question paper and answer sheet would be handed to you. The recommended pencil to use is the HB pencil and it is used to write out your answer in your answer sheet. The reading, writing, and listening sections of the test are all taken at a stretch with no breaks in between. This is done for 60 minutes, the listening for 30 minutes, and the writing is for 60 minutes. This totals 2 hours 30 minutes.
The speaking test is not done on the same day with the other sections. It is usually taken a few days before or after the other three sections. The duration for the speaking test section is about 11 to 14 minutes and the test is recorded.
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Computer-Delivered IELTS
Computer-delivered IELTS is the computer-based IELTS test is called came about due to the enhancing of the system. The world is going digital and technology is in every air we breathe. This brought about the computer-based test replacing the paper-based test in most locations that have the facilities for.
The computer-delivered test is not available in every location or test center. The computer-based test comes highly recommended for those who can use a computer well and can type fast. The computer-based test covers only the listening, reading and writing. All your answers to the questions and tasks in these sections would be typed into the computer and summited accordingly.
Some countries where this option is available are;
- Argentina (Buenos Aires)
- Armenia (Yerevan)
- Australia (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Wollongong)
- Austria
- Azerbaijan (Baku)
- Bahrain (Manama)
- Bangladesh (Dhaka)
- Brazil (Brasilia, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo)
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia (Phnom Penh)
- Canada (Calgary, Halifax, Mississauga, Montreal, Ottawa, Scarborough, Toronto, Winnipeg)
- Chile (Santiago)
- Colombia (Bogota, Medellin)
- Croatia (Zagreb)
- China (Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing)
- Cyprus (Nicosia)
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria)
- France (Paris)
- Germany
- Ghana (Accra)
- Greece (Athens)
- Hong Kong (Macao, Hong Kong)
- Hungary
- India (Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bathinda, Bangalore, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Noida, Pune)
- Indonesia (Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya)
- Ireland (Dublin)
- Israel (Tel Aviv)
- Italy (Bari, Milan, Salerno, Rome)
- Japan (Tokyo)
- Jordan (Amman)
- Kazakhstan (Almaty, Astana)
- Kenya (Nairobi)
- Kuwait (Salmiya, Safat)
- Laos (Vientiane)
- Lebanon (Beirut)
- Lithuania
- Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang)
- Mexico (Mexico City, Condesa, Coyoacan, Satelite, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Queretaro)
- Myanmar (Yangon)
- Nepal (Kathmandu)
- New Zealand (Auckland, Wellington)
- Nigeria (Lagos)
- North Macedonia (Skopje)
- Oman (Muscat)
- Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore)
- Peru (Lima)
- Philippines (Manila, Cebu, Baguio)
- Poland (Warsaw)
- Portugal (Lisbon)
- Qatar (Doha)
- Romania (Bucharest)
- Russia (Moscow, St Petersburg)
- Saudi Arabia (Al Khobar, Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah)
- Serbia (Belgrade)
- Singapore (Singapore)
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa (Johannesburg, Pretoria)
- South Korea (Seoul)
- Spain (Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid)
- Sri Lanka (Colombo, Kandy)
- Switzerland (Bern, Saint Gallen)
- Taiwan, China (Kaohsiung, Taipei, Taichung, Taoyuan, New Taipei City, Hsinchu)
- Thailand (Bangkok)
- Turkey (Ankara, Erzurum, Istanbul)
- Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City)
- Ukraine (Kiev)
- United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah)
- United Kingdom
- Uzbekistan (Tashkent)
The computer-based IELTS test is currently available in the countries mentioned above.
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IELTS Registration
You should and can register for the IELTS of you are ready to take the test or are planning to travel to countries with an English speaking environment. Registration however is not free and it requires payment to follow through with the application.
Search for the nearest IELTS test center closest to you and contact them. They will take you through the process of application and registration. After which you would be given a scheduled date for you to take the test. Be sure to be on time and carry every right document of identification you may need to gain access to the test center.
There are no restrictions on how many times you can take the test. You can apply and retake the test for as many times as you want.
IELTS On Paper Or Computer Which Is Better
The paper and computer-based tests are recommended for anyone who feels comfortable with them. None is better than the other but one could be more preferred to the other. If you are very familiar with computers and can type very fast, then you should opt for the computer-based test. However, if you are slow to type, you should opt for the paper-based test.
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