Is the Paper-Based IELTS Being Discontinued? Latest Updates and How to Take the Test from Now On [2026]

IELTS has not officially announced that the paper-based test will be discontinued,

• but paper-based test dates are decreasing,
• test venues are being reduced,
• and computer-delivered IELTS is expanding.

Given these trends,

it is fair to say that, globally, the test is gradually moving to computer-delivered IELTS.

If this trend continues,

• paper-based IELTS may be discontinued in other countries too,
• and computer-delivered IELTS may become the standard.

There is every possibility of this happening.

In other words, IELTS has entered a phase of

“not a complete discontinuation, but a transition that has already begun in some regions”.

This is the stage we are now in.

There are clear reasons behind IELTS moving from paper-based to computer-delivered.

It is not just a passing trend: it brings major benefits to both test takers and test providers.

The biggest advantage of computer-delivered IELTS is that

you can get your score in as little as 1-2 days.

Paper-based IELTS, on the other hand, usually takes about 13 days,

• so for people whose university application deadline is approaching
• or who are in a hurry to apply for a visa,

computer-delivered IELTS is a big advantage.

Paper-based IELTS is held only a few times a month, whereas

computer-delivered IELTS

• can be taken almost every day
• and has plenty of available slots.

These features are a big reason for its popularity.

Therefore,

Being able to sit the test flexibly around your own schedule is another major reason.

Computerization also brings major benefits to the test providers.

Paper-based tests require

• printing question papers,
• collecting and managing them after the test,
• and marking and shipping.

All of this takes time and money.

Computer-delivered IELTS makes these processes more efficient,

so going digital is a rational choice for the providers as well.

Not just IELTS: English tests as a whole are moving toward digital delivery.

• TOEFL → almost entirely online
• Eiken → CBT introduced
• IELTS → computer-delivered expanding

Looking at this trend,

it is unlikely that IELTS alone will keep the paper format.

In the computer-delivered test,

• Typing makes editing easier
• Text is easy to read
• Time management is easier

These are further advantages.

In Writing in particular,

a growing number of test takers value being able to revise and adjust their structure easily.

IELTS is moving to computer-delivered because of several overlapping factors,

• Results come faster
• More test dates
• such as lower operating costs
• and the shift toward digital,

among others.

As a result,

computer-delivered IELTS is becoming the mainstream worldwide.

One system that has recently been drawing attention is

IELTS “One Skill Retake”.

This is

a system that lets you retake just one of the four skills (Listening / Reading / Writing / Speaking),

and it is very useful if “only one section is short of the score you need”.

With standard IELTS, if you are not satisfied with your score,

you must retake all four skills.

With One Skill Retake, however, it is a flexible system:

• you can retake just one section,
• you can use the new score after the retake,
• and your other three sections stay as they are.

That is how it works.

An important point:

One Skill Retake is available only for computer-delivered IELTS (Computer-delivered IELTS).

It cannot be used with paper-based IELTS.

This is another reason why the move to computer-delivered IELTS is progressing.

This is the heart of the question,

One Skill Retake is not available worldwide.

Availability differs by country and test center.

■ Countries and regions where it is being introduced

• Australia
• United Kingdom
• Canada (some centers)
• UAE, etc.

It tends to be introduced earlier in countries that are relatively advanced in moving to computer-delivered IELTS.

■ Important: check whether your destination accepts it

This is the most important point.

Not every university or immigration authority necessarily accepts One Skill Retake scores.

Therefore,

• If you plan to use the score for
• a university abroad,
• an immigration application,

or a visa application,

you must check in advance whether One Skill Retake scores are valid.

In conclusion,

it is not true that it can be used only in countries where paper-based IELTS has been discontinued.

However,

• in countries where computer-delivered IELTS is the mainstream
• and in regions where CBT is advancing,

it is true that it is introduced more easily.

Because this system offers great benefits to test takers,

in the future,

• support in more countries
• and more centers offering it

are likely to follow.

