IELTS
Paper-Based vs
Computer-Based

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the standardised English proficiency tests that all universities in the world accept. It is scored in a 9-band scale, and is one of the oft-chosen tests by international students.
If you have been preparing to get a good score on the IELTS test, this is something you should know about. There are two ways to take the IELTS test; paper-based and computer-based. The computer-based test was introduced in 2017 in Australia and was later extended to other parts of the world. Now that you know that there are two ways of taking the test, it is essential to know which is better; paper-based or computer-based. Well, it is not an easy question to answer, but we have managed to include everything you need to know to take a wise decision.Â
When you take the IELTS General or Academic Test, you can choose whether to take the paper-based test or the computer-based test. There are a few respects in which both paper-based and computer-based IELTS testing differ. We have given a table below in which we have detailed the differences between the two of them on a few parameters.
Basis |
Paper-Based |
Computer-Based |
Test availability |
Tests are conducted 48 days per year, on Thursdays and Saturdays |
Tests are conducted3 times a day on all 7 days of the week |
Mode of booking |
Candidate should click on the paper icon while booking for IELTS |
Candidate should choose the computer icon while booking for IELTS |
Result |
Results will be out after 13 days of taking the test |
Results will be out after 3-5 days of taking the test |
Both the paper-based and computer-based IELTS tests differ only in a few respects, and you can choose the one that best suits you based on the above information. You can also contact AECC’s counsellors for expert guidance. We offer one-to-one assistance to clear all your doubts for free!
If you have computer-based skills, a moderately good typing speed, and are comfortable typing, it is better to take the IELTS computer-based test. However, several students have regarded computer-based tests to be a better option.