Key Facts
| IELTS Online result release | usually within 6-8 days |
|---|---|
| IELTS Online result release (ielts.org) | 6–8 days after taking your test |
| IELTS on computer result release | usually within 1-5 days |
| IELTS on paper result release | within 13 days |
| IELTS Writing on Paper result release | within five days after your test date |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
IELTS Online is the Academic test taken remotely on your own computer, with the Speaking test held by video call with a certified IELTS examiner. It shares its format and duration with IELTS Academic taken in a test centre, so the choice between home, centre and handwriting for Writing mostly affects logistics, typing and how soon results arrive.
Candidates sit IELTS on computer at a test centre, on computer with Writing on Paper in selected markets, or as IELTS Online where it is offered. The Academic version can be taken either way, whilst IELTS for UKVI has its own delivery rules, so the version you need often settles the delivery option before preference does.
Which IELTS delivery options are there?
IELTS is delivered on computer at an official test centre, on computer with a handwritten Writing paper in selected markets, or remotely as IELTS Online. The test owners describe all IELTS tests as delivered on computer, with Writing on Paper added in selected markets for candidates who prefer to handwrite their Writing responses.
The Academic test can be taken at a test centre or remotely online, and both routes use the same four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Availability of IELTS Online and of Writing on Paper varies by country, so the booking page for your location is the place to confirm which options appear.
- IELTS on computer: taken at a test centre, answers typed on screen
- IELTS on computer with Writing on Paper: Writing handwritten, offered in selected countries
- IELTS Online: Academic only, taken remotely with a video-call Speaking test
What stays the same whichever way you take IELTS?
The content, task types, scoring and time allocation are the same in every delivery option. The whole test lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes, made up of Listening at approximately 30 minutes, Reading at 60 minutes, Writing at 60 minutes and Speaking at 11 to 14 minutes.
Speaking is always a one-to-one conversation with an examiner. In a test centre it takes place face to face, and in IELTS Online it takes place by live video call with a certified examiner, usually before the other sections. Listening, Reading and Writing in IELTS Online are delivered in the same way as IELTS on computer.
IELTS Preparation tutors
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Expert TutorI gained an MA and MPhil at Girton College, Cambridge, and am a British Council certified counsellor. I specialise in Oxbridge preparation and university admissions, and teach A-Level English Literature, French and German, using the discursive, oral-first style of an Oxbridge supervision.
Enquire about this tutorHow do computer, Writing on Paper and IELTS Online differ?
The main difference is how you produce your Writing answers: you type them on screen in IELTS on computer and in IELTS Online, and you handwrite them on an answer sheet in Writing on Paper. Each mode also releases results at a different speed, so check the timing for your booking.
Computer delivery is described as offering more test dates and wider availability, whilst Writing on Paper is limited to selected countries.
Which versions of IELTS can be taken online or on paper?
IELTS Online is available for the Academic test only, and no General Training version is offered online. Anyone who needs General Training therefore books a test-centre option instead.
IELTS for UKVI is the route for UK Visas and Immigration purposes, and the ielts.org page for it states that these tests must be taken in person at an official IELTS test centre. Writing on Paper is not available for IELTS for UKVI. IELTS for UKVI Life Skills assesses only speaking and listening, and the online pages describe IELTS Online for the Academic test only, so a Life Skills booking should be checked on the official page for your country.
What do you need to take IELTS Online at home?
IELTS Online needs a laptop or desktop computer with one screen only, a webcam, a microphone and speakers, a stable internet connection and a private, well-lit space where nobody will interrupt you. Tablets, mobile phones and Chromebooks cannot be used.
The computer must run Windows 10 or 11 on a 64-bit platform, or macOS version 10.15 or higher, with Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge available. Upload and download speeds should each exceed 1 Mbps, and the test runs in the Inspera Integrity Browser, where a system check should be run at least one day before the test. A mobile phone with a camera may be needed at check-in for a room scan, and it must be switched off for the test itself.
How should you choose, and how should you prepare?
Choose according to the version you need first, then where you type fastest and where you can sit a quiet, uninterrupted test. A visa route that requires IELTS for UKVI points to a test centre, a quiet private room and dependable equipment favour IELTS Online, and a strong preference for handwriting points to Writing on Paper where it is offered. IELTS Online is not accepted for immigration purposes and some organisations do not accept it, so confirm with your institution before booking.
Preparation follows the Writing marking. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1, so practise Task 2 first, at least 250 words in about 40 minutes, then Task 1, at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. Check each answer against the four criteria: task achievement or response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.
Practise in the mode you will sit. For computer and IELTS Online, type full timed responses and judge length for yourself, since a word counter may not be available. For Writing on Paper, handwrite under timing so your script stays legible. Before an IELTS Online booking, rehearse Speaking by video call on the same computer.
Related guides
- What is IELTS? Format, versions and scoring
- IELTS Reading question types
- IELTS Listening test format
- Official IELTS practice tests
- How to prepare for IELTS
- IELTS for UKVI
- IELTS Life Skills A1, A2 and B1
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Frequently asked questions
- Is it permitted to wear headphones or use Bluetooth devices in IELTS Online?
- No. Headphones, headsets and any ear-device are not allowed, and the keyboard, mouse, webcam, speakers and microphone must be inbuilt or wired. VPNs, mobile hotspots and multiple screens are also not allowed. The keyboard language should be set to Australian, USA or UK English, so it is worth checking these settings and the system check well before test day.
- Is the Speaking test marked by a computer in any delivery option?
- No. In each format the Speaking test is a one-to-one conversation with an IELTS examiner, face to face in a test centre and by live video call in IELTS Online. IDP states that it is carried out without artificial intelligence. Practising aloud with a person, and recording yourself against the published criteria, therefore suits every delivery option.
- Can candidates change delivery mode for a One Skill Retake?
- A One Skill Retake for Writing must be taken in the same delivery mode as the original test, so a Writing on Paper candidate retakes on paper and a computer candidate retakes on computer. Because of that, it helps to practise the response style you will sit first time, whether typed or handwritten, before booking your initial test.
- Are the notes taken during the computer test marked?
- No. Only the answers you enter are assessed, and notes earn no marks. In IELTS on computer at a test centre you can write notes on a notes sheet whilst you listen, and in IELTS Online notes are made on screen. Use notes to plan paragraphs in Writing, then make sure the final typed or handwritten response is complete within the timing.
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