• One Skill Retake lets you retake just one skill
• Available only for computer-delivered IELTS
• Not available in every country
• However, its introduction is expanding

Given all this, the question many people are asking is

**“Which one should I choose?”**

To put it plainly,

we generally recommend choosing computer-delivered IELTS.

If any of the following apply to you, computer-delivered IELTS offers big advantages.

• You want your score as soon as possible
• You want to choose your test date flexibly
• You are reasonably comfortable with typing
• You want to be ready for what will likely be the future mainstream

Because computer-delivered IELTS is likely to become the mainstream, in particular,

choosing it when in doubt is the safe choice.

On the other hand, paper-based IELTS may suit people like the following better.

• You find handwriting easier
• Typing is a source of strong stress for you
• You concentrate better when reading on paper

If you are particularly worried about Writing,

your score will probably be more stable if you do not force yourself to switch to computer-delivered IELTS.

If you cannot decide which to choose,

it is important to balance “what will be the future mainstream” with “what you are used to”.

• Taking the test just once in the short term → choose the format you are best at
• Likely to take it several times in the future → get used to computer-delivered IELTS

This is often overlooked,

but we do not recommend changing formats partway through your preparation.

The reasons are that

• your Writing practice method changes,
• your time allocation gets thrown off,
• and your stress increases.

These are the effects.

Prepare consistently

for the format you chose at the start; it is the shortcut to a higher score.

• Computer-delivered IELTS is generally recommended
• However, your personal strengths and weaknesses matter too
• Keep preparing for the format you have decided on

Now that the IELTS format is changing, there are points that people who are about to take the test need to be more careful about than before.

If you are particularly torn between paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS, it is important to keep the following in mind.

In some countries, paper-based IELTS is already effectively unavailable,

and in the future,

• test venues may decrease
• and test dates may become even more limited.

Such changes may continue.

Therefore,

If you want to take the paper-based test, it is safer to take it as soon as possible.

Considering future trends,

adapting to computer-delivered IELTS is likely to be unavoidable.

Writing is especially important:

• typing speed,
• skill in correcting mistakes,
• and the ability to organize your essay on screen

greatly affect your score.

In the computer-delivered test,

There is an option called One Skill Retake that lets you retake just one section.

If you build your plan around it,

• you can first aim for the overall band score
• and raise only your weak section afterward.

This kind of strategy becomes possible.

Flexible test strategies like this will likely become important in the future.

IELTS is a test whose conditions differ not by country,

but by test center.

Therefore,

• Whether paper-based IELTS is offered
• and whether One Skill Retake is available

must always be checked in advance.

IELTS is a test that is changing right now.

• Format changes,
• introduction of new systems,
• and changes in test venues

are all happening,

so preparing with outdated information is risky.

If you are going to take IELTS from now on, it is important to

• understand that paper-based IELTS is shrinking,
• prepare on the assumption of computer-delivered IELTS,
• and make use of systems such as One Skill Retake.

These are the key perspectives.

Regarding paper-based IELTS,

• it has not been completely discontinued worldwide,
• but it is definitely shrinking,
• and in some countries and regions it is effectively unavailable.

That is the current situation.

In particular, in places such as Canada and Vietnam,

there are now regions where computer-delivered IELTS is the mainstream or almost the only option.

In addition,

• Results come faster
• More test dates
• because One Skill Retake can be used,

and for other reasons,

the convenience of computer-delivered IELTS is likely to be valued even more in the future.

Taking all this into account,

IELTS is right now

“in a transition period, moving from paper to computer”.

That is the state of the test.

If you are going to take IELTS from now on,

• choose computer-delivered IELTS unless you have a special reason not to
• Get used to typing and on-screen operation early
• Keep checking the latest systems and test formats

Keeping these three points in mind is important.

Since the shift to computer-delivered IELTS is likely to progress further,

preparing for “the coming standard” rather than “today’s mainstream” is probably the most efficient strategy.