Computer Based IELTS

Introduction to IELTS on Computer

Listening Component of IELTS on Computer

Reading Component of IELTS on Computer

Writing Component of IELTS on Computer

After watching all four of these British Council IELTS videos for the computer-delivered test, I feel a lot more confident about how the online version works!

Here’s what stood out to me from each section:

• General Computer-Delivered IELTS Overview:
  The intro video lays out the basics—how to navigate between questions, track your remaining time using the clock at the top of the screen, and use helpful features like screen settings, text highlighting, and the help tab. One nice detail is the way the test’s navigation bar lets you jump back and forth between questions so you can review and change answers up to the last second. You can even hide your screen if you need to step out, which adds peace of mind.

• Listening Test:
  For the listening section, I like that you can adjust the volume anytime. The interface requires you to pay close attention to the part and question numbers, so you’re always looking at the right spot. They explain the different ways to answer—typing into gaps, dragging and dropping answers, or choosing from diagrams and tables. At the end, you get two full minutes to check over your answers before time’s up, which is great for catching last-minute mistakes.

• Reading Test:
  The reading tutorial was especially helpful for understanding all the functions available in the online format. The passage appears on the left, questions on the right, and you use scroll bars for both. You can highlight text, which is super useful when skimming long passages. There’s also a feature to make notes right on the screen, which could help with organization. Navigating back and forth between questions and making changes feels very straightforward.

• Writing Test:
  The writing demo shows all the tools at your disposal—adjusting text size and color, using the clock for time management, and an easy-to-understand interface for inputting your essays. You can review your writing, make edits until the last second, and everything autosaves, so there’s no need to worry about losing your work. The platform does a good job helping you focus purely on your writing task without extra distractions.

Overall, these videos really demystified the IELTS computer test for me. The controls are intuitive, there are lots of small features to make test day less stressful, and I feel better prepared knowing exactly what to expect on screen. It’s clear that the British Council has put a lot of thought into making the computer-delivered IELTS as smooth and accessible as possible

Source:

British Council (2025) ‘IELTS on computer – how it works’, Take IELTS, 15 July. Available at: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-ielts-english-practice-tests/ielts-on-computer/how-it-works (Accessed: 15 July 2025)