IELTS on computer: what is different and how to practise for it

Most test centres in Australia, including AIL in Melbourne, run IELTS on computer. The English you need is exactly the same as on paper. What you need to get used to is the screen.

What stays the same

• The four sections, the order and the timing.
• The question types and the number of questions.
• The way answers are marked and the band scores.
• Speaking: a live interview with an examiner in a room, not a recording into a computer.

What changes

Listening on screen

Because there is no transfer time, you have to get spelling right as you type. The two minutes of review at the end is for checking, not for writing answers you missed. Use the time while the instructions are being read to look at the next set of questions, which you can scroll to.

Headphones are provided. Adjust the volume during the sound check at the start; you cannot do it easily later.

Reading on screen

The split screen means you can scroll the passage while the questions stay put. Two tools help:

• Highlight: select text and right-click (or use the menu) to highlight. Use it for names, dates and key terms you will need to find again.
• Notes: you can attach a note to a highlighted word. Most people don't need this, but some find it helpful for tracking which paragraph is about what.

A navigation bar at the bottom shows every question. Answered questions are marked, and you can flag a question for review. Before the time runs out, look along the bar for any blank questions. There's no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave one empty.

Writing on screen

Typing is faster for most people, and the live word count removes the guesswork about 150 and 250 words. A few things to watch:

• There is no spell checker and no grammar checker. Typos count as spelling errors.
• You can cut, copy and paste within your answer. That makes it easy to move a sentence, but don't spend minutes reorganising.
• Both tasks are on the same screen, with tabs. You decide how long each one gets, so watch the clock: aim for about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2.

If you type slowly, practise. Writing 250 words of good English in 40 minutes needs around 20 words a minute while you think. Most people manage this after a few weeks of typing practice.

Getting results

Computer-delivered results usually come out within one to five days. You get an email when they are ready, and you can see them online. Paper results take longer.

Practise in the same interface

The AIL practice tests copy the computer-delivered layout: the split-screen Reading, the question navigation bar, flagging for review, highlighting and notes, the Writing word count and the timing. If the screen is the only thing that's new on test day, you will be fine. Try a free 15-minute section first to see how it feels